Majesty Palm
Indoor or Outdoor

The Majesty Palm indoor or outdoor? A dilemma! Which is best?

You're likely mulling over having a majesty palm. We're here to help you make that decision.

• See all you need for deciding upon the Majesty Palm Tree as a potted indoor palm
• Or could it be planted outside in your landscape?

Jump to Something Specific:

Knowing the Majesty Palm Helps You Decide

What is a Majesty Palm?

Ravenea rivularis is also called the Majestic Palm. Its native land is the Indian Ocean island nation of Madagascar. It's helpful knowing The Endemic Climate to determine the Majestic Palm's outdoor temperature tolerance.

• Much of Madagascar, probably a good 50% is tropical.
• With rainforest & some open plains.
• The southwest is dry, with arid grasslands.

Her Majesty 😉 has long, arching green pinnate fronds with a central twist upward, along the rachis! The Part of the Frond stem with feathery leaflets.

Topography & Climate of Madagascar

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Factors Influencing Majesty Palm Placement

Where is the best place to put a majesty palm? Can you guess what A Majesty Palm prefers?

We think you will! The answer is mostly rainforest edges, and along riversides. Since rivularis means of the rivers.

Majesty's Feathery Fronds

How fast do majesty palms grow?

Rather quickly outdoors or indoors when given everything it needs.

• These palms will reach about 40ft/12.2m tall, maybe more. Indoors to 6ft/2m. 
• The thick trunk reaches 18in/0.5m across.

Majestic Palms swell at the base, as they grow.

Sort Out Your Majesty Palm Outdoor Placement

The above info tells you the best place for a majesty palm outside, with Landscape Planning. You'll want the spot you choose having room for its mature size.

Plus there's an important Watering Need to be aware of. If you attend to that, they could be your beloved palm.

Can You Keep a Majesty Palm Outside?

Choosing to plant your Majesty Palm indoor or outdoor is like Purchasing Shoes.

• Did you want footwear for a marathon?
• Did you want footwear for getting Comfortable Shoes for a Walk in the park?

You want the best footgear for your situation. Just like solving Majesty Palms' needs will lead to a happy palm.

To successfully grow one outdoors, first know Your Climate Growing Zone.

Your Climate Tells the Placement

Wondering if you can keep a Majestic Palm outside on your property? USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11 are just right. Especially If you get regular humid days.

• For instance, a Majesty Palm can succeed in Florida’s southern half due to its warm climate.
• However, Tucson, Where We Live, despite its hot summers, falls in Zone 9b - not suitable! Few Arizona Desert areas can support it.

These palms do not tolerate any cold weather with frosts. As they're very sensitive to cold.

If a hard freeze arrives, a Majesty palm's Outdoor Winter Care must be anticipated. Even with protection, there's always that possibility that Freeze Damage Happens, and it might not survive.

If your area does not normally get near freezing temperatures overnight, you're probably good to go with having a majesty palm outdoors.

Majesty Palm is the Picture of Health in Tropical Maui Hawaii

Growing Majesty Palms Outdoors

Still planning to have a Majesty Palm for your landscape?

When planting a Majesty Palm outdoors, it's best to have a landscaping plan. Depending on where you live, your property, even Your Microclimate - your own natural environment might help with its needs.

Here are the care needs for a successful outcome: abundant watering, full sunlight, rich soil, regular observation. Her Majesty can be a bit particular!

Most Important: Watering Your Majesty Palm

The Majesty is one of those palms that wants water, water, water!

Unlike many palms that require well-drained soil, they don't care about that. As they natively live in swampy areas. Palm Experts Riffle & Craft say it's "difficult, if not impossible, to give it too much moisture."

The Soil Where These are Planted is Rich!

Ask yourself: are you prepared to give it (think - your water bill!) all that continuous watering?

Ask: How Much Water Can My Budget Handle??

Do Majesty Palms Like Sun or Shade?

