Howea forsteriana 120cm

Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm) Care Guide

Howea forsteriana, also known as the Kentia palm, is one of the most elegant and resilient indoor palms. With its long, arching fronds, it brings a tropical atmosphere to interiors while tolerating less than ideal conditions.

Watering Water when the top third of the soil in the pot is dry. The Kentia palm does not tolerate overwatering – its roots are sensitive to rot. It tolerates short periods of dryness better than overwatering. Use room-temperature, standing water; chlorinated and cold water can shock the roots. Excess water must always drain freely from the pot.

Light It thrives best in bright, indirect light, but it can also tolerate medium indirect light or partial shade – which makes it an ideal choice for darker corners of the interior.

• Avoid direct midday sun, which could scorch the leaves and cause them to yellow.

• An ideal location is near a north, east, or west-facing window, or further away from a south-facing window.

Temperature and Air

• Ideal temperature: 16–24 °C (61–75 °F).

• Cold: Does not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F) or drafts.

• Humidity: Prefers higher humidity (above 50%), but also adapts to normal room humidity. During the heating season, we recommend occasional misting or placing it on a tray with moist pebbles. Regularly wipe dust off the leaves with a damp cloth.

Fertilizing During the growing season (spring–summer), fertilize once every 4–6 weeks with a liquid fertilizer for palms or houseplants at half strength. Completely omit fertilization in winter. Palms are sensitive to over-fertilization, especially to fluoride and salt – less is more.

Substrate and Repotting Requires well-draining, permeable substrate – an ideal mix is palm soil with added perlite or coarse sand. Repot only when the roots have filled the entire pot (approximately every 2–3 years), and always in spring. The Kentia palm grows slowly and does not tolerate repotting well – do not disturb it unnecessarily.

Caution Howea forsteriana is non-toxic to pets and children – it is one of the few safe indoor palms for households with animals.