How to Grow and Care for Sentry Palm (Howea belmoreana) Indoors
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Howea belmoreana also called Curly Palm is one of the popular indoor palms and bears soft, drooping leaflets which add an exotic feel in any space.
Howea belmoreana is among the slow-growing palms and belongs to a group of palms (called feather palms). These palms produce fronds which are divided on either side of the midrib into leaflets.
Curly Palm has a thin, slender trunk with feather-shaped drooping fronds which produce wide leaflets. The trunk is dark-green when young and turns brown as it ages.
Sentry Palm like Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) and Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) easily adapts to a wide range of growing conditions. They are among favored plants for a low-light office where they will act as impressive focal point plants.
Botanical name: Howea belmoreana
Synonym: Kentia belmoreana
Family: Arecaceae
Common names: Sentry Palm, Curly Palm
Origin
Howea belmoreana is endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia.
Size
Sentry Palm can grow to a height of 3-4 feet. The canopy of a mature Sentry Palm can spread 5-10 feet in diameter placing it among tree-like plants for the large indoor spaces.
Curly Palm bears more drooping fronds and is generally smaller than its close relative Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm) which grows to a height of 8 feet.
Is Howea belmoreana toxic?
No. Sentry Palm is non-toxic to both humans and pets. It is safe to grow in a home with children, cats, dogs and other pets.
Where to Buy
Sentry Palm is a beautiful addition to any plant collection to inject a touch of elegance. You may acquire these palms from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to care for Sentry Palm indoors
To care for Sentry Palm indoors, give it bright indirect light, warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.
Howea belmoreana also requires pruning to to keep it neat as well as minimize pests and diseases. Repotting is only necessary when it becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
Water your Sentry Palm liberally in spring and summer until water drips through the drainage hole. Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately. Avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, drooping and yellowing.
Reduce watering in fall and winter to keep the soil slightly moist since growth is slowed at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wilting, drooping and yellowing.
Use water that is at room temperature to prevent cold shock which can result in stunted growth and eventual plant death. Only water with chlorine-free water like rainwater to prevent browning of leaf edges.
Avoid getting the base of the palm wet to avoid rotting and death of the palm. Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to avoid waterlogging which can lead to root-rot and eventual loss of the palm.
Light Requirements
Sentry Palm thrives in bright indirect light. Do not expose it to direct sunlight as it can cause the fronds to develop a yellowish color instead of the attractive green color.
Curly Palm can tolerate some shade though it will grow much slower and may die if grown under such conditions for a prolonged period. If the natural lighting is not enough, use a full spectrum grow light to increase it.
Rotate the pot regularly to make sure that the palm receives light on all sides for uniform growth and to prevent lopsided growth.
Temperature & Humidity
Howea belmoreana prefers a warmth of 16-270C; a temperature comfortable for you is ideal for this palm. Keep it away from drafts as they can cause reduced growth and brown leaf tips.
Sentry Palm requires a humidity of 50-55%. If the air is too dry, raise humidity by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray to keep the fronds looking green and healthy.
Fertilizer
Feed your Sentry Palm with a liquid fertilizer, rich in micronutrients on monthly basis in spring and summer for a lush growth. Withhold feeding in fall and winter as the growth is minimal at this time.
Take care not to overfeed as it can lead to yellowing. To prevent fertilizer build up which is indicated by leaf burn and brown spots, water thoroughly until water comes out through the drainage hole.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Howea belmoreana should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent sogginess. A mix of 2 parts of potting mix and 1 part perlite is recommended for this plant.
Repotting
Repot your Sentry Palm only when extremely root-bound and take care not to damage the roots. Avoid repotting the palm too frequently as is sensitive to root disturbance.
Use a pot 1-2 sizes larger that has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Pruning & Grooming
Pruning Sentry Palm involves cutting away the old brown and dry fronds near the soil surface to maintain the plant tidy as well as reduce pest and disease infestations.
Cut any flower stalk immediately to prevent the palm from wasting energy on developing the flowers.
Occasionally clean the mature leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and also discourage pests and diseases.
Sentry Palm Propagation
Howea belmoreana can be propagated from seeds but this is difficult and the palm rarely produces seeds when grown indoors. It is advisable to buy a new plant from the breeders.
Howea belmoreana Problems & Remedies
Sentry Palm problems are yellow leaves, brown leaves, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and their solutions.
Yellow leaves
Some of the causes of yellow leaves on Sentry Palm are too little light, dry air, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, aging among others.
How to fix it
Remove such leaves by snipping them off at the base with a clean sharp knife or a pair of scissors.
Too little light: Position the plant in bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate.
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, group the plants together, use a cool mist humidifier or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom.
Inconsistent watering: Water only when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out. Do not water on a schedule.
Soggy soil: Use well-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.
Aging: It is natural for the old leaves to turn yellow and droop as the plant matures.
Brown leaves
The main causes of brown leaves on Howea belmoreana are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress, direct sunlight among others.
How to fix it
Remove the affected leaves and discard to keep the palm neat and tidy.
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry but do allow the soil to dry completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and free-draining soil.
Temperature stress: Keep the palm away from sources of drafts like AC units, hot air vents, heat sources, drafty windows, windy doors and others.
Direct sunlight: Move the palm to a shaded spot or use a light curtain to diffuse the sunrays.
Brown leaf tips
Brown leaf tips on Sentry Palm are caused by dry air, underwatering, drafts or bruising.
How to fix it
Trim off the brown tips with sterilized scissors to keep the plant tidy.
Dry air: To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together.
Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of the soil dry out but do not let the soil dry out completely.
Drafts: Keep the palm away from sources of drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units, hot air vents among others.
Bruising: Place the palm away from the line of traffic to avoid touching.
Pests
Common pests of Howea belmoreana are spider mites, scales and mealybugs which are prevalent in dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants.
- Treat the affected plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Ensure to follow the instructions on the label.
- Regularly check underneath the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.
- Keep the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.
- Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together to step-up humidity to minimize the pests infestations.
Diseases
Sentry Palm is prone to root-rot disease which is prevalent in soggy soil. It presents as yellowing and browning which is accompanied by rotting and sudden death of the plant.
How to fix it
- Slip the plant out of its pot, wash off the soil and inspect the roots.
- Brown-black, mushy roots indicate root-rot; cut them away. In addition, cut away any stems showing any signs of rot.
- Disinfect the healthy roots and the entire plant with a copper-based fungicidal solution as instructed by the manufacturer.
- Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh potting soil.
- Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging.
- Water the plant with the fungicidal solution and place it in a warm, brightly-lit spot.
- Do not water the plant again until new growth appears and avoid overwatering and soggy soil thereafter.
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