The palm kencja(Howea fosteriana), also called howea, is one of the most popular potted palms for home growing. It is not demanding, therefore it is suitable for growing by both experienced growers and beginners. Find out what kencja needs to grow he althy and develop properly. Everything about the care of the Kency palm tree in pot growing.
Palma kencja - Howea fosteriana
Fig. depositphotos.com
What does the Kencja palm look like?
The palm kencja gained exceptional popularityin the Victorian era, when it adorned both the spacious halls of palaces and the lobbies of exclusive hotels.In its natural state, this plant grows exclusively on the tropical island of Lord Howe in the Tasman Sea.
Under natural conditions, Kencycan reach 12-15 m in height. Grown in apartments, most often it does not exceed 3 m in height. It happens that in spacious rooms a plant grows up to 5 m in height, but this is a rather rare phenomenon.
Young kencja palmproduces a large number of shoots, but as it matures, it develops one thicker trunk. In the upper part of the trunk there are light green, large, pinnate leaves.Adult palm treesmay have leaf blades up to 4 m long.
Howea grown indoors does not bloomOnly palm trees grown outside or in a greenhouse bloom. The plant is characterized by a very slow growth, only 2-3 new leaf plates grow per year. With proper care and proper conditions, the kencja will live up to several dozen years.
Palma kencja - cultivation
Growing the kence palm at homeis usually not a problem. Minor mistakes in the care will not be able to do any noticeable damage to this plant, as long as we choose the right place for it.
Palma kencja - growing position
When choosing aplace for a potted kence , take into account that it can grow perfectly both in partial shade and in the sun. However, it grows best in an area that is well lit, but the light must always be diffused. Plants should be protected from direct sunlight, which can burn the delicate leaves of the kence palm.
A suitableplace for kence in the housewill be the north-eastern, south-eastern or northern window sill. The plant can also cope in a shaded corner of the room, but due to the lack of light, it may not develop properly.
In summer, the palm kencja can be taken out into the fresh airbut you should choose a place for it which will be well protected from the scorching rays of the sun.
Kencja - Howea forsteriana
Fig. © Sylwia Hennek
Palma kencja - temperature of cultivation
In summer, cency grows bestin a warm room with a temperature of 22 - 23 ° C. In the winter months, the plant goes into a dormant period and during this time it should stay at a lower temperature, i.e. 15-18 ° C. The palm is not afraid of short-term frosts even down to - 5 ° C, but only if the root system is well insulated. Otherwise, if the plant remains in the cold for 3-5 days, it will lead to its death. Sudden changes in temperature at night and during the day will also not cause serious harm to the plant.
Palma kencja - air humidity
Home-grown palmhas no special requirements as to air humidity. However, it is recommended to sprinkle its leaves on hot days in the summer. In the winter months, it is a good idea to place the pot as far away from the heating devices as possible.
If the kence palm is in a room with very dry air for a long time, it may dry out. When the air humidity is very low (below 30%), you can seta container with water near the pot in the palm treeIn turn, when the humidity in the room is too high (above 70%) for a long time , it can lead toshoot rotting
Palma kencja - watering
Palma kencja needs a lot of waterat regular intervals. However, it cannot stand water stagnation, as it can cause rotting of the roots and stems. In summer , watering the kence palmshould be more frequent, even every other day. In winter, the dense is watered every 2 weeks, always after the top layer of the substrate in the pot has dried. It is best to use room temperature water for watering the kence.
Palm kencja - fertilization
Howea should be fertilized only in spring and summer , using a multi-component fertilizer for dracaena, yucca and palm trees.We feed the plants 1-2 times a month. If necessary, you can fertilize howea foliar and apply liquid fertilizers for watering. It is recommended to use both methods alternately.
Palm kencja - transplanting
As long as the palm tree is young, it should be replanted every year. As the root system grows, the size of the container must be increased. After reaching the age of 5, it can be transplanted once in 2-4 years. However, it should be taken into account that the substrate must be replaced with fresh over time.Palm kency is best transplanted in spring , but if necessary, it can also be done in autumn.
For howei replantingit is best to use a ready-made soil mixture for room palms, such as green potting soil. You can also prepare the substrate yourself by mixing leaf soil, garden soil, humus, sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1: 1. To enrich the substrate, it is recommended to add a small amount of wood ash and garden bark.Do not forget to make a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot before planting the plants. You can use expanded clay for this purpose.
Palm kencja - reproduction
Kenya is best propagated by seedsHowever, getting them from the plant is almost impossible as it does not bloom in room conditions. You can buy kency palm seeds in a store, but take into account that their germination will not exceed 50% at best. Soak the seeds in water for 3-5 days, then sow in the period from February to March at a temperature of about 25 ° С. The first emergence, depending on the type of seed, may take 2 - 12 months.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
