Potted Indoor Palms

[PlanterPalm]

Realistically, I live in Western NY (Zone 6a) and the summers are hot and the winters are brutal. Would it be possible for me to grow these potted palms inside? Also The only "Palm" I have is a Ponytail Palm.  As a beginner should I go for it or choose something else?

1. Trachycarpus Fortunei (Windmill Palm)

2. Livistona Chinensis (Chinese Fan Palm)

3. Bismarckia Nobilis (Bismarck Palm)

4. Sabal Palmetto (Sabal Palm)

5. Sabal Minor (Dwarf Palmetto)

[JohnAndSancho]

16 hours ago, PlanterPalm said:

Realistically, I live in Western NY (Zone 6a) and the summers are hot and the winters are brutal. Would it be possible for me to grow these potted palms inside? Also The only "Palm" I have is a Ponytail Palm.  As a beginner should I go for it or choose something else?

1. Trachycarpus Fortunei (Windmill Palm)

2. Livistona Chinensis (Chinese Fan Palm)

3. Bismarckia Nobilis (Bismarck Palm)

4. Sabal Palmetto (Sabal Palm)

5. Sabal Minor (Dwarf Palmetto)

I'm interested in the Bismarck question myself. I've got seedlings of all of these inside right now, but I dunno how happy the Sabals or Trachys would be indoors. But growing palms indoors is doable, you face a different set of challenges and it's a pain sometimes trying to balance everything out when you've got plants that all want different light/different watering/some like being misted, some seem to hate it and it's a learn as you go kinda thing since everybody's setup is different. 

[PlanterPalm]

On 8/2/2025 at 2:02 AM, JohnAndSancho said:

I'm interested in the Bismarck question myself. I've got seedlings of all of these inside right now, but I dunno how happy the Sabals or Trachys would be indoors. But growing palms indoors is doable, you face a different set of challenges and it's a pain sometimes trying to balance everything out when you've got plants that all want different light/different watering/some like being misted, some seem to hate it and it's a learn as you go kinda thing since everybody's setup is different. 

When I do get around to finally getting the Bismarckia I'll definitely keep you updated. 

[SeanK]

I'll vote No on the Bismarck. They get big and heavy and will never have the soil to develop leaf mass.

The others will be Okay for a few years. Personally, I would focus indoor efforts on other types of palms.

Raphis

Chamaedorea

Hyophorbe

P.roebellini

These are pretty common and do well indoors. Over the winter, have a pallet set up outside. Set the palms on the pallet when it goes above 41°F / 5°C and do whatever maintenance they need. An hour at that temp won't hurt them.

[PalmsInBaltimore]

There is at least one thread on wintering Bismarckia indoors. The one below is for someone in Ontario. Seems theoretically possible, but I agree with above that it will become too large to find a good pot for it or move it easily between inside and outside.

I have six Livistona chinensis that I separated last summer. They did fine inside last winter, pretty much as well as my Phoenix roebelenii, holding most of their leaves, although their growth slowed down much much more than the pygmy date palm's did. You learn quickly how much palms prefer being outdoors unless you have a sunroom, and even then... 

It doesn't seem like anyone has much success with Sabals in containers past their seedling stage. They seem pretty rare in the Palms in Pots section.

I agree with above that most of the Chamaedorea species (C. metalica is pretty easy to find, not as cheap as the over-produced C. elegans of course) will do well indoors. They can even just stay indoors all year if you put them in a spot they like.