Aside from the sound of crashing waves, nothing transports us to a beach—umbrella drink in hand—better than a palm tree. And bringing that tropical, laid-back vibe indoors couldn’t be easier than placing a potted parlor palm in a corner on the floor.
Parlor palms (Chamaedorea elegans) aren’t needy roommates, either. They like what we like—warm temps, medium lighting, and a drink now and then (bonus: They don’t leave their socks on the floor).
The graceful arching fronds of the parlor palm make it a popular houseplant that brings a tropical vibe indoors. While parlor palms thrive in bright indirect light, too much direct sunlight can actually damage their leaves. If your parlor palm is showing signs of light stress like scorched leaves or stunted growth, it likely needs some shade adjustments.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- Ideal light conditions for parlor palms
- Symptoms of too much light
- Tips to fix and prevent light stress
- Finding the right balance of sunlight
- Adjusting other care factors for a light-stressed plant
How Much Light Does a Parlor Palm Need?
Parlor palms prefer bright, filtered light similar to the dappled sun of their tropical rainforest floor habitat. Here are their ideal lighting conditions:
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Bright indirect light – Parlor palms thrive with plenty of ambient brightness but no direct sun beams. Light filtered through sheer curtains is perfect.
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East or west exposure – A few hours of gentle morning or evening sun from an east or west window works well.
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No direct midday sun – Avoid hot overhead sunlight at peak hours which can burn leaves.
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No low light – Insufficient light leads to sparse growth. But too much direct sun also damages plants.
Finding the right balance takes some trial and error. Watch your plant’s response and adjust its location until you find its happy place!
Signs Your Parlor Palm is Getting Too Much Light
If your parlor palm is struggling with excess light you may notice these issues
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Scorched leaf tips – Crispy brown edges or spots indicate sunburn. This can spread and kill leaves.
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Washed out foliage – Leaves turn light green or yellowish rather than deep green when getting too much sun.
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Stunted growth – Harsh light forces the plant to focus energy on protection over new growth.
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Sparse canopy – With foliage damage, the top of the plant may become thin and bare.
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Leaf drop – Severely damaged leaves may turn brown and drop off completely.
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Sunken leaf lesions – In intense sun, cell damage can create dark depressed patches on leaves.
Take action promptly if seeing these warning signs to prevent lasting damage or decline. Parlor palms can’t survive full sun exposure very long.
How to Fix and Prevent Parlor Palm Light Stress
If your parlor palm shows evidence of too much light, use these tactics to get it back on track:
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Move it back from the window – Give more distance between the plant and light source to reduce intensity.
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Add a sheer curtain – Diffuse direct sun beams hitting the plant during peak hours.
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Rotate the plant – Turn the pot every few days so all sides get equal sunlight exposure.
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Provide shade – Block hot afternoon sun by moving the palm behind an obstacle or larger plant.
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Change locations – Find a spot with gentler, filtered light if adjusting the current area isn’t helping.
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Trim damaged leaves – Remove crispy, yellowed leaves to improve appearance and redirect growth.
With some simple adjustments, you can find the right balance of light your parlor palm thrives in. Pay attention to its response and you’ll zero in on that perfect sunny spot.
Ideal Parlor Palm Placement in Your Home
Considering your home’s window placements, layout, and light conditions, choose an optimal spot for your parlor palm:
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East facing windows – Morning sun from east windows is gentle and perfect for parlor palms. No afternoon shade needed.
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West facing windows – Dappled evening light works, but diffuse harsh late day sun with sheer curtains.
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North facing windows – Low light from north windows may be insufficient. Supplement with grow lights.
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South facing windows – Direct south sun is too intense. Filter light through sheer curtains or a shade screen.
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Near interior windows – Bright indoor rooms with ample filtered light work well. Rotate plant for even growth.
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Outdoor shade – A covered patio or balcony blocks direct sun but provides bright shade. Bring in for winter.
Get to know your light patterns. Parlor palms are flexible but do best when shielded from intense midday and afternoon sun.
