Areca Palm
Dypsis lutescens
Feathery, arching fronds that bring a resort feel to a room - and one of the few genuinely pet-safe statement plants on this list.
Photo: Brandon Griggs / Unsplash What this plant actually wants.
Best window: East or bright filtered south, away from direct midday sun.
This is the general recommendation. When you map your actual windows in Planterra, the app compares each one against this plant's lux range and tells you which of your specific spots are best - accounting for depth from the glass, obstructions, and how the light shifts by season.
What usually goes wrong.
Brown, crispy frond tips
The single most common palm complaint - low humidity or tap water minerals. Switch to filtered water and raise humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier.
Yellowing fronds
Usually overwatering or a nutrient deficiency. Check soil drainage first, then consider a palm-specific fertiliser if watering looks correct.
Pale, washed-out new growth
Too much direct sun. Move it back from the glass or add a sheer curtain - Areca Palms prefer bright but filtered light.
Spider mites on the undersides
Common in dry indoor air, especially winter. Rinse the fronds in the shower periodically and raise humidity to discourage them.
Areca Palm brown tips are so consistently a humidity issue that I check the room before I check the plant. If it's near a heating vent or in a dry climate, that's usually the whole answer.
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