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Majesty Palm Vs. Cat Palm

Any grower would prefer to avoid the challenging situation of selecting which plants to choose for in the garden or indoor gardening. Although, they often find having to choose one plant over another a common thing.

No matter what plant type you are after, you can see this crop up, so it’s no surprise the decision between a Cat Palm vs. Majesty Palm is one such situation. However, you can find these two palms are very different species, yet they are popular in an indoor environment.

The Cat palm tolerates a lot and does well indoors, while the Majesty palm isn’t as relaxed about things. In our guide, you can learn more about the differences between the Cataract palm and the Majesty palm. By the end, it may be easier to recommend Cat Palm vs. Majesty Palm benefits your home environment better. (Learn How To Clean Concrete Patio Without Killing Grass)

Majesty Palm Vs Cat Palm

What Is Cat Palm?

A beautiful indoor palm plant known as the Cat Palm makes a lovely backdrop in your living space. The Areca Palm and this palm are very similar, but the Areca Palm’s stems are yellow-golden, and the Cat Palm’s leaves are green.

  • Choose the Cat Palm if you prefer the Areca Palm but have space limitations.
  • Although it can tolerate the sun, the Cat Palm prefers shaded areas.
  • But it only grows slowly, reaching a maximum height of 6 to 8 feet.
  • Cat palms require regular hydration but cannot tolerate being submerged in excessively wet soil.

majestic palm

What Is Majesty Palm?

In its natural habitat, the Ravenea rivularis also referred to as the Majesty Palm, is quite a large tree in its natural environment. With green fronds growing from many stems, it is quite majestic and elegant-looking, living up to its name.

When the Majesty plant is young, it looks like a Kentia palm in its form as a houseplant, but as it gets older, it resembles the royal palm, which is different from Kentia Palms.

The Majesty Palm requires a lot of work to grow, so it’s typically only suggested for those who enjoy the challenge of raising unusual palms. Instead, those not skilled gardeners frequently choose the Kentia Palm or Bamboo Palm.

Similarities Of Cat Palm Vs. Majesty Palm

Cat and Majesty Palm have no similarities besides being palm trees.

These two plants couldn’t be more dissimilar, even though they belong to the same tree family.

When choosing between palm plants, the advantage between them is also helpful. The Cat Palm is better suited for novices and people who don’t want to put in too much effort that the majesty palm requires.

Pest and Diseases

Both plants are susceptible to being attacked by the infamous red spider mites. Unfortunately, these pests are so tiny that it’s difficult to see them. At the base of the leaves, look for a brown spot or small webs to locate them.

Diseases rarely afflict these plants, but cat palms and majesty palms are both susceptible to spider mites if the humidity level falls too low. Spray an insecticidal soap solution on them to kill them and keep them away. However, because red spider mites dislike moisture, water sprayed directly onto them is their biggest enemy.

Majesty palms are more prone to drying out by accident because they require frequent watering and high humidity. Spider mites prefer dry conditions, and they can infest the dry fronds when the humidity is too low. To maintain a high enough humidity level, you might need to mist the fronds every two to three days.

Take the Majesty’s palm outside and spray it with a hose to eliminate and prevent spider mites if it becomes infected. It’s nearly a tie because a humidifier placed close to a Majesty’s palm can prevent the need for misting. However, the anecdotal evidence that majesty palms more frequently attract mites drove us to choose cat palms. (Learn How Long For Atrazine To Work)

majestic indoor care

Indoor Care Difficulty

It depends on your home’s ability to meet their needs because neither is easy to grow nor care for. For instance, the Cat Palm needs moist soil and strong indirect light to grow. It will become difficult for you to grow Cat Palm, which can frustrate you if you want to grow them if your home doesn’t have access to bright indirect light. Growing Majesty Palm needs bright light or full sun, regular watering, and misting.

Majesty Palms require more care, so growing them can be challenging if you are a busy person who cannot spare some time to water a plant. Trying to grow Majesty Palm but unable to meet its needs because of your schedule can also be frustrating.

CAT PALM VS. MAJESTY PALM – DIFFERENCES

The Cat Palm, also known as Chamaedorea cataractarum or cataract palm, or cascade palm, is a species of a palm tree. It prefers bright light and is native to Central America and Southern Mexico. It has dark green palm fronds. The Ravenea rivularis, also known as the Majesty Palm, is a tree in the Arecaceae family. It prefers a location with full sun and has dark green, arching leaves.

