Kentia Howea Fosteriana palm - Howea Fosteriana - XL

Kentia (Howea Fosteriana)

Origin

The origin of the Kentia is the island of Howea, east of Australia. The Howea Forsteriana, popularly called Kentia, is an easy-care houseplant. The houseplant requires little maintenance, can be placed in partial shade and is therefore very suitable for offices.

Watering

Like all other palms, it is wise to always keep the soil slightly moist, in the growing period from March to August a little more than in winter. You can let the soil dry out slightly before watering again. However, do not leave the roots in the water, this will cause root rot.

substrate

If the pot is provided (or you provide it yourself) with a substrate and a water meter, watering is easy! On arrival there is little water in it, fill the pot slowly with water (sometimes wait a while) and you will see that the meter rises by itself. All you have to do is keep an eye on this meter. If you go on holiday, you can fill the pot almost half full (you can see this by the meter that is way above its maximum) and you can safely go away for 3 weeks. In addition, it is also not a problem if the plants do not receive too much and too quickly water. The substrate absorbs the water, so if the water meter is at the bottom, the substrate is still moist, but there is no more water at the bottom of the pot. The plant then still has enough for 4 summer days.

Spraying

Spray the Kentia occasionally to remove dust from the leaves and prevent pests. Spraying also improves the quality and ornamental value of the houseplant. Rainwater or descaled water is best suited for this, as this prevents limescale stains on the leaves.

Location

The Kentia thrives in partial shade and needs a maximum of 2 to 3 hours of sunlight per day. The Kentia prefers a north, east or west-facing window. If you do place the Kentia near a south-facing window, keep a minimum distance of three meters from the window.

Minimum temperature

During the day 16 °C

10°C at night

Nutrition

During the growing period, preferably fertilize the Kentia weekly from April to September. Never give too much as this can lead to burning of the roots. Look on the packaging for the dosage where in the case of the Kentia 50% of the indicated amount is sufficient.

Repotting

It is best to transplant a Kentia into a larger pot once every two years. The best period for transplanting is spring or immediately after purchasing the plant. A larger pot will stimulate growth and the advantage is a larger buffer soil so that the water is spread more and there is less chance of root rot. Always take a pot that is 20 to 25% larger and do not use Hydro granules at the bottom of the pot. It is best to use a plastic insert cover for large pots.

Leaf damage

If a Kentia has brown edges on the lower leaves, you can easily cut it off. This is unfortunately a natural and unavoidable phenomenon. If the leaves are yellowing, the cause is too much light. In this case, move the indoor plant a little further from the window.

Pruning

A Kentia is a relatively slow grower and is best pruned in the autumn. Cut the leaf off as much as possible at the bottom of the stem. Use pruning shears for this. You can trim any brown leaf tips with scissors.

Toxic

The Kentia is not poisonous.

Diseases

The Kentia is not very susceptible to diseases, but of course bugs can always end up in the plant. Please check this regularly. If necessary, use a biological - or if desired - a chemical pesticide to treat the plants.

The Kentia is a very strong plant that is a welcome guest in offices.