Unknown Plant (Need Help)

Hi everyone,

I just bought this tree/plant at A&P. But I'm not sure what it is or how to care for it, The picture is below, Please advise.

Regards,
Shelby

 

Looks like one really healthy parlour palm. A big Kentia. Gorgeous. It is basically indoor. Feed once every 2/3 weeks/a month now until September/October. Water once a week in sumer, once a month in winter (if centrally heated every 2 weeks). If you just bought it, it it may need re-potting Looks like a good big pot that it's in but it if you can find bigger one it won't hurt.

If you get stuck let me know and I'll send my address so you can send it for TLC (I'll pay the shipping). As you may guess I'm jealous. (Don't worry, not very jealous.)

 

Hi John,

Thanks for helping me out, One thing I noticed though was that the end of the leaves are starting to turn brownish, Is there a way to fix this? Also how big can I expect this to get? And what kind of maintenance does it need? Also, Does this produce any type of flower,etc? And how big of a pot should I get?

Sorry for the long list of questions :P

 

Shelby, your plant is, Howea or Kentia Forsteriana, normally refered to as a Parlour Palm, it can grow to ceiling height and treble that in it's native South Pacific. It can tolerate light conditions but grows well in the shade.
Unfortunately looking at it closely it appears to be infested with Palm Scale, the creamy white marks on the mid ribs and veins, almost impossible to remove. At first I thought it was just hard water marks but I don't think so.
Unless you are prepared to wipe every part of every frond and stem to remove the scale it will only get worse and eventually suck the chlorophyl out of the plant.

This is not want you want to hear after buying the plant but I couldn't look at it and say nothing.

 

Is there anyway I can fix it? Is there a treatment that I need to do or something? I'm willing to do what ever it takes to make it survive :P

 

Firstly let me state that I am a great admirer of Strongy but I would fight. If he is correct (no two gardeners ever agree fully) then,

I would cut out every browning 'branch' (very low down). I would repot in as large a pot as I can find I would feed with tomato feed every couple of weeks. Strongy is probably right so I would pray a lot in case he isn't.

 

I am not 100% sure it is Palm Scale, as I said, it appears to be but would need a closer look, particularly the underside. I don't know if there is any chemical available commercially for scale as I have used a trade spraying oil emulsion on my palms at work. I do have a minor scale problem and I do wipe the leaves with soft paper towel rather than use chemicals but it is extremely time consuming.
If you wipe the leaves be careful not to pull the leaf from the mian stem. I would cut of all of the brown or discoloured leaves too.

 

Ok,

Is there anyway i can contact either of you in a live chat? Possibly MSN or the like?

 

Would not provado work on scale strongy, thats if it is scale.
If not scale, it wouldn't probabably do any harm.

Just a thought.

 

I haven't used Provado so I don't know what it contains. All I do know is that it looks the same as the scale on the palms at work.

 

Is there anyway I can contact either of you on MSN? As I would like live advice.

 

I'm not that familiar with this palm, I've never grown one, having said that, to me personally it does look that the browning of the leaves is more than just a dry atmosphere problem.
I have some palms but its the one plant that I have never had scale insect on,... yet.

If strongy has it on his palms at work, he probably knows what he's talking about, he is a professional.
Surely a systemic pestacide spray would do no harm, and might help.

 

Ok,

How can I confirm that it has Palm Scale?

 

Hi Shelby and welcome to GC.

You don't show your location ... I would say in one of the southern States of America .... is A&P Atlantic & Pacific Grocery Store per chance? I lived in America for 20 years, 14 in Alabama where A&P was my normal grocery store, sweetie. :thumb:

Your plant is the palm everyone says it is but you didn't JUST buy it ... you've had it a long, long time. And that's a Christmas cactus next to it in case you don't know.

 

Lady Of Leisure,

My location is in Sault.Ste.Marie, Ontario, Canada. I did just purchase this palm today, And I did know of the Christmas cactus :p