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Neanthe Bella Palm: Care Tips For This Table Top Plant

ByNell Foster Published on

The Neanthe Bella Palm is widely grown and sold in the trade as a table top palm. You’ll frequently see it used in dish gardens and mixed plantings as a fluffy little filler amongst kalanchoes, african violets, pothos and more.

A viewer on Youtube requested that I do a vlog on the Neanthe Bella Palm care so I’m finally getting around to it.

When I was an interior plantscaper, we used this plant a lot on our accounts. It propagates easily, grows relatively fast, can easily be found and doesn’t put a big dent in the wallet. These factors all add up to make this houseplant, also called a Parlor Palm, very popular. It eventually grows into a nice, bushy floor plant maxing out at 3′

Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference:

Neanthe Bella Palm care tips here:

The info’s in the video but here’s the shortened version of what you need to know:

Light:

Low to medium. It does better & grows more in medium light but will tolerate lower levels.

Water:

Average. Every 7-10 days will be enough.  The smaller the pot, the more often it will need to be watered.  Here’s my vlog on how to water houseplants.

Temperature:

As I always say, if you house in comfortable for you, it will be for your plants too.

Fertilizer:

Once in the spring will do it.  Organix RX is a good organic fertilizer for houseplants.

Update: Read about my worm compost/compost feeding right here.

Here’s the skinny on the Neanthe Bella Palm as a houseplant: it comes with good news and bad news.

First the good: this plant is not toxic to pets as many others are.  So, if Fluffy or Rover love to chew on the crunchy leaves of plants as my kitty Oscar does, there’ll be no harm done.

The bad news is, this plant is subject to spider mites and is sure to get them especially when you turn the heat on. We replaced oodles of these palms in offices because once the infestation gets bad, it’s hard to control. You can find out how to get the upper hand on this insect and others in my book Keep Your Houseplants Alive.

Most palms, like the Kentia, Bamboo and Areca, are floor plants. So, if you don’t have a lot of space, consider this one to use on a table, desk or counter.

Despite the fact that it is prone to spider mites, the Neanthe Bella is an easy care houseplant. Like bringing a little bit of the tropics into your home!

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You can see the Neanthe Bella in the back of this massive basket garden I’m holding.

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Here are some babies – the grower uses this size in smaller dish gardens.

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24 Comments

  1. Can this palm be placed outside in the summer months? My front porch faces north and I live in the Midwest.

  2. Hi Becky – Yes you can. With a north exposure, it shouldn’t get any direct sun. Just make sure to spray the entire plant off well with water before bringing it back indoors. Nell

  3. Hi Nell –
    The leaves on my neanthe bella seem to slowly be turning light brown.
    I am guessing it has something to do with what has been inconsistent watering of late…..either too much or too little. . Only other guess is too much hot summer sun?

    Would appreciate your advice.
    Thanks so much

  5. I purchased a small neanthe bella palm and traveled with it while it was in a plastic bag. I am now home and need to pot it but am concerned about what soil medium I should use. I would appreciate your help.

  7. I accidentally left my Bella palm outside in the scorching sun and now half the plant is colorless (albino). Should I clip those leaves off or let the plant heal?

  9. Hi Nell, my palm’s new leaves have been growing with the sides curled inward (kinda like an upside down taco). Any idea why that is? Thanks in advance!

  10. Corey – I’ve never seen that on a Neanthe Bella Palm before. Have you checked to make sure it doesn’t have spider mites? Nell

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