ENGLISH

Both species, Howea forsteriana and H. belmor- eana, are large, single-trunked, slow-growing palms cultivated everywhere as large house- plants. Kentias were especially fashionable in the Victorian era and remain among the most popular indoor palms in the world. Today they are often a prominent feature of large open lob- bies and atriums of public buildings, shopping malls, and private homes. Indoors in containers, they’ll be 8 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide— pretty impressively big by normal houseplant standards. The slender trunk of these trees is smooth, green, and ringed with whitish leaf scars. The large, dark green leaves are pinnately compound (feather-like), 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. New leaves at the top of the crown are upright but the lowermost leaves are held hori- zontally, making the crown of the tree very wide. The 60 or more individual leaflets of each leaf are long, pointed, and droop gracefully, point- ing down toward the ground on both sides of the midrib.

Usually, when you purchase a kentia palm, it looks like the plant has multiple trunks, but it does not. Nurserymen put two to five single-trunked plants in each pot because it gives the product a lusher, full appearance and makes it more attractive to customers. Should you decide to separate these plants, do it carefully because the roots are brittle and easily damaged.

OPTIMUM HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENT

Read the Introduction for the specifics of each recommendation.

MEDIUM LIGHT.

Kentia palms do not like full sun—the leaves burn and develop black patches where the sun has killed the tissue. Sheer, gauzy curtains to diffuse the light on a south, east, or west window work well. These palms tolerate shade but don’t thrive in it.

LOW TEMPERATURE.

Daytime 65 to 75°F, night- time 55 to 65°F. Kentia palms like cool nights but don’t let the nighttime temperature drop below 50°F.

MODERATE WATER.

Water whenever the top of the potting medium becomes dry to a depth of 1 inch. Water less often in winter but never let the plant go completely dry.

HUMIDITY.

Mist your plant several times a week with a spray bottle of water on a mist setting, or use a handheld mister. Put the pot in a saucer or tray of water, making sure the bottom of the pot never sits directly in the water by raising the pot up on pot feet or pebbles. Consider putting a humidifier in the room.

TIẾNG VIỆT

Both species, Howea forsteriana and H. belmor- eana, are large, single-trunked, slow-growing palms cultivated everywhere as large house- plants. Kentias were especially fashionable in the Victorian era and remain among the most popular indoor palms in the world. Today they are often a prominent feature of large open lob- bies and atriums of public buildings, shopping malls, and private homes. Indoors in containers, they’ll be 8 to 10 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide— pretty impressively big by normal houseplant standards. The slender trunk of these trees is smooth, green, and ringed with whitish leaf scars. The large, dark green leaves are pinnately compound (feather-like), 3 feet long and 1 foot wide. New leaves at the top of the crown are upright but the lowermost leaves are held hori- zontally, making the crown of the tree very wide. The 60 or more individual leaflets of each leaf are long, pointed, and droop gracefully, point- ing down toward the ground on both sides of the midrib.

Usually, when you purchase a kentia palm, it looks like the plant has multiple trunks, but it does not. Nurserymen put two to five single-trunked plants in each pot because it gives the product a lusher, full appearance and makes it more attractive to customers. Should you decide to separate these plants, do it carefully because the roots are brittle and easily damaged.

OPTIMUM HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENT

Read the Introduction for the specifics of each recommendation.

MEDIUM LIGHT.

Kentia palms do not like full sun—the leaves burn and develop black patches where the sun has killed the tissue. Sheer, gauzy curtains to diffuse the light on a south, east, or west window work well. These palms tolerate shade but don’t thrive in it.

LOW TEMPERATURE.

Daytime 65 to 75°F, night- time 55 to 65°F. Kentia palms like cool nights but don’t let the nighttime temperature drop below 50°F.

MODERATE WATER.

Water whenever the top of the potting medium becomes dry to a depth of 1 inch. Water less often in winter but never let the plant go completely dry.

HUMIDITY.

Mist your plant several times a week with a spray bottle of water on a mist setting, or use a handheld mister. Put the pot in a saucer or tray of water, making sure the bottom of the pot never sits directly in the water by raising the pot up on pot feet or pebbles. Consider putting a humidifier in the room.

Dũng Cá Xinh

Có những ngày mưa gió, ngày nắng chói chang nhưng khi mở cửa ra hàng hoa dại vẫn nằm đó dưới bậc thềm. Không nhạt không úa mà vẫn còn vẻ tươi trong như ngày nào.

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