Fishtail Palm Trees for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on February 28, 2022

Planting instructions

The fishtail palm adapts to a relatively wide range of sun exposure, growing well in both full sunlight and partial shade conditions. When you plant this tree, be sure to dig a hole as deep as the root ball is tall and twice as wide.

Provide at least 6 feet of open space around this plant when growing it outside. When growing a fishtail palm indoors, place it where it can receive indirect light. Fishtail palm trees will perform best with well-draining soil, whether indoors or outdoors.

Watering and nutrients

Fishtail palm trees require plenty of water. You should give this plant water about once per week during the growing season. You can reduce your watering frequency to once per month in the winter.

Rich soil will also help this plant thrive. Try amending your soil with peat or some other organic material to give your fishtail palm all the nutrients it needs. Fertilization should take place about once every four months. When you fertilize, just about any granular palm tree fertilizer should work well.

Pruning

Fishtail palm trees do not need regular pruning. You can often neglect to prune entirely, and this plant will continue to survive and put forth healthy new growth. However, you may wish to prune your fishtail palm tree to manage its size.

If you choose to prune your fishtail palm, be highly selective. Choose individual stalks and remove them one at a time. When pruning, it is best to use sterile tools and to make clean cuts to encourage the plant to heal quickly.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Several pests and diseases can afflict the fishtail palm, including mites, spider mites, and scale insects. In addition, fishtail palms can also have issues with fungus and bacteria. If a fungal or bacterial infection occurs, you’ll notice that this plant’s leaves will show spots and change colors.

The combination of pest and disease problems is a severe threat to fishtail palm tree populations worldwide. Thankfully, through proper care and watering tactics, it’s possible to reduce the odds these challenges will occur.

Achieving maximum results

Never perform overhead watering for fishtail palm trees. Getting the foliage too wet is one of the primary reasons why insects and diseases occur in this species. Watering in the morning is also a wise tactic, as it gives the sun plenty of time to dry any moisture on this plant’s leaves throughout the day.

You should also know that a few distinct species share the name fishtail palm. All of these species belong to the same genus. But to get the best results, you need to know which species you own and its specific care requirements.

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