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California Fan Palm

Also known as

Desert fan palm and California palm

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Washingtonia filifera

Genus

Washingtonia

Family

Arecaceae

Order

Arecales

How to care for California Fan Palm

💦 Water

How often to water your California Fan Palm

California Fan Palm needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 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
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for California Fan Palm in your home

California Fan Palm love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

California Fan Palm does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of California Fan Palm in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize California Fan Palm

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for California Fan Palm: repot after 2X growth

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 California Fan Palm after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #CaliforniaFanPalm

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

California Fan Palm prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

California Fan Palm Water Frequency →

California Fan Palm Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

California Fan Palm requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

California Fan Palm Light Requirements →

California Fan Palm Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

California Fan Palm is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

California Fan Palm does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for California Fan Palm →

Best Pots for California Fan Palm →

When and How to Successfully Repot California Fan Palm →

What Are Healthy California Fan Palm Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

California Fan Palm is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize California Fan Palm →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

California Fan Palm will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

California Fan Palm Lifecycle →

California Fan Palm Size Guide →

How and When to Prune California Fan Palm →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
California Fan Palm can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

California Fan Palm Temperature Tolerance →

California Fan Palm Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with California Fan Palm →

When to Plant California Fan Palm →

How to Plant California Fan Palm →

Where to Plant California Fan Palm →

Winter Care for California Fan Palm →

Best Companion Plants for California Fan Palm →

Is California Fan Palm a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in California Fan Palm, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.