Cultivation Tips

This palm is best suited to a warm, humid tropical climate where it can be given considerable room and a substantial tree, framework or other support on which to climb. Young plants should generally be protected from intense, exposed sun and grown under filtered light or partial shade, reflecting their establishment beneath a rainforest canopy; as the palm climbs, its foliage can tolerate brighter conditions. A rich, organic, well-drained but consistently moist soil should suit the species, with regular watering and little tolerance for prolonged drying. Fertilize during active growth with a balanced palm fertilizer several times per year, particularly in warm climates where growth is continuous. Because it originates in wet tropical forest, it should be regarded as a genuinely tropical palm with little meaningful cold tolerance; temperatures approaching freezing should be avoided. Its long climbing stems, sharp armature and eventual size also make it much better suited to a large tropical garden or conservatory than to a confined landscape.