Adjusting Other Care for a Light-Stressed Parlor Palm
In addition to light changes, modify other factors to help an overly sun-exposed parlor palm recover:
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Water more frequently – Plants in brighter light lose more moisture. Check soil daily and water when the top inch is dry.
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Mist leaves – Regular misting replaces humidity lost in hot air and sun exposure.
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Hold off fertilizing – Don’t fertilize a stressed plant. Wait until it recovers to add nutrients.
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Monitor for pests – Heavy light invites pests like spider mites. Treat promptly if seen.
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Remove dead fronds – Prune all crispy, desiccated leaves to focus energy on new growth.
With a little TLC and the right adjustments, a parlor palm suffering from excess light can bounce back quickly.
Finding the Bright Indirect Light Sweet Spot
Parlor palms walk a fine line between loving bright light and hating direct sunlight. But with attention and small positioning tweaks, you can find the perfect dose of illumination for your palm to thrive.
Inspect leaves regularly for signs of light stress. Filter harsh beams and provide gentle morning/evening sun. Your parlor palm will thank you with vigorous growth and graceful, arching fronds bringing the tropics indoors.
Common Problems from Too Much Light
Here are some other common parlor palm problems that can arise from excessive light exposure:
Freckles from Fungal Bacteria
If you see spots of fungus on your parlor palm, it could be because it is too cold and wet. The fungus might not kill your parlor palm, so it’s really just a matter of looks.
Move Your Parlor Palm to a Darker Spot
If you see this happening to your parlor palm, you should move it to a darker area or corner where the sun doesn’t shine directly on the leaves. The burnt foliage should be removed and pruned from your parlor palm to encourage new, healthy green growth. Cut off the burned leaves, and the plant will stop sending food and energy to those areas. This lets new leaves grow.
The new growth should be a rich dark green. Your parlor palm is in the right place and not getting burned when you see its dark green leaves.
How Much Light Does a Parlor Palm Plant Need? | Lighting
Parlor palms like average lighting. They even do fine in basement apartments because ordinary fluorescent household lights—as long as they’re kept on for most of the day—provide all they need.
Bright, indirect sunlight is ideal, though, so if you’re placing your plant near a window, set it off to the side. North- and east-facing windows are best for parlor palms, but it’s OK if yours faces south or west — which lets in the strong afternoon sun. Just set the plant two or three feet away or cover the window with a sheer curtain to protect it from sunscald.
What Is The Ideal Environment For My Parlor Palm Plant? | Environment
Parlor palms like ordinary household conditions, which is how they got their name back in Victorian times. Today, we’d call them “living room palms,” but who are we to question tradition?
They do best in average to above-average humidity but—unlike most palms—can get by with a bit less. If your place is too dry, mist the plant once or twice a week to keep its leaf tips from drying out.
Parlor palms also like average household temperatures. If you’re comfortable, your parlor palm will be, too. Just protect it from cold drafts from leaky windows, air conditioners, or vents.
PARLOUR PALM CARE | Chameadorea Elegans Tips & Tricks
FAQ
Can parlor palms get too much sun?
Why Are The Leaf Tips On My Parlor Palm Turning Brown? It is also possible that the leaves have brown spots: don’t worry, these are not a sign of a palm disease, but simply of too much sun, so avoid exposing your plant to direct sunlight, too much direct sunlight can burn the fronds.
Can Parlor Palm survive in low light?
Light. The Parlor Palm thrives in moderate indirect light. It’s considered a low light palm and will tolerate lower light conditions as well. We don’t recommend any bright direct sunlight.
Is my palm getting too much light?
Leaf scorch is a telltale sign of too much sun; leaves may turn yellow, brown, or develop crispy edges. Growth can be stunted as the plant struggles to adapt to the intense light, potentially leading to a sparse and unhappy palm.
Why is my Parlour Palm going crispy?
Prolonged exposure to dry soil will cause brown crisp edging on your houseplant.