Kentia Palm
Howea forsteriana

Kentia Palm

Medium lightEasyPet-safe
6080°FComfort range
AverageHumidity
Background

The Kentia palm is the elegant, arching palm of grand Victorian hotel lobbies, and it earned that reputation by tolerating exactly the conditions houseplants usually hate: lower light, cooler rooms, and a bit of neglect. It's slow, which makes a large specimen expensive, but also means it holds its shape for years.

The main things it won't forgive are soggy roots and crispy-dry air. Keep it evenly moist but never waterlogged, give it a spot out of direct sun, and resist trimming whole fronds for cosmetic reasons — each one is slow and costly to replace.

Happy in medium light and tolerates lower light than most palms; keep out of harsh direct sun.

Care at a glance
LightMedium light
WaterEvery 7–10 days; keep lightly moist, never soggy
Soil mixFree-draining potting mix with added sand or perlite
HumidityAverage
Temperature60–80°F
DifficultyEasy
HabitPalm
Mature size5–8 ft indoors, slowly
PropagationFrom seed only — not practical at home
Watering & safety
How to water

Water thoroughly and drain; palms hate wet feet

Drought tolerance

Low — keep to a consistent rhythm and don't let it dry out hard.

Pet & child safety

Non-toxic and pet-safe.

The routine

Keep lightly moist; water when the top inch dries

every 7–10 days

Feed with a dilute balanced fertiliser

monthlyGrowing season

Dust the fronds and check for mites in dry air

Brown tips usually mean dry air or salt build-up — flush the soil

Repot infrequently; Kentias prefer to be a little snug

every 3 years
Watch for
Spider MitesScaleMealybugs