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Kentia palms have long adorned the hallways and homes of British royalty. Even Queen Victoria loved them around her coffin, thanks to their undeniable touch of elegance.
This stunning plant has helped gardens look beautiful, to help you place it in the right place outdoors we have a guide to making your own. landscape here.
Over time, plants have become commonplace in homes. Both new and experienced gardeners greatly appreciate this plant’s resilience and low maintenance.
Although there are many varieties of this plant, two seem to take center stage. These are:
straw palm
The straw palm has long green leaves that can reach up to three meters in length. For houseplants with dramatic effect, these are an ideal choice.
Curly Palm / Belmore Sentinel Palm
These have curved trunks in combination with slightly curled leaves. Queen Victoria took it pretty well.
You can also consider many other options on the market, each with their own quirks. For this piece, we’ll focus on Kentia palms as a whole:
Contents
Can I put my Kentia palm outside?
Most people have their palms inside because that’s where they thrive the most. Growing your kentia palm outdoors can be tricky, but it’s not impossible.
In fact, it comes with its variety of benefits. Outdoors, the plant can reach a height of up to 25 feet, which would not be possible indoors.
Moreover, the plant can produce flowers, fruits and seeds in 15 years. Sounds like something you would want from this plant?
First, you need to know your growing conditions. Unfortunately, these plants are a bit restrictive and only do well in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11.
All regions require indoor plantings. Be aware that moving your kentia palm outdoors can lead to transplant shock.
You can react by giving it more water over time until it becomes accustomed to the new conditions. This does not mean that you should leave the soil wet in any way.
Instead, try keeping it moist for a few months until the plant stabilizes. Here are a few other things to keep in mind:
Positioning a Kentia Palm
The outdoor kentia palm does best in semi-shaded areas and does not do well in full sun as the light will scorch the foliage.
It is for this reason that the plant grows well indoors where the sun is manageable.
Since you can’t use sheers outdoors, you’ll need to find a hidden spot to give the plant the protection it needs.
Pay attention to the spots on the leaves, this indicates that the plant receives too much light. You may need to shade it or move it (if it’s in a pot).
What soil to use for a Kentia palm?
The soil should be well-drained and aerated for a kentia palm.
This can be difficult when planting in the ground, but you can solve it by breaking up the soil before planting the palm.
You should also amend the soil with a universal fertilizer.
Alternatively, you can forego planting the palm directly in the ground and instead in a pot. This way you can have more control over sun exposure and move it around if needed.
It also makes it easier to adjust the floor. The downside is that you have to repot the plant at some point.
You should amend the soil for potted palms once per season in summer, spring, and fall.
Use a slow-release soil fertilizer and water it in so that it soaks the entire container. That should be enough for this season. Do not amend the soil in winter.
Make sure the container has adequate drainage and there are no blockages at the bottom.
Otherwise, water can remain in the pot, which promotes root rot and eventually kills the plant.
prune a kentia palm
It’s easy to get carried away with the size of your kentia palm as it grows. However, it is best to prune the foliage twice a year to reduce stress on the plant.
Use sharp sterilized scissors on the blades and make clean cuts. The use of blunt objects damages the leaves and exposes them to diseases.
Cut off the dead leaf and leave the plant. Otherwise, too much pruning can permanently damage the trunk and make the plant susceptible to fungal diseases.
How to Water a Kentia Palm
The first few months before the plant adapts to its new home, it needs more water.
However, it should not be overwatered. The ideal is to water once or twice a week depending on the dryness of the soil.
Always make sure the top two inches of soil are dry before watering. Also check the soil drainage.
If it is not effective, root rot can occur. It is also helpful to mist the plant occasionally to create a moist environment that encourages the plant to thrive.
Do not overwater, as this can lead to discolored fronts, yellowed tips, drooping and browned leaves.
If you notice such signs, stop watering the plant and move it to a place where the soil can dry out.
Also watch for signs of root rot and repot the plant if necessary.
Note that this is only possible if the plant is in a pot where you can check the roots.
Otherwise, for buried plants, it is better to stop watering and wait for the soil to dry out.
Under water it is just as bad and will also result in a change in the appearance of the leaves. Adjust the watering accordingly and the plant should be fine.
In winter, you need to change the watering schedule, since the plant does not need a lot of water. You can limit watering only when the soil becomes too dry.
Transplanting a Kentia Palm
If you repot your Kentia palm outdoors, you will need to repot it from time to time.
Please note that the plant has very fragile roots and requires very careful handling. If you damage them, the plant may die.
Repotting is only necessary when the roots are attached, as they generally do not tolerate disturbance well.
In indoor conditions, not much happens as the plant grows slowly.
Outdoors, however, the kentia palm will grow quite quickly and you may need to move it to larger containers every three years.
In general, the plant should do well if it is in the correct hardiness zone and proper maintenance practices are in place.
Note that this is a tropical plant found at Lord Howe, so you need something like this in your new home.
Try to mist it as much as possible, and if it doesn’t do well outdoors, you can always move it indoors where you have more control over growing conditions.
If a kentia palm is not for you, check out our comparison of kentia palm vs areca palm.
Where do you place your Kentia palm?
The palm grows well even in abandoned conditions as long as it has enough water and nutrients.
If you want him to thrive, you need to provide him with the best care that starts with proper positioning.
In general, the plant grows slowly in indoor and outdoor conditions, although it reaches taller heights in the latter.
It should be in a place with abundant but indirect sunlight, preferably in the morning and evening.
Find out which area of your outdoor space doesn’t get the afternoon sun and place the plant there. Otherwise, the sun’s rays can burn the plant and ruin the beautiful foliage.
Why are Kentia palms so expensive?
Let’s start with the fact that most of these plants are grown in the open field and take a long time to reach the height at which they can be sold.
Keep in mind that these are slow growers and farmers will have to wait a while to see the results of their hard work. It takes almost six years for the plant to reach the stage of sale.
Additionally, plants need to be acclimatized in nurseries before they are ready for indoor cultivation, which again is out of the grower’s pocket.
Despite all this effort and time, farmers must demand a fair price for their products.
Is the Kentia Palm poisonous to humans or animals?
This palm is non-toxic to humans and pets. As such, you can grow it anywhere in the house, even outdoors, without worrying that your pets will die after eating it.
Your pets can nibble on it and it won’t hurt them. However, they probably won’t eat it because it’s not appetizing. Either way, it’s not harmful.
Is a Kentia Palm an air purifier?
Like most houseplants, the kentia palm is a well-known air purifier. Leaves and roots absorb the gases they treat, as well as pollutants.
As they exhale oxygen and absorb pollutants from the air, breathing becomes much easier.
You will even find that you sleep much better and are less sensitive to household allergens. Your physical health should be much better for it.
In addition, this plant will brighten up your interior with its green leaves.
Science shows that animating a space increases the happy hormones circulating in your body and makes you enjoy your space more.
You get even more satisfaction from the plant when it is at its best, hence the need for good care practices.
final thoughts
Most Kentia Palm problems are due to being underwater, too much water, too little and too much sun.
If you can strike a balance between these extremes, your kentia palm will do well both indoors and outdoors.
Happy gardening!
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 Fix Kentia Palm Problems.
How to save an overwatered palm tree?
Areca palm diseases and how to cure them?
How to Fix Sago Palm Problems
Written by: Daisy Njeric