By Isla Grundy
One most versatile palms to grow is Chamaedorea cataractarum, which originates from Mexico. They grow best in moist, wet forest but can tolerate some dry conditions. They are the most rewarding plants both for landscaping and floral arranging – I adore them. It is one of the rare rheophytes in the palm family which means it grows in areas often covered by standing or flowing water.
It is a small, trunkless, clumping palm, which grows to a maximum of two metres high, and two and a half metres across, with glossy, dark green leaves, and long thin leaflets. It will eventually form quite a large, dense clump. (I have used it to hedge round my shade house). This is one of the toughest of
the “Chams” and may be the hardiest. It can withstand sun if given adequate water. But like all Chams it is susceptible to spider mites in dry and indoor conditions, which reduced its popularity as a house plant. But with its dark green and glossy foliage, it is still a very worthwhile outdoor palm when you want a tropical look. It was introduced to Europe in the first half of the 19th century during a craze for indoor tropical foliage.
Chamaedorea are dioecious, which means they have male and female flowers on separate plants. It is called cataractarum from the Latin cataracta, refering to cataracts – the wet rocks along water courses in its native habitat. It makes a dramatic house plant and is easy to grow if you give it what it needs. It thrives in bright light (indoors). If you have a sunroom or a sunny window, keep it there. Give your palm a quarter turn once a week so that all sides are exposed to sunlight.
Outdoors this palm needs more moisture than others. Water enough to keep the soil evenly moist, but never soggy. Palms are not desert plants as some people believe. Regular watering will help to prevent fronds from turning brown. They love to be misted so get the hose on them if they are looking sad.
Brown leaf tips: Caused by dry soil, dry air or tap water containing fluoride. Increase the humidity around the palm, if the air is too dry.
Fertilizer: Feed once in spring and again in summer with a time-release fertilizer. Ask your local nursery for a suitable fertiliser or use a chelated micronutrient.
Propagation: Palms can be grown from seeds, but seeds are slow to germinate and seedlings so slow-growing, you’ll wait several years for them to grow into trees. Although Chams grow in clumps, I wouldn’t try to divide them because their roots are fragile and are easily damaged by pulling apart the root ball.