Light. Grows best in shade to partial sun. Too much sun fades the leaves to yellow-green and browns the tips.
Water. Water regularly while it establishes. It does best in soil that stays moist.
Soil and feeding. Use a palm fertilizer such as Palm Special in November, February and May. In alkaline soil, small, frizzled new leaves mean manganese deficiency; treat with Manganese Sulfate following the label.
Size. Grows slowly to about 8 ft, spreading by underground stems into a dense clump.
Pruning. Remove some suckers now and then to keep a clump in bounds or keep a potted plant from becoming root-bound.
Problems to watch. Mites, mealybugs and scale can appear, especially indoors. Yellow new leaves on potted plants often mean old, airless potting mix.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS FPS-501: Rhapis excelsa, Lady Palm · UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County: Shady palm, lady palm
