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Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm) life expectancy?
---long version---
Another sad story First the Pin Oak that my (late) father grew from an acorn, now the Kentia Palm that he gave to my mum on Mother's Day, the year I was born (37 years ago). The Pin Oak dying was my fault (if you remember from earlier postings - I didn't water it for three years, because I thought that although it was in a pot, it was outdoors, so it would be OK). Frankly, the Palm has been dead for months, but I've been 'in denial' (as the Yanks say). Someone cheer me up and tell me it wasn't my fault ... please. My mum told me it was pot-bound and I should re-pot it, so I did. I used standard potting compost with just some gravel on the bottom inch for drainage, and replaced the new pot in the same location (north facing window in the dining room). It started dying almost immediately. Three months later, it was dead. Here's what I suspect I did wrong: 1) ... Poor drainage. Should have mixed in some Perlite and/or sand. 2) ... Over-watered. I didn't understand back then, that too much is bad. 3) ... Malnourished. Apparently Palms are notoriously fussy eaters. Then again, maybe it died from the 'shock' of replanting (I hear trees do that). Maybe it just died of old age. ---long version--- ---short version--- So my question is, as a house-plant in the UK, what is the life expectancy of a Kentia Palm? Please tell me it's 37 years, so I can sleep easier at nights. ---short version--- Thanks, - [H]omer |
#2
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On Wed, 20 Apr 2005 02:37:46 +0100, "[H]omer" wrote:
---long version--- Another sad story First the Pin Oak that my (late) father grew from an acorn, now the Kentia Palm that he gave to my mum on Mother's Day, the year I was born (37 years ago). The Pin Oak dying was my fault (if you remember from earlier postings - I didn't water it for three years, because I thought that although it was in a pot, it was outdoors, so it would be OK). Frankly, the Palm has been dead for months, but I've been 'in denial' (as the Yanks say). Someone cheer me up and tell me it wasn't my fault ... please. My mum told me it was pot-bound and I should re-pot it, so I did. I used standard potting compost with just some gravel on the bottom inch for drainage, and replaced the new pot in the same location (north facing window in the dining room). It started dying almost immediately. Three months later, it was dead. Here's what I suspect I did wrong: 1) ... Poor drainage. Should have mixed in some Perlite and/or sand. 2) ... Over-watered. I didn't understand back then, that too much is bad. 3) ... Malnourished. Apparently Palms are notoriously fussy eaters. Then again, maybe it died from the 'shock' of replanting (I hear trees do that). Maybe it just died of old age. ---long version--- ---short version--- So my question is, as a house-plant in the UK, what is the life expectancy of a Kentia Palm? Please tell me it's 37 years, so I can sleep easier at nights. ---short version--- Thanks, - [H]omer I have a pair of these at home which are in need of repotting or top dressing. The plants seem healthy enough, if not happy, at present but feel somewhat loose in the compost in the pots. Any suggestions on which option is better and any tips on how to do it? JB |
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