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The plants in our homes contribute to the atmosphere of the rooms. They can be both beautiful and functional, removing chemicals from the air and leaving our rooms smelling great.
Indoor palms can have dramatic effects in almost any room, some are climbing and some are more bushy. Whatever the style of your home, you’ll find a palm tree to spruce it up.
There are two palms that come to mind when thinking of home decor, namely the Kentia and Areca palms. Both have advantages and disadvantages for interior spaces.
Let’s take a look at Kentia Palms vs. Areca Palms and see which is best for you.
Contents
Kentia Palm vs Areca Palm – How to identify the differences?
One of the first places to start is in the stem of the plant. You will see that Kentia butt is green and has brown fibers, while Areca butt has red spots.
The leaves of the Kentia palm are significantly wider than those of the Areca palm.
As far as palm lighting goes, your Kentia will be happy in a north window and light from that angle, while the Areca needs more sun. Sunlight will also help keep mites away.
The Kentia palm will look great for many years (even decades), while the Areca palm will only last five or six years.
One of the biggest and easiest ways to tell the difference is through price. You will find that you pay a lot more for a Kentia palm than for an Areca palm.
This is because Kentia palms are very difficult to propagate and take a long time to reach the size they can be sold at a garden center. This makes them more expensive.
You might also like: How to solve Kentia palm problems?
Palma Kentia v Palma Areca
difficulty level
Your Kentia will tolerate light situations that other plants might not like. They are considered low maintenance and easy to maintain.
The Areca palm is also considered low maintenance and easy to grow.
Humidity and temperature
Kentia Palms humidity and temperatures average between 65°F and 75°F, although it’s still fine at 25°F.
Areca palms require moderate humidity with the same temperatures of 65°F to 75°F, but it is essential that temperatures do not drop below 55°F.
light
Avoid direct sunlight for the Kentia. The Areca is quite the opposite and prefers bright, indirect light.
The Kentia tolerates shady locations and always does well, while the Areca needs a well-lit location so that growth is not inhibited.
If your plants struggle with light, try East to help control lighting.
Water
Moderate watering is suitable for the Kentia palm. Normally, it is not necessary to water until the soil is dry. It does not do well in conditions above water or if submerged.
Areca palms can tolerate occasional drought, but you’ll find they grow best in moderately moist potting soil.
It is important that the soil is slightly moist and not moist enough to cause root rot.
If you need help watering these plants, try this Automatic drip irrigation kit.
Feed
If you insist on overfeeding the Kentia palm, it will simply die. Excess manure does more harm than good.
Follow up with a slow-release fertilizer that is applied when your plant is growing, not dormant.
The Areca palm will benefit from monthly feeding in the spring and summer. You will find that this routine makes them happy and looks great.
Collaborater
Typically, a Kentia palm grown indoors will reach up to 10 feet tall. This will take many years as they are very slow growing plants.
The Areca palm will reach about 8 feet tall at full maturity and will take much less time than the Kentia to reach maturity.
replant
Your Kentia palm prefers to be left alone for as long as possible, so avoid repotting it until absolutely necessary.
The Areca, on the other hand, will need to be transplanted every two to three years. The reason for this is to replace old potting soil and remaining salt after applying fertilizer.
Toxicity
This is perhaps the most important thing to consider when buying a houseplant.
Although you don’t have children or pets at the time of purchase, they may arrive in a few years. It’s good to know that your home is safe for pets and children.
Kentia and Areca palms are non-toxic and will not harm dogs and cats if ingested. Neither plant will harm children, and both are child-friendly.
If you like this article, check out our article on Can I put my kentia palm outside?
Kentia Palm vs Areca Palm – How much do they cost?
A large Areca palm can cost you around $50. However, a decent sized Kentia palm will set you back almost $200!
The reason for the difference is that Areca palms are easier to propagate than Kentia palms.
They also grow faster, so the breeder can send their palms to their garden center much sooner than the Kentia, which must stay with the grower until it has a decent size to ship.
This is also why you might have a hard time finding a Kentia if your heart is in one. They are popular as houseplants and sell out quickly.
Kentia Palm vs Areca Palm: Which Palm Is Best for Indoors?
Both palms are relatively easy to grow indoors. Both are easy to keep attractive and both are easy to maintain.
Your reason for choosing one over the other should mainly depend on the area you plan to place it in, as they both have different light requirements.
Another consideration is the size of the palm when fully mature. The Kentia will reach around 10′ while the Areca will only reach around 8′ at maturity.
If you plan to place the palm in a window corner or low area, you may prefer the Areca to the Kentia; remember that the Kentia does not like to be moved more than necessary.
The Kentia palm is considered a better palm for the beginning gardener because, although it is quite picky about water requirements, it is easy to care for, while the Areca has more stringent water requirements and will turn yellow. it is not maintained properly.
Areca palms are not difficult to maintain, they simply do not tolerate any neglect.
If you cannot commit to a regular course and sufficient sunshine, you can opt for the Kentia palm.
Kentia palm and Areca palm look great in a bedroom. They give the region an exotic look.
Additionally, the palms act as humidifiers, making them ideal for those who suffer from sinus issues, as the palms act as natural humidifiers. “I bet you didn’t know that!” And no, me neither!
Can you hold your palm at a certain height?
It’s an interesting thought and a perfectly valid question. What if you really don’t want a 10 foot monster in your house? Can growth be hindered?
Well, technically you can. There are two ways to do this.
- Cut halfway through. New leaves will grow from the center and once you cut them you will stunt the growth of the plant. Sometimes you’ll get more growth from the center, but that’s unlikely.
- You can prune the root ball. Exposing the upper roots, all fibrous within 1 foot of the plant, and cutting them will stunt growth.
Watch out now: retarded palm growth is permanent. You will never get another leaf to grow from the center. The existing leaves will eventually die, and voila! You will have a dead palm.
So if you find you really can’t have a giant palm tree in your house, gift it to a friend instead of killing it.
If you liked this comparison, take a look at our article on syngonium vs caladium.
final thoughts
You will be surprised to learn that palm trees are one of the most cultivated plants in the world. This is because they are so popular as houseplants.
Some of them, like the areca palm they can be obtained if they are only a few centimeters long and are a perfect decoration for the table.
Apart from adding beauty to our homes, palm trees serve a larger purpose as they help improve the air quality in our homes. Palming can eliminate nasty things like carbon monoxide and other dangerous substances.
When considering the Kentia palm versus the Areca palm, it’s important to realize that both Kentia and Areca palms are spectacular on their own, and even more so if you place them where they are happy.
If you’re lucky enough to have one, or are considering buying one, rest assured that with a little maintenance and a little attention, you’ll have a great looking piece for years to come.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to help you solve more of your gardening problems:
How to Fix Sago Palm Problems
How to save an overwatered palm tree?
Areca palm diseases and how to cure them?
Written by: Valerie Holyoak