Q.Caring for Indoor Palm
I have an indoor palm that I bought the summer of 2006. It was producing ‘leaves’ around 4’1/2 to 5′ tall. It got this white film (for lack of a better word) around the base a year or so later. I repotted it and since then it’s been only 2′ to 3′ tall. I was wondering how to prune it, and if there is anything I can do to get it tall again.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
There are many things that can affect a palm tree like this but it was likely either a fungus or an insect infestation. It is also likely that whatever it was has not gone away and this is why the palm has gotten as tall as it was. I would treat the tree with neem oil, which takes care of both insects and fungus. I would leave pruning to only removing brown fronds. Once it is not stressed, it should grow tall for you again.
