Description
The Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) is a popular choice among interior decorators because it is well suited for container growing.
Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm or Thatch palm) is a species of flowering plant in the palm family Arecaeae, endemic to Lord Howe Island in Australia. It is also widely grown on Norfolk Island. It is a relatively slow-growing palm, eventually growing up to 10 m (33 ft) tall by 6 m (20 ft) wide.
Its fronds can reach 3 m (10 ft) long.The palm is an elegant plant, and is popular for growing indoors, requiring little light. Out of doors, it prefers a tropical region but will also grow in a cooler climate, and can tolerate temperatures down to -5 C, but only for a few hours; normal temperatures should not go below 10C.It grows readily outside in areas such as southern Australia and northern New Zealand, where it is fairly common in private gardens or as a street tree. In the Northern Hemisphere, it can be grown as far north as southwest England, and grows well in the south of Spain and the southern United States, and will bear flowers and fruit. In the United States, the kentia palm is often used in Florida and California in tropical plantings because it closely resembles the coconut palm, which can only grow in the warmest parts .
Plant Specifications
*above specification are indicative only. actual dimensions may vary by +-10%
| Common Name |
Howea forsteriana,Kentia palm, Sentry palm, Thatch palm, Paradise palm |
| Maximum Reachable Height |
upto 10 feet |
| Difficulty Level |
Moderately easy |
Planting and care
Palms grow best when you let their roots fill the pot.They need soil-based potting compost and should not be repotted unnecessarily.They are sensitive to chemicals and will be damaged if you expose them to aerosol sprays.If you need to treat them with insecticides, be sure what you use is suitable for a palm.Kentia palm care
plant thrived in interiors where low light, low humidity, poor air quality and cool temperatures made palms otherwise impossible to grow.
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.
| Sunlight |
Palm s prefer partial shade (or partial with some sunlight), as they are more than happy in low-light conditions. |
| Watering |
Keep soil moist throughout the growing season, |
| Soil |
Loamy soil/ Sandy soil/ Soil with a pH range of 6.5 to 8.0 |
| Temperature |
They can handle a winter rest in cooler conditions, not less than 50 F. (10 C.). They do tolerate central heating. |
| Fertilizer |
Feed your palm regularly during the growing season. If possible, use a palm fertilizer, which will contain all the micro nutrients and extra potassium and manganese. Potassium deficiency is especially common in palms, it shows up in yellowing or brownish fronds. |
Kentia palm special feature
Palms tend to lend themselves to creating shadows and reflections. You can stand a palm in an alcove that is lined with a mirror and create stunning effects. If you put one on each side of a fireplace, its even doubly stunning. The shadows cast by the palms fronds can pattern a plain wall. Spotlights can create good strong light for bold shadows.These are quite dramatic. Dont position spotlights too closely because this generates too much heat for the palm to withstand. Finally, lighting the plant from below can cast shadows onto opposite walls and even the ceiling.
Kentia palm uses
