Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) Care Indoors; Watering, Light, Soil, Problems
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Howea forsteriana also called Paradise Palm or Thatch Palm is among favorite indoors palms and features feathery fronds which are divided into soft, drooping leaflets on either side of the midrib.
Thatch Palm belongs to a group of palms (called feather palms) which produce fronds which are divided on either side of the midrib into leaflets, where the leaflets may be soft and drooping. It has a thin, slender trunk with feather shaped drooping fronds which produce wide leaflets.
Kentia Palm has a high tolerance to shade, low humidity, infrequent watering and cool temperatures. It is one of the popular low-light plants for the shaded spaces.
Botanical name: Howea forsteriana
Synonym: Kentia forsteriana
Family: Arecaceae
Common names: Kentia Palm, Paradise Palm, Thatch Palm
Origin
Howea forsteriana is native to Lord Howe Island off the Coast of Australia.
Size
Kentia Palm is relatively slow-growing, eventually growing up to 8 feet under good indoor growing conditions. The trunk is dark-green when young and turns brown as it ages. Its fronds are less drooping and is generally taller than its close relative Howea belmoreana (Sentry Palm) which grows to a height of 3-4 feet.
Is Howea forsteriana toxic?
No. According to ASPCA, Howea forsteriana 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
If you would like to add Howea forsteriana to your collection, you may obtain them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to care for Howea forsteriana indoors
To care for Howea forsteriana indoors, provide bright indirect light, warmth of 16-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled monthly feeding in spring and summer.
Kentia Palm requires pruning to keep it neat and discourage pests and diseases infestation. Repotting is only needed when it becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
Water Kentia Palm liberally in spring and summer while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, drooping and yellowing of leaves.
Decrease watering in fall and winter and maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is slowed at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, drooping and yellowing.
Only use room temperature water to prevent cold shock which can cause stunted growth and death of the plant. Ensure the water is chlorine-free to prevent browning of leaf edges.
Take care not to wet the base of the palm as it can lead to rotting and eventual plant death. Do not allow it to sit in soggy soil as it may lead to root-rot and loss of the palm; use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
Light Requirements
Kentia Palm grows best in bright indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunlight as it can cause the fronds to develop a yellowish color instead of the beautiful green color.
Thatch Palm can tolerate some shade but it will grow much slower. Therefore, if the natural lighting in your home is not adequate, use a full spectrum grow light to complement it.
Monthly, give the pot a quarter turn to make sure that the palm receives light on all sides, for uniform growth and to prevent lopsided growth.
Temperature & Humidity
Howea forsteriana thrives in a warmth of 16-280C. If the temperature is comfortable for you it is ideal for the palm. Keep it away from drafts as they can lead to reduced growth, yellowing and brown leaf tips and edges.
Kentia Palm prefers a humidity of 50-55%. Where the humidity is too low, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity to keep the fronds looking green and healthy. Maintain good air flow to depress fungal infestations.
Fertilizer
Feed Kentia Palm with a liquid fertilizer, rich in micronutrients on monthly basis in the growing period (spring and summer). Stop feeding in fall and winter as the growth is minimal at this time.
Take care not to overfeed the palm as it can lead to yellowing of the fronds. To prevent fertilizer build up which is indicated by leaf burn and brown spots, regularly flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage hole.
Potting Soil
The best soil for Howea forsteriana should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent waterlogging. A blend of 2 parts of potting mix and 1 part perlite is ideal for this palm.
Repotting
Repot Kentia Palm only when it is extremely root-bound and take care not to damage the roots. Avoid too frequent repotting as it is sensitive to root disturbance.
Use a pot 1-2 sizes larger than the current one. Make sure that the pot 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 Kentia Palm involves cutting away the old brown and dry fronds near the soil surface to keep the plant neat as well as minimize pest and disease infestations.
Cut away any flower stalk immediately to prevent the palm from wasting energy on developing the flowers.
Clean the mature leaves regularly by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust as well as discourage pests and diseases.
Howea forsteriana Propagation
Kentia Palm 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.
Kentia Palm Problems & Remedies
Howea forsteriana problems are brown leaves, yellow leaves, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Brown leaves
Some of the causes of brown leaves on Howea forsteriana 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 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 for too long.
Soggy soil: Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil.
Temperature stress: Keep the palm away from sources of drafts like hot air vents, heat sources, AC units, drafty windows, windy doors and others.
Direct sunlight: Move the palm to a shaded spot or use a sheer curtain to diffuse the sunshine.
Yellow leaves
The main causes of yellow leaves on Howea forsteriana are too little light, dry air, inconsistent watering, soggy soil and aging.
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 brown and droop as the plant matures.
Brown leaf tips
Brown leaf tips on Kentia 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 palm neat and tidy.
Dry air: To elevate 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 excessive touching.
Pests
Common pests of Kentia Palm are mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects which are common in dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Isolate the infested plant to reduce 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 raise humidity to minimize the pests infestations.
Diseases
Howea forsteriana is prone to root-rot which is promoted by soggy soil. The disease 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 recommended by the manufacturer.
- Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh potting soil.
- Ensure 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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