By: Caroline Mierzejewski

Bringing the tropics to your living room: Kentia Palm (Howea Forsteriana)

Are you looking to create a tropical oasis in your living room or spruce up a corner of your patio? The Kentia Palm (Howea Forsteriana) is a popular choice among interior decorators because it is well suited for container growing. This elegant palm does very well in indoors since it is extremely durable and slow growing.

The Kentia Palm is native to Lord Howe Island (off the eastern Australian coast) where it can reach an impressive height of 60 feet. For indoor containerized growing, heights can fall anywhere between 5-12 feet. Kentias have upright slender trunks and long arching, feathered, dark green leaves (also known as “fronds”).

Kentia Palm Care: General

As with other indoor plants, kentia palm care requires the right watering and lighting levels for a long life. Fortunately, because the Kentia Palm is so forgiving, it will tolerate low-light and low-humidity conditions, as well as dust, heat, and general neglect.

Plant your Kentia in fast draining potting mix; preferably on the sandy side. Find an area in your home that receives indirect light through a window; it does not necessarily need to be an extremely bright spot. Water Kentias only when the top inch of soil starts to dry out. Over watering can lead to root rot if the soil mix does not drain fast enough.

Kentia Palm Care: Pests and Other Issues

Plant diseases are very rarely a problem with indoor grown palms. Under and over watering along with insects and mites are usually the main issues.

There are a couple small scale insects that attack palms: mealy bugs and mites. Neem oil can be used to discourage such pest from feeding on your Kentia Palm. Neem oil is pressed from the fruits and seeds of Neem (Azadirachta indica), an evergreen tree which is native to India.

Kentia fronds should be healthy and dark green. Excessive fertilization may cause the tips of lower leaves to turn brown and die. Browning of leaves can also be caused by dry air and/or lack of water. Be sure to mist your Kentia Palm with a water bottle ever so often to provide some humidity and to remove any dust build-up.

The trunk of the Kentia Palm should appear strong and sturdy. If you notice any splitting or unevenness, check for decay as this is the main reason the trunk may split. Too much decay or splitting does indicate a dying palm. Palms, in general, require minimal pruning. Over pruning may cause irreversible damage to the trunk.

All in all, the Kentia Palm (Howea Forsteriana) will be a welcome addition to your home creating a relaxing, tropical atmosphere. The easy nature of kentia palm care make it a perfect choice for a novice.