The Kentia palm is one of those favourites for enclosed environments. It is characterised by its single stem, from which the beautifully green, long fronds grow.
Outdoors it can grow up to 18 metres long, but indoors it will reach a maximum of 2 metres. But don't worry about that, because this plant is a slow grower. It is so lush, even when small and undeveloped, that it looks beautiful and is very decorative.
Reproduction and growth of Kentia palms
While Kentia palms are very easy to care for, growing them can be a challenge. This plant multiplies by seed and is slow growing. In fact, it will take about 3 months to germinate and once grown, they can develop one leaf per month. For this reason it can take up to 10 years to get a well-developed specimen of 1.5 metres for example. This makes the price of the Kentia palm a little higher.
Apart from their slow growth, Kentia palms are very strong and can continue to develop even in less than perfect environmental conditions. If you have young Kentia plants remember to keep them out of direct sunlight. It is best to place them in a shady area where they do not receive freezing draughts. As they come from a warm location, they should not be exposed to temperatures below 15°C.
Planting Kentia palms
The best time to plant Kentia is in spring. When planting or transplanting Kentia palms you should be very careful, as the roots are delicate. If you put it in the ground, you should dig a hole twice the size of the container so that the roots have space. It needs to be planted so that the part where the stem meets the roots is at ground level.
It is essential that the substrate in which it is planted is well drained. If you put it in a pot, you should place a layer of gravel or pebbles to facilitate drainage. You can use a mixture of fibrous compost, peat and sand or perlite in equal parts. Remember to place it out of direct sunlight.
It is advisable to repot the Kentia palm approximately every two years. The pots should be deep so that there is enough room for the roots. You can do this from February to March, at the beginning of spring, so that it has time to acclimatise and grow before winter arrives. If they are small, you can plant several in the same pot to increase the leafy effect.
Dedicated to creating an army of cacti, succulents, poodles and cats to help me conquer the world. In the little free time I have left, I play, write and dance.