Repotting indoor palm

[Jeremy]

Hello Everyone. My parlor palm (chamaedorea elegans) had extremely compacted soil. So I decided to repot it because I couldn't remember the last time I repotted it. I was wondering if it was ok to repot in late winter because it is suggested to repot in spring. I repotted it into the same pot, and I had to remove some of the old compacted soil. Then I added Miracle-gro cactus, palm, and citrus mix to it. Is this potting mix ok? And I may also have packed this soil hard into the pot, is this harmful for root growth or will they manage? Will the plant survive?

Jeremy

[Lagoon]

Hi Jeremy,

Your right about the spring time potting, unless your seeing to growth come up. But if indeed your soil on the plam was that compact ... it's probably a better time to re-pot now instead of later.

I've recently repotting many of my house plants (palm is next) their doing wonderful and they really needed the new soil. I don't know where your palm is located in your house.
My plants are under grow lights - this helps alot too.

Aslong as your mix retains moisture and somewhat open / free draining - you should be fine.

[Jeremy]

The palm tree is growing in the same room as my orchids except it is farther from the window. It receives some sun during the winter and bright shade during the summer. Humidity is high and the temperatures right now are 77F during the day and 62F during the night. This palm tree was growing slowly so I repotted it. And it had developing flower stalks, but I cut those off so the plant can use the energy to make roots instead of flowers. The mix is a cactus mix so it has some sand in it. Does the sand prevent the mix from compacting?

Jeremy

[Lagoon]

Uh no I don't find it keeps anything from compacting - if anything it makes it tight and heavy. I've used the cactus mixes and I don't really care for them much, they get real crunchie in a short time down the road. Palms hate that, they can be a fussy bunch, ya know?!

I like the same thing I use for my paphs - it lasts long and stays airy and moist.
Peatmoss - small bark and added perlite.