Raphis Palm Tree Care
- Raphis palms will respond to sunlight conditions throughout the entire year and also tolerate partial to full shade. Place the lady palm in natural or filtered sunlight for peak growth; however, it withstands and grows in the shade as well. This palm makes an ideal houseplant because of its versatility and adaptability to all but unfiltered, direct sunlight during the hottest period of the day.
- Soil preferences include clay, acidic and alkaline, along with loamy and clay. The Raphis has little tolerances for sodium-rich soils and moderate drought resistance. Well-drained soil is preferred. Moist soil conditions are also preferred, but homeowners should not allow the plant to sit in water for any extended periods of time. After watering, growers should drain away any of the excess water in the container.
- As a houseplant, the soil in the container around the Raphis should not be allowed to dry out. Homeowners need to keep the plant moist, but not wet, at all times and should routinely dust the leaves of the Raphis palm to allow it to breathe and keep it healthy. The Raphis palm will tolerate outdoor cold conditions down to about 25 degrees F. This puts northern Florida as the northernmost region where the plant will tolerate outdoor conditions.
- Raphis palms do not propagate easily and grow rather slowly. Dividing the plant by separating the underground root stems is possible, however, not all transplants are successful. the plant should be placed outdoors in a north-facing area about 36 to 60 inches apart to allow for spreading. Homeowners attempting to divide the plants after a number of separate stems have formed must allow for some of the transplants to die off.