How to Care for Kentia Palm
Kentia palm (Howea forsterana) is often grown indoors. A slender, upright stature and a tolerance for medium to low light make kentia palms ideal houseplants. People often use kentia palms, also known as sentry palms, in living rooms, floral arrangements and office settings. In U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 9b through 11, kentia palms can also grow outdoors. In a container, a kentia palm may grow as tall as 10 feet. Palms can't be pruned to a smaller height, so in the event that these plants outgrow their location, they must be moved to a more suitable place.
Choose a location that balances your needs with the needs of your kentia palm. Although kentia palms will live in low-light conditions, they thrive in conditions with a lot of light. Choose spot with the most sunlight possible.
Plant your kentia palm in a container with adequate drainage and an appropriate growing medium formulated for container growing. Palms that have been planted in a container without drainage holes or in soil formulated for outdoor gardens should be removed and transplanted.
Water the kentia on a regular schedule during summer months and less frequently in the winter. During winter months, check the growing medium around kentia before watering, and water only when it's dry.
Clean dust from the leaves of your palm once a month, using a damp rag and a spray bottle filled with water. This is especially important during times of low humidity, because spider mites are attracted to dusty palm leaves and may become a serious problem for your plant.
Fertilize your palm once each season during spring, summer and autumn, using a fertilizer formulated for indoor plants, diluted to half strength.
Place your palm in a semi-shady location. Amend the garden soil with an all-purpose fertilizer if you're planting the kentia in the ground. The palm will also grow outdoors in a container with adequate drainage and suitable planting medium formulated for container growing.
Water your kentia palm once or twice weekly on a regular basis, particularly in summer.
Trim dead foliage at six-month intervals, using sharp and sanitized pruning shears.
Fertilize your kentia palm once per season in spring, summer and fall. Use a slow-release, balanced fertilizer sprinkled over the soil. Water deeply after fertilizing.
- Container medium
- Spray bottle
- Pruning shears
- Clemson University: Indoor Palms
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing Palms Indoors
- University of Georgia: Interior Plants Improving Air Quality
- University of Kentucky: Plants For Your Home And Office: Palms
- North Dakota State University: Kentia Palm
- University of California at Davis: Sentry Palm
- University of Georgia: New Trial Tropical Container Gardens
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images