This kind of thumb.
The older leaves are the lower ones, with the newer at the top. If I cut off the older and shabby fronds, it won't look good, looking more like a tree than an indoor palm. If I cut off the newer top leaves, it will also look bad with just old leaves, although once its new growing season begins, it may recover quickly.
When I look closely at the base of the plant, could I divide a healthy looking section off, put it in new potting mix and, well, I don't know. Cut the fronds off that offend me?
Oh yes. There is a spider in the plant. I left a note for Kosov to remove said spider and throw if off the balcony. He is not very obedient. I had forgotten the beads Ray placed on top of the soil.
I thank you for your attention to my first world problem. They'd probably eat Kentia in Gaza.
Well, I am definitely not a palm expert so don't listen to me. I would probably take it out of the pot and try to separate the base into individual plants if possible. You could pot up the ones you find most appealing and chuck the rest...š“šŖ¾
ReplyDeleteThat is my thought JayCee.
DeleteCarlos ahs the green thumb in our house; I have a black thumb of death for plants.
ReplyDeleteWell Bob, you should have sought advice from Carlos on my behalf.
DeleteAs Jaycee said, take it out of the pot, separate a couple of smaller bits and plant them back in the pot.
ReplyDeletePixie, it seems the most obvious, but I won't know which is the best part until I see the root structure.
DeleteClean out pot fresh potting mix and feed put small newer stalks in. Alternatively phone a nursery who know what they are doing , I don’tš You might like the pot but a calmer colour would be nicer , in my opinion which really counts for nothing ♥️
ReplyDeleteThanks, but you find a nicer self watering pot, and I'll be up for it.
DeleteI agree with your other commentators. Divide and conquer.
ReplyDeleteEC, that's a common tactic, that works.
DeleteYou could divide fearlessly. Or you could rootprune -- take it out of the pot, slice down all around, including the bottom, replace it in the pot with fresh potting soil under and around. I did this for years with plants I wanted to maintain in the current pot.
ReplyDeleteBoud, there is a theme happening. I would be rid of the bulk of the fronds.
DeleteYour entire place will soon be pots of palm. I could could give advice but it would not be wise or even knowledgable advice.
ReplyDeleteStrayer, I often offer advice about nothing I know about. Why not?
DeleteYou could cut away all the fronds leaving just the trimmed stalks in the pot - then it would gradually come again. However, in its present state I think your palm looks great. Why not just live with it and find something else to moan about?
ReplyDeleteYP, a control freak must stay in control, including over plants. Your suggestion of let it be is not thinkable. But I can find plenty else to moan about. It must be my English genes coming to the fore.
DeleteI'm such a non-green thumb, I'd be happy if the plant was still alive.
ReplyDeleteKirk, they are a quite hardy indoor plant. Get yourself a little one and don't water it much.
DeleteBetween the self-watering pot, rebellious spider, and ornamental beads, it sounds like a whole ecosystem, and I admire your thoughtful (and slightly exasperated) approach to managing it
ReplyDeleteThanks Roentare.
DeleteYou need to find out just how big things will grow before you buy them, kentias are better in the garden I think. I remember having a couple back in 198- in a garden bed with fatsia and something else. I think you probably can divide it, you'll have to take the whole root ball out of the pot and shake off as much soil as you can before slicing with a sharp large knife. Or maybe an axe or a machete if you bought one for personal safety while walking around š
ReplyDeleteRiver, clearly planting in a garden is not an option. Yes, I will do as you describe, but where and what a mess! Phyllis would kill me if I used his sharp kitchen knives, and no I don't have axe or machete, but I do have a hacksaw. That will do the job.
DeleteDo it on the balcony with plenty of newspaper to help contain the mess.
DeleteThose palms grow in the tropics outside or nearer towards the tropics and are designed to be bare at the bottom and fonds towards the top. I'm sure you have noticed them growing outside when travelling up north. You palm does look healthy and therefore it likes the spot you have it in and the self watering pot. Hard to buy a nice self watering pot these days. Take off the dead old leaves in the bottom of the plant, re pot in good soil and give it a feed.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I can't really remember seeing them in the wild. In two houses we had what we called ferneries, and I think we had very large Kentia palms, along with all sort of plants, including monstrous Monsterias. While I haven't looked for them, I don't see self watering pots nowadays. I give it about 1.5 litres of water in summer and about 1 litre in winter. Your professional advice is noted.
DeleteAfter the cactus died, I was banned from keeping house plants.
ReplyDeleteIt's not in everyone's skillset.
DeleteI'm late to this post, and in any case I'm not great with palms. But I think dividing it seems like the best approach. Make sure you get a good clump of roots with each half (gently tease them apart). I would never cut the newest leaves. Always cut from oldest to newest.
ReplyDeleteSteve, I too think dividing the clump is the way to go.
DeleteSo you are seeking for an adept to read your palm?
ReplyDeleteNo Cloudia. I have no time for superstition.
Delete