Native to Madagascar, the majestic palm can grow to one hundred feet or more. The majestic palm and the cat palm differ significantly in several differences, including maximum height, frond texture, and hardness. Cat palms typically have softer stems and form in clumps and stem softness. Majesty palms are often taller and have a wider spread and sharp fronds. (Learn How Long For Atrazine To Work)

The following factors set the two palm plants apart:

leaf shape size

Leaf Shape and Texture

Because they both have dark green, arching fronds, you might initially think they are the same thing. However, when you touch them, the Majesty Palm leaves will feel tougher, while the Cat Palm leaves will feel softer.

But this doesn’t make any of them better or worse than the others; it just highlights their unique profiles. Whereas the Cat Palm stays small, the Majesty Palm can grow to enormous sizes in the wild. However, when grown as a house plant, everything is different. Since neither plant produce flowers when grown indoors, they are both considered foliage plants.

Leaf Size

Their leaf sizes differ from one another. For example, cat Palm typically tends to be a smaller size than Majesty Palm grows. Because of this, Cat Palm grows leaves in a clump shape, especially when planted beneath taller leaves. The Majesty Palm has an upright structure habit and has broader leaves than Cat Palms. Once more, it all comes down to preference because smaller and taller plants require more space than bigger ones.

Height and Structure

The Majesty Palm can grow up to 60–80 feet tall in the wild, whereas the Cat Palm rarely exceeds 10 feet. Majesty Palm is still larger than Cat Palm as a houseplant because it produces more extended, more rigid fronds growing from multiple stems, whereas Cat Palm only produces tiny, soft fronds in its stem.

Humidity

Both plants have different humidity requirements. However, despite its small size, the Cat Palm is tolerant of different conditions than Majesty Palms. When Cat Palms show humidity stress, mist them lightly or place them in a pebble tray, you can also find a Majesty Palm needs more humidity than Cat Palms. (Learn How To Protect Grass Seedlings From Frost)

Soil pH

Typically, a Cat Palm works fine in neutral soil, so that you can use regular potting soil. To improve drainage, add perlite or coarse sand. Majesty Palm prefers more acidic soil, so mix cactus potting mix with peat to reduce acidity.

Indoor Care

A Cat Palm is easy to grow indoors. It is not a delicate plant, making it easy for first-time plant owners to care for. Cat Palms thrive in moist soil and indirect sunlight. Therefore, Cat Palm care and other Parlor Palms are easy to care for. However, the Majesty Palm needs sunlight, regular feeding, water, and frequent misting to look majestic.

The palm plant needs all of its needs met to be strong and thrive; without care, the palm yellows and droops. After this, leaves turn brown, wilt, and fall.

Size and Growth

The cat palm grows 4 to 6 feet tall as a houseplant, making it ideal in entryways, parlors, and corridors. It can happily decorate a sunny corner at its peak height without being too large or overwhelming.

Cat palms and other indoor palms grow slowly. However, it adapts well to containers growing indoors and doesn’t need to be repotted often. The majesty palm can grow 18 feet tall in a large pot. Outdoors it’s a large tree that can reach over 80 feet. However, unlike most indoor palms, Majesty grows quickly, and limiting pot size reduces the height.

Cat Palm Vs. Majesty Palm Growing Requirements

Cat Palm Growing Requirements

Cat Palm varieties need less watering, light, and food than Majesty Palm. In addition, the shorter palm species can live indoors in bright light, making it an ideal houseplant. The two plants need well-drained soil; cat palms must be kept moist in a humid environment like with most palms.

Cascade palms grow in zones 9 to 10 but can be brought indoors. Cat palms can reach 4 to 5 feet tall in pots if given the right care and watering. Cat palms are equally susceptible to fungal diseases, leaf spots, mealybugs, and spider mites. The Majesty Palm can get the same pests and diseases.

Majesty Palm Growing Requirements

The Majestic Palm is technically more suited for outdoor landscapes because it has palm tree-like needs. In addition, the species needs at least partial sun or 4-6 hours of direct light. This palm can grow 6 feet in pots or higher in the yard. Majestic palm needs about as much watering as cat palm, but more if it’s in direct sunlight and warm.

The majesty palm needs constant watering, feeding, and pest control. Spider mites and mealybugs must be eliminated immediately. Don’t leave the plant in a saucer of water. Wet feet cause root rot or fungal disease in these plants.

Which Is Better For Your Home?

Where you put your palm plant will determine whether you choose a cat palm or a majestic palm. Majesty palm prefers outdoor landscapes and bright indirect light. The cat palm, which doesn’t need sun, is a better houseplant.

Even if potted and not in full sun, the Majesty palm is a viable houseplant. However, palm species are fussier than the cat palm, and you’ll have an easier and more enjoyable time with a cat palm as your indoor plant. If you like a challenge, the majestic palm is a viable houseplant, or you can even go through a Parlor Palm vs. Majesty Palm comparison. (Read Can Chickens Eat Red Peppers)

Majesty Palm Vs Cat Palm (1)