Sunlight is somewhat particular for the Majesty Palm.

• If your palm is young, Get a Shade Cover going while it matures. As partial shade is needed. 
• When it's formed full trunk width, it wants total sun. Remove the sun protection.

Full Sunlight is a Good Thing When Older

Soil for Your Outdoor Majesty Palm

Soil Requirements are where coordination comes in. Getting placement with both the right sunlight & soil.

Planting Soil should contain Lots Of Humus. Rich, even boggy soil is just right. Clay content will help hold moisture.

Mucky Soil Pile at White Lodge Farm, UK

Majesty Palm Indoor or Outdoor Problems

Whether you have your Majesty Palm indoors or outdoors, winter brings two concerns:

1) indoor humidity levels and 2) outdoor temperature drops.

Plus other issues:

Growing Outdoors, we've already talked of abundant water needs & soil with organic matter. But there's one other:

• A borer insect called Metamasius hemipterus can attack, especially in Florida. But not often.
• This bug triggers more of an aesthetic problem, rather than affecting its health.

Rarely Goes for Majesty Palms as They're out in the Sugar Cane Fields They Love!

Growing Indoors, certain pests like spider mites or aphids could be a Palm Problem.

• Regularly give leaflet undersides a once-over. To prevent massive infestation.

If You See a Spider Mite or its Thready Residue - [ad] Wash it Away With a Large Syringe!

Care for Indoor Majesty Palms

Let's evaluate the Majesty Palm as an indoor plant.

Most outdoor requirements also apply to growing a Majesty potted palm inside your home. But there are added needs to think about.

Can Majesty Palms Survive Indoors?

Good to ask that!

Whether you decide on your Majesty Palm indoor or outdoor, winter may be a concern. For different reasons in each environment.

The Majesty Palm indoors benefits your home's style, for sure. But they need more attention, more watchfulness than other Indoor Palms. And certainly more than your average houseplant.

Is it worth it?

Common Problems for Majesty Palms Indoors

In your cozy home, the warmth that Majesty Palms embrace generally isn't a problem. But the dry air could be.

Give Majesty Palms the Best Indoor Circumstances

In Summer, do you run your air conditioning chilly? Even into the 60sF/15sC? It should be okay with that. Just don't locate it within an AC draft.

In Winter, the main problem is humidity. Majesties need pretty steamy air.

• Heat coming from vents is dry.
• Running A Humidifier nearby is the best help.
• Or add humidity another way, like Misting The Fronds (which isn't ideal).

Palm Sucking in the Humid Air - Appreciating the Humidifier
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Soil for Indoor Majesty Palms

The soil also relates to Their Native Environment. Where they grow in acidic clay and peaty mud.

That's the best potting soil for Majesty Palms. Those Able to Retain Moisture they need.

Fertilizing a newly planted Majesty is not needed immediately. Wait at least 30 days to begin Fertilizing This Palm, repeating monthly. As it also has regular hunger!

Good Organic Potting Soil With Humus Content
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Light Needs for an Indoor Majesty Palm

The Majesty Palm tolerates some shade, which is why it can be tried indoors.

But it's not the shadiest of Palms Planted into Pots. Others can get by with lots less.

Majesty Palms indoors need at least 300 foot candles of light. (Probably one reason it doesn't often do well indoors.) That's about the light strength of a Quality Desk Lamp. Or try one of these Plant Grow Lights.

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Takeaways for Majesty Palm Indoor or Outdoor

So, the question remains: majesty palm indoor or outdoor?

The answer depends on efforts you're willing to give. It may end up being your Royal Pain Palm! 😏

• If you have the perfect outdoor space, in the right zone, it may be right for you.
• If you live outside their zone, you may want to risk it indoors.

Personally, from the experiences of people we know, we don't recommend it indoors. In the end, the choice is yours.

Whether you decide to grow a Majesty Palm indoors or outdoors. 

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