How Much Light Do Areca Palm Plants Need?

Dypsis lutescens, also known as the Areca Palm or Butterfly Palm, is undoubtedly one of the most popular indoor palms. They are one of the first palms new gardeners reach for due to their symbolic value, ease of care, and classic tropical look. Alongside a proper watering schedule, appropriate soil mix, and occasional fertilizing, giving your Areca Palm the perfect lighting conditions will ensure it thrives in your home or office.

How Much Light Do Areca Palm Need? 

When placed indoors, Areca Palms need a full day of bright, indirect light near a south or west-facing window. They can handle some direct sunlight but not in the hottest parts of the day. Place them in front of a south-facing window covered by a sheer curtain for the best results.

Sunlight and Plant Health

Sunlight is essential to all life on earth – the fuel that keeps nature going. In all plants, light provides the energy necessary to kickstart photosynthesis. This allows the plant to take all the water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients available and turn them into sugars to spur growth and maintain health, as well as oxygen that gets released through the leaves.

Without sunlight and photosynthesis, plants simply cannot survive as they cannot produce food to keep themselves alive. 

But the amount of light required to stay alive is different for each plant, based on the conditions found in their natural habitats.

Since indoor lighting conditions differ greatly from what these plants experience outdoors, how can we ensure we provide the proper lighting for our houseplants? 

Handy terms like bright indirect light or filtered light are used to translate the preferred conditions to match what light plants receive indoors. 

Here’s what the terms mean:

Direct Light

The sun’s rays are hitting the plant without any filtering or obstructions. This light is most intense between midday and the afternoon.

Bright Indirect Light

High light areas where the plants are not placed in direct sun. Usually close to south-facing windows or near objects that reflect sunlight around a room.

Filtered Light

Bright direct light filtered by another object, such as a sheer curtain, creates similar conditions to bright indirect light.

Low Light

Areas far away from windows or near a north-facing window that does not receive direct sun. This light is the lowest intensity but does not equal ‘no light’, as in rooms with no windows.

For more, see our guide to the best plants that thrive without sunlight.

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Typical Light Conditions Areca Palm Receive in Their Native Habitats

Areca Palms are native to Madagascar, where they can be found in warm tropical forests or along riverbanks. 

Unlike what you may typically picture when you imagine a forest, these palms are often found in open areas or towering over other plants, growing up to 40 feet tall.

This means they are often in full sun positions, receiving direct bright light for large parts of the day, or partial sun.

In full sun, you’ll notice the leaves toward the outside and top of the plant take on a yellow or brown hue and start to droop – especially in summer – while the inner leaves remain green.

In full sun positions, the leaves of this plant can quickly burn, causing them to change color. As the inner leaves are protected, receiving dappled light throughout the day, they appear the healthiest.

Signs Your Areca Palm Is Receiving Too Much Light

If the plant remains in direct sunlight for too long, the leaves will likely burn. They can turn a pale yellow and eventually become brown and dry out where the sunlight hits. 

The first sign your plant is receiving too much sunlight is browning at the delicate leaf tips, indicating a problem.

You can also look at the soil and stems of the plant. In high light areas, the soil inside the container will dry out incredibly quickly. The stems may begin to bend over due to lack of water, becoming dry along with the fronds.

Signs Your Areca Palm Isn’t Receiving Enough Light

Palms are tropical plants that need sunlight to thrive. While Areca Palms are known to tolerate lower lighting conditions compared to some other palms, excessively low light for long periods will cause issues with growth.

The main sign that the plant is not receiving enough light is a lack of growth. If you don’t spot any new fronds, or if the existing ones begin to bend over and lose their shape, the plant needs more light. 

The leaves may also turn a darker green as the plant produces more chlorophyll to make the most of the lower lighting conditions, indicating it would benefit from a brighter spot.

The Best Light Exposure for Areca Palm Grown Indoors

Areca Palms are labeled tolerant of a wide range of lighting conditions, from direct sun to low light. 

However, they grow their best in positions with lots of bright, indirect light throughout the day. This protects the thin, delicate leaves from scorching and gives the plant enough energy for robust and healthy growth.

They can also handle some direct sun, as their natural habitats indicate. However, the leaves will likely turn yellow and may even burn if left in intense direct sun for too long. 

They don’t mind an hour or two of the direct morning sun but should be kept in bright indirect light for the rest of the day.

Try a position in front of a south or west-facing window, covered by a sheer curtain. Ensure the plant is placed in the light from the window and not next to or below it where it can be obstructed.

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Areca Palm Light Requirements FAQs:

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Wrapping Up

Areca Palms, despite their reputation, are not particularly fussy when you plant them in the right conditions. Choose a bright spot in your home to allow your palm to completely brighten up any room.

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