Okay, so I’ve been on this houseplant kick lately, trying to turn my apartment into a little jungle. I snagged a Majesty Palm a while back because they look super tropical and chill. But, I quickly realized I wasn’t totally sure about how much light these guys actually need. I mean, the tag said “bright, indirect light,” but what does that really mean, you know?
My Majesty Palm Light Experiment
First, I put my palm near a south-facing window, but not directly in the sunbeams. It seemed okay at first, a few new fronds. I was feeling pretty good about my plant-parenting skills.

But then, after a few weeks, I noticed the lower leaves were starting to turn yellow and a bit crispy. Not a good sign. I started to second-guess myself. Was it getting too much sun, even though it was indirect? Or maybe not enough? It’s all so confusing!
So, I did some digging online. Forums, plant blogs, you name it. I learned that Majesty Palms are actually pretty light-hungry. They thrive in lots of bright light, but they can get sunburned if the light is too intense and direct, especially during the hottest part of the day.
- Too little light: Yellowing leaves, slow growth, and a generally sad-looking palm.
- Too much direct light: Crispy, brown edges on the leaves, like a sunburn.
- Just right: Lots of bright, indirect light. Think near a sunny window, but maybe with a sheer curtain to filter the strongest rays.
I decided I was going to move this thing around and see how it went. I had an east-facing window that got decent morning sun. So I move my palm and within a week, no joke, I see a new frond unfurling! And then another, and another, It was growing way and the older leaves even started to look a little greener.
I’m still learning, of course, but I think I’ve finally cracked the code. It like the east-facing window. Gets good morning sun, but nothing too harsh. It’s been a few months now, and it’s still looking lush and happy. I water it when the top inch of soil feels dry, and I even give it a little mist every now and then to keep the humidity up.
So, yeah, my Majesty Palm definitely needed a lot of light, but the right kind of light. It’s all about finding that sweet spot!