Kentia Palm
Howea forsteriana
The kentia palm is an elegant, slow-growing palm with arching, dark green fronds. It tolerates lower light and cooler rooms than most palms, making it one of the best large indoor palms.
Photo: Black Diamond Images · CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Bright indirect light, Low light
Watering
Moderate
Water when the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Soil
Well-drained palm or potting mix; pH 6.0–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
10–32 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a palm fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Remove fully brown lower fronds only.
Kentia palms are not toxic to people, cats or dogs.
Top Cultivation Tips
Do not cut the growing tip.
Wipe fronds to deter spider mites.
Repot only every few years.
Keep out of direct sun.
Common problems
Mealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →PestScale insects
Immobile, shell-covered insects that cling to stems and leaves, draining sap and weakening trees and houseplants.
How to treat it →PestSpider mites
Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing.
How to treat it →
