Howea forsteriana 170cm

How to care for Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm)

Howea forsteriana, also known as 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. Kentia palm does not tolerate overwatering – the roots are sensitive to rot. It tolerates short-term drought better than overwatering. Use lukewarm, 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 can also tolerate medium indirect light or partial shade – making it an ideal choice even for darker corners of the interior.

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

• Ideally, place it by a north, east, or west-facing window, or further away from a south-facing window.

🌡️ Temperature and air

• Ideal temperature: 16–24 °C.

• Cold: Does not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C and drafts.

• Humidity: Prefers higher air 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 the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust.

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

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

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