SUCCESS WITH INDOOR PALMS
Create film-set style in your home with this tropical plant that requires the minimum of care
Kentia palm
An exotic favourite of royals like Queen Victoria, and known as the Hollywood palm due to its frequent use in film backdrops, you too can bring a touch of the tropics into your home with a Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) – despite its glamorous appearance, it’s surprisingly easy to care for. It won’t mind if you miss watering from time to time and is a slow grower, so you’ll only need to give it minimal attention and maintenance.
The arching, feathery leaves have the iconic look of a palm tree. Growing up to 2-3m inside the home, it’s perfect for creating a focal point against a wall or in a corner.
Kentia palms, originally from Lord Howe Island, off the east coast of Australia, are sold as a group of plants in each pot, because each plant has a single slow-growing stem. As a bunch, you get a fuller look quicker, but this also means you can easily divide the pot, as shown here, to give you several potted plants for the price of one.
You should only repot every two to three years, once the roots are tight in the pot and starting to grow out. While this is a good opportunity to divide the plant, you can also just gently tease out the roots and pot the whole thing up into a slightly larger container.
The roots are prone to rotting, so while the foliage will enjoy weekly misting for humidity and dust removal, be careful not to overwater the compost and don’t leave the plant sitting in water. To improve drainage and reduce the risk of root rot, add handfuls of sharp sand to a soil-based compost whenever you divide or repot.
Position Grows best with good light but out of direct sun. If it isn’t getting new shoots, move to a brighter spot in a moderately humid position.
Care Keep compost just moist from spring to autumn, but never wet. Water once the top 2cm of soil is dry. Reduce watering in winter.
Details Use a balanced general feed in the summer months to encourage growth.