Howea forsteriana, kentia palm

To the east of Australia, two hours' flight from Sydney, lies an archipelago of volcanic islands with unique flora and fauna. And heavenly landscapes. Would you like to teleport there, but your boss and banker don't agree? Adopt a Howea forsteriana. Known as kentia, this palm tree from the Arecaceae family takes you to the other side of the world when you gaze at its fronds.

How to recognize the kentia, Howea forsteriana?

The kentia is an upright palm. In the open, it can reach heights of over ten meters. It grows more modestly in pots and indoors. But be sure to leave plenty of room! Howea forsteriana reaches three meters in height and almost as wide. If your living room doesn't have a cathedral ceiling, it's best to choose a Kentia curly or a Dwarf palm.

When you buy a kentia in a garden center, several stipes are planted in the same pot. In the wild, this palm has only one straight stipe. The false trunk is green when young. It then develops white leaf scars.

The fronds form a flared crown. The pinnate leaves are slightly arched. Dark green, they can reach 1.5 meters in length.

Flowering is rare indoors. It occurs in winter in the form of green or brown star-shaped flowers.

Fruiting is even more exceptional in our latitudes. So you're unlikely to see the dark-red, ovoid berries that contain the seeds.

Howea forsteriana is said to have depolluting properties. It is also a non-toxic plant, harmless to animals and humans.

Our maintenance tips

Kentia is an easy-care plant. But it is fragile. Grow it away from draughts, cold and direct sunlight.

Watering

To know if you need to water, touch the soil. Water only when the surface of the substrate is dry (two to three centimeters). Use non-calcareous water, such as rainwater, at room temperature.

To prevent the roots from suffocating, don't leave standing water in the saucer or planter.

Spray

In addition to regular watering, misting prevents the plant from drying out due to heat in summer and heating in winter.

Kentia do not like hard water. Preferrainwater or filtered water.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Howea forsteriana to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Water your plant the day before repotting. The operation is easier when the rootball is still damp.

Kentia develop their roots deep down. To give them room to grow, choose a pot with holes higher than it is wide. Line the bottom with a bed of gravel or clay balls. This facilitates drainage.

Then pour in a layer of potting soil for green plants. Plant kentia and add substrate. Don't fill the pot to the brim. Stop three to five centimetres beforehand so that the water doesn't overflow during watering.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Supplement watering with a houseplant fertilizer to promote the development of your Howea forsteriana.

If you have just repotted, wait six to eight weeks before starting to fertilize.

Cleaning

The dust that accumulates on the leaves prevents photosynthesis. To ensure that your Kentia takes full advantage of the light, clean its foliage with a clean, damp cloth. Then wipe with a soft cloth.

Prune

Remove dry palms by cutting them off at the base. Use clean pruning shears to prevent the spread of disease.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Araceae - Araceae
Type	Howea - Howea
Species	Kentia - Howea forsteriana
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs
Categories	Interior Herbaceous
Tags	Beginner Fritillary Large pot Soiffarde
Origin	Australia
Hardiness (USDA)	11a
Leaf color
Flower colors
Fruit color