They’re two very different palms, and it’s not uncommon for there to be some confusion when deciding which of the two will be your next houseplant.
The Cat Palm is quite tolerant and thrives indoors. The Majesty Palm is not so simple. Although it can be grown indoors, it requires a lot more care, so let’s take a look at the differences between the two and decide which plant is right for you.
Both are fantastic palms, but if you go for the stately one keep in mind that it will be much more demanding.
| growing demands | cat palm | His Majesty Palma |
| winter hardiness zone | 9b | 10/11/21 |
| adult size | 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8m) | 10 ft (3 m) indoors. much bigger on the outside |
| adult width | 3-5 feet (1-1.5m) | 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8m) |
| growth habit | formation of lumps | standing and crying |
| light requirements | indirect light | Very bright indirect |
| the type of soil | free phone tapping | free phone tapping |
| soil pH | 6.1-6.5 | 5.0-6.0 |
| watering frequency | 5-7 days or nearly dry | 5-7 days but likes to stay moist |
| harmful | Red spider mites: mealybugs | Red spider mites: mealybugs |
| Diseases | Leaf spots and fungal diseases | Leaf spots and fungal diseases |
Contents
Differences between Cat Palm and Majesty Palm
Looking at the chart above, it seems there are so many similarities that it would be easy to grow both plants with the same care routine. In fact, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
Again, I want to point out that both plants can be grown indoors, and both will give you a nice indoor specimen.
The cat palm is a much smaller plant in its natural environment and this is an important point to pay attention to. With the normally imposing Majesty palm, ask to deviate significantly from its normal condition and this often causes problems.
Leaf shape and texture
Both plants have curved dark green leaves. The larger leaves of the Majesty Palm tend to get quite harsh, while those of the Cat Palm are a bit softer. In the wild, the Majesty palm would grow huge, while the Cat palm would remain much smaller.
When grown in a house, neither of these plants is likely to produce flowers and both should be considered foliage plants. This is good, because either way, the foliage is lush and attractive, giving these plants a strong architectural look.
sheet size
Typically, you’ll find cat palm under the canopy of higher plants, so it grows in a clump. The Majesty Palm, which can reach eighty feet in the wild, is a taller plant with a more upright structure.
Although the Majesty palm is more manageable when grown in a container, it still needs plenty of room to grow, so consider room size before purchasing one. Fine if you have a large room with a high ceiling, but overwhelming if you live in an apartment.
growing demands
Due to the overall height difference, these plants have slightly different light requirements. The lower growing Cat Palm thrives in filtered light from the forest floor and therefore does not like too much light and certainly not direct sunlight.
On the other hand, the Majesty palm is accustomed to receiving more light and even some direct light without any adverse effects.
Both plants do not like to dry out completely, but at the same time they also do not want to be flooded. This means they need well-drained soil.
With Cat Palm, you want the soil to stay slightly moist, but not dry out. An easy way to do this is to let the top four to five inches of soil dry out between waterings.
The Majesty palm hates drying out and likes higher humidity. Like many plants that prefer high humidity, they are susceptible to spider mites if the humidity drops too low. Spider mites prefer drier conditions.
In either case, pay attention to drainage and don’t leave the plant in a saucer full of water. If these plants stay wet for a long time, it will lead to root rot or fungal disease.
soil pH
Since Cat Palm likes to be in near-neutral soil, you can use easily accessible houseplant soil and simply add a little perlite to increase drainage.
Stately palms like more acidic soils and are often grown in a cactus mix with a little peat moss to lower the pH.
This can be tricky for the novice gardener and sometimes even the seasoned houseplant expert. Some experimentation may be needed to make your plant completely happy.
Humidity
I think that’s the biggest difference. Because cat palm tolerates such a wide range of conditions, it will likely grow without complaint in most homes.
If it shows signs of water stress, it will quickly regain its best appearance if you place it on a pebble tray or lightly mist it.
The Majesty palm requires more consistent moisture, so to keep it looking great you may need to take more extreme measures. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done. This is something to keep in mind when choosing the plant.
With an inexpensive hygrometer, you can monitor the humidity in the plant’s environment. If you start to step out of the plant’s comfort range, you will need to take corrective action and this may include using a humidifier.
Even that is not a disappointment, as these machines are no longer prohibitively expensive. They allow you to control humidity much more easily.
Your house probably has a humidity level between 30 and 40%. The cat palm prefers around 50% humidity, and the Majesty palm is not so different.
The problem here is that the cat palm is quite tolerant of different humidity levels, while the Majesty palm tends to be more donut prima-like and sulky if the humidity drops too far outside that 50% range. .
height and structure
The cat palm forms clumps with soft leaves and few stems. The Majesty palm has longer, stiffer leaves that grow from multiple stems. In the wild, this palm can reach 60 to 80 feet, while the smallest cat palm rarely exceeds 10 feet.
growing demands
Both palms like temperatures between 18 and 27°C (65 and 80°F). Both love indirect light, but the Majesty Palm is more tolerant of bright light and would like a few hours of direct light per day.
Cat palm can handle drier conditions, so you can let the top half of the potting soil dry out between waterings. The Majesty Palm likes to stay moist, but never soggy. Feed it every two months in the spring and summer and the cat palm once a month.
Plagues and diseases
Both plants are susceptible to the houseplant gardener’s pest, spider mite. These tiny pests attach themselves to the base of leaves and are often so small that they are almost invisible. Watch out for brown spots on the lower leaves and small cobwebs.
Mites do not like moisture, so you can usually wash them off with a garden sprayer. Keep the plant well watered and use insecticidal soap regularly to keep them at bay.
The disease in these palms usually tends to be fungal in nature. Make sure they drain well, never sit in water, and water at the base of the stem rather than letting the leaves get wet. Watering early in the morning also reduces the risk of mold problems.
Similarities Between Cat Palm and Majesty Palm
If you look at the growing requirements of both palms, you can quickly see that they require many of the same conditions. And it’s natural to assume that both are equally easy to grow at home.
Unfortunately, most growers will tell you that Majesty Palm is much more demanding. It’s not so much that it requires very unusual circumstances; it’s more of a case that it’s less tolerant of conditions that aren’t perfect.
If you can achieve the exact conditions that make this plant happy, it will reward you with becoming a beautiful architectural plant and a distinct focal point in any room.
Cat palm, while also attractive, is a more tolerant plant, so you’ll need to weigh your priorities and how much effort you can afford to keep your palm in top condition.