Some of the links in the post are affiliate links and I receive a commission for purchases made through some of the links in the post.
This species of palm originates from Lord Howe Island in Australia, where it can grow up to 40′ tall, which is the decor it shows well. Luckily, the ones we grow indoors never reach that height!
These palms are slow growing and will reach their maximum height of around 12 inches (30 cm) after many years.
Propagating the Kentia palm is a very slow process, which is why not many people do it. This also explains why they are quite expensive to buy.
They generally require very little pruning, although they have other issues, so we’ll look at some Kentia palm problems you might encounter with your houseplant.
Contents
How to Fix Kentia Palm Problems
give too much water
This is true for most houseplants and, in fact, it is one of the most common ways to kill palms, and Kentia palms in particular.
They don’t need a lot of water, although they do need a good soak to thrive. Overwatering will lead to root rot and the plant will die.
You can smell the topsoil if your plant needs or gets too much water.
If it’s dry, your plan will need water. If it is wet, wait a few days before watering and check again.
You can mist the plant with a spray bottle, as this will help keep the humidity high, which your palm loves.
It also prevents dust from accumulating on the leaves and plays a role in preventing mite infestation.
To learn more, read our article on: How to save an overwatered palm tree.
Submarine
This can cause palm leaves to turn yellow and then die. You will notice that the leaves become brittle and look unhealthy.
Another sign of sinking is that there are problems with the stem of the Kentia palm beginning to bend and not stand upright.
In fact, this is the main method to see if your plant is not getting enough water.
To solve this problem, check that the soil does not contain too much water. You will also notice that the stems have changed color and the leaves look brittle.
Ideally, you should have a regular routine for watering houseplants because they don’t rely on rain or dew for nourishment.
If you need help watering your kentia palm, try this. Automatic drip irrigation kit.
temperatures
In Australia, these palms thrive in a constant warm temperature. Your plant needs temperatures between 18°C and 29°C to thrive.
If you have your Kentia palm outside in the yard, bring it indoors as soon as the first signs of cool temperatures appear. Once spring comes, you can put it back in the yard.
Relief
For your Kentia palm to thrive, it must a little light inside. This ensures that the leaves maintain a healthy green color.
That said, it doesn’t like direct sunlight as it will scorch the foliage and eventually kill the plant.
They tolerate low light conditions, although they really prefer to be placed in filtered medium light. You can create a filter using a veil.
If you want to move your Kentia outside in the spring, make sure it is in a shady spot so it never gets direct sunlight.
Disturbing your Kentia Palm
This plant does not like to be disturbed. In fact, the removal and transplant can often cause it to go into shock and die.
When transplanting the Kentia palm, you must be very careful to do it slowly and carefully.
A sure sign that your plant is in shock is when the leaves turn yellow. They may also begin to die.
The best way to handle this, and one of the safest, is to repot only when necessary. Plant your Kentia in the largest possible pot and leave it as long as possible.
If you must repot, be sure to soak the soil 24 hours in advance, repot as soon as you can without disturbing the root system.
Mold
mold on the floor around your Kentia Palm means one of two things: too much water or too little light.
Once you see mold, remove it to prevent it from spreading and possibly killing the palm.
You may need to remove 2″ of soil to completely remove the mold. After that, replace it with fresh, clean soil or potting soil.
If there isn’t enough light, after removing the fungus, move your plant to a better-lit location, but don’t be tempted to place it in full sun, as this is also harmful.
mealybugs
These little perks literally suck the sap out of your plants and they love Kentia palms.
Once adults, they develop a hard shell that protects them. Once attached to your plants, they will suck sap from the leaves.
The only good thing about them is that they are big enough to see, but they will damage your plant if left attached. You will notice the leaves turn a variegated yellow and drop off.
You can get rid of these pests by getting rid of them. If it makes you dirty, you can remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Prevention is better than cure here, so it’s important to keep your Kentia plant free from this. Leaf color is your first indication of an infestation.
red mites
Before you see spiders, you may only see thin webs. The spiders are very small, but they will cause a lot of damage to the Kentia palm.
If not treated in time, they will eventually kill the plant.
They are also difficult to eradicate, so watch them closely and spot the infestation before it gets out of hand.
Misting the plant between waterings is a good way to prevent pests. Spider mites cannot tolerate high humidity, so spraying the plant will help.
Another way to get rid of spider mites is to bathe the plant.
Place a plastic bag around the soil so it doesn’t get soaked and give the leaves a good shower. This will eliminate all mites.
There are chemicals you can use, but if you’d rather not, try showering and spraying your plant first.
You may also be interested in: Can I put my Kentia Palm outside?
Should I Cut Brown Kentia Palm Leaves?
Kentia palms don’t like to be pruned too much, in fact, they hardly need any pruning. However, when the leaves turn brown, they look unattractive.
The brown leaves can be removed by cutting them at the base with a sharp pruner. Make sure your scissors are clean so you don’t accidentally spread infection to open cuts.
Only remove the ones you need, as removing too much can also damage your palm.
The reason for brown leaves may be the result of dry air and lack of humidity around the plant.
Brown leaves can also mean there is too much fertilizer, leaving large amounts of salt in the soil.
Brown leaves can be eradicated by spraying the kentia palm to increase the humidity around it and cut fertilization in half.
You should also only fertilize every three to four months to prevent salt buildup.
Why Do Kentia Palms Turn Yellow?
When your Kentia palm turns yellow, it’s normally a sign that the soil is too wet. This is usually due to excess water.
If you want your plant to survive, you need to dry out the soil. Since we don’t want to move the plant any further and don’t want to disturb the roots more than necessary, this can take several weeks.
You want to let the soil dry out completely before watering it again. If the plant continues to yellow, it may already have root rot.
There’s another reason for yellow leaves, and that’s simply because your plant is getting old.
If you suspect this is the problem and the soil is dry enough, carefully remove the yellow leaves without disturbing the roots.
Usually the only time you worry about yellowing leaves is when the new leaves start to change color.
This may be due to a nutrient deficiency, such as a lack of magnesium, potassium, or iron. Check the fertilizer to make sure it contains the nutrients your Kentia needs.
final thoughts
The Kentia palm is a great houseplant that doesn’t have many maintenance issues, although the issues they do have are significant if you want to keep your plant healthy.
By keeping an eye out for pests and making sure the plant is properly watered, there’s no reason Kentia palm problems can’t be minimized and your plant can survive for many years.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
How to solve your problems with sago palm
Areca palm diseases and how to cure them?
Palma Kentia v Palma Areca
Written by: Valerie Holyoak