How do I care for my Kentia Palm?

Question

I just purchased a Kentia Palm from a nursery and it will arrive very soon. I am a 26 year old male that has not cared for a plant before and I do not want to hurt this one. Any tips on how I get started? People recommend that I use a certain soil and even sand, but they don't say how much of each and how do I combine them? Layers? Stir it all up? Can someone lay it out step by step pleasseeee :)

Answer 1

Your Kentia Palm care partly depends on whether you will grow it outdoors, or inside as a pot plant.

For palm growing outdoors, I recommend that you get a fertilizer specifically for palm trees, as this contains all of the major as well as micro nutrients that they need to grow and remain healthy.  Prepare its planting hole well,  as it will remain in place for many years, dig down to at least twice the depth of the pot,  add some gravel if it's a poorly drained site, as well as some good organic material mixed into the soil.  Add some of the palm fertilizer too, underneath and around its planting spot.  They don't like their roots disturbed, so minimise this once it is in place.   Ensure that the spot won't get frosted, though if it does get cold, you can prevent damage with an enclosure, potentially filled with leaves/straw as well as some garden (horticultural) fleece.  Probably burning in the cold at 28F or so, but if your location is good, it will thrive.   They benefit from highish humidity levels, and this prevents leaf drying/browning.

For indoors,  it will grow well in a semi shaded spot,  and again benefits from some humidity around it - avoid harsh dry central heating drafts if possible.  Feed it with a palm fertilizer or general fertilizer if this is not possible.  Repot when getting towards being pot bound, with minimal root disturbance.

For potting mix,  you can mix some perlite or sand to aid with drainage, into a standard potting mix.  I use around 1/3 sand/perlite with palms after the seedling stage, also incorporating some completely composted plant material.  In nature they often grow on sandy soils, so you are, in part, recreating how they would grow naturally.

I don't know the size of plant that you're getting, but they will grow well as an understorey plant, benefitting from the shade of other trees etc.  As it gets older, it will adapt more to increased levels of direct sun, though it may occasionally scorch - that said, I've seen them in desert conditions!   Final tip, if outdoors, is to add a mulch, as this will help keep the root area cool and moist.  Overall, this is one of the more tolerant palms, standing some neglect,  occasional dryness etc.  Avoid prolonged over-watering though.  Feeding indoors with a prolonged-release fertilizer is good.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!  Rob