Cat Palm
3.9 out of 5 (25 experiences)
Browns easily
About Cat Palm
The cat palm is a petite palm native to Central America. Indoors, the cat palm grows up to three feet, and up to six feet outdoors. They’re a perfect choice to spruce up the corner of a room near a window. In its native habitat, the cat palm grows along rivers and other waterways in marshy soil and its flexible fronds allow it to withstand seasonal flooding! 🌴
Taxonomy
Chamaedorea cataractarum
Chamaedorea
Arecaceae
Arecales
How to care for Cat Palm
How often to water your Cat Palm
every 12
Cat Palm needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12
Finding light for Cat Palm in your home
a window
Cat Palm may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Cat Palm in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Cat Palm
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Cat Palm after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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The tips of my cat palm are turning brown. What am I doing wrong. #CatPalm
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Can anyone pls help me revive my cat fern? I got it less than a month ago and it’s drooping like this since last week. I made a mistake by removing some of the outer layer ay the bottom of some stems- thinking it’s dead matter. But it was probably keepjng the plant upright. Even then, the leaves have been drooping so kuch and some event went dry. I didn’t overwater cos when I out fingers in the soil, it’s moist about 4 inches in (10 inch pot). I do see the roots are showing out of the soil though (although this is how it arrrived). Could someone pls tell me what all I’m doing wrong?
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Is my cat palm done for? She’s in the corner of my south facing window bedroom… but it’s not super direct. I changed the watering schedule to every 2 weeks instead of 3, which is what Greg’s default setting is for. Any suggestions?? #CatPalm
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I’m a first time Cat Palm owner, I’m not sure mine is happy. It’s very droopy for some reason. It has new prongs coming in, the older one just kinda droop, is this normal? #CatPalm
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Is my plant healthy?? #CatPalm
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How do i change water schedule my plant needs water more often tham the ap says #CatPalm
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Should I repot and are the palms ok to be bending Like that
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I got this about 4 weeks ago - one of the branches at the base had rot so I removed it. I think it maybe spread to another - any suggestions on what I should do? It’s in the original pot in came in. #KentiaPalm
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I feel like my cat palm should be watered more but I could be wrong. I’ve noticed leaves turning yellow and tips on a few leaves brown #CatPalm
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Sad palm, please help I purchased this palm two weeks ago and it has fallen into pretty bad shape. Its leaves have lost color and there’s noticeable deterioration. One of the stalks seems to have snapped. I have it on an east facing window sill, and I live in climate that’s having a cold and dry winter. Any suggestions to help bring this lovely lady back into shape?
Care Summary for Cat Palm
Cat Palm
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 12 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Browns easily 14
Large, lush leaves 11
Pest magnet 6
Fast grower 5
Survivor 4
Easy to propagate 2
Blooms easily 1
04/08/2021
Beautiful, but high maintenance. This one is happy with us and has been putting out a lot of new shoots, but I’ve had to put in the time to make it happen. Daily misted and lots of water, plus constant pest checks and neem baths. Worth it if you’re willing to put in the time!!
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Pest magnet
Browns easily