Question
I have an aspidistra.  I have it in a ten inch pot sitting near an east window. I noticed lately that it is drying out rather quickly,or so it seems.  I can water it  well(until water runs from the bottom of the pot) and three days later the soil feels dry again (down  two inches).  Why is it drying so fast?  
I also have a zz plant in a 8 inch pot that is yellowing,not all leaves but a few.  I see to it getting good water.  It doesn't receive direct sunlight.  Should it be repoted?  What is causing the yellowing of the leaves.  Also,I noticed last week what appears to be one of the tubers(It's a round ball like thing)peeking out from underneath the soil.
I also see some faint white spots on some of my other plants(ficus,calamondin).  Is that a sign of spider mites or other pests?  I  use Safer Soap on all of my plants periodically.  What other pesticide would you recommend?
Finally,I am thing of getting a Kentia palm.  I have heard that these palms do not require direct sunlight in the house and that they are not prone to disease and pests as much as other indoor palms.  Is that true?  I plan to keep the palm in the living room near an east facing window.  The air tends to get dry in the winter in my home.  Do the Kentia palms need  a high amount of humidity?  
Can you recomend a quality fertilizer for palms?  I have parlor and two sago(cyads)palms.
So sorry for all the questions.
Thanks for your time.
Dwight

Answer
Hi Dwight,

You have asked a lot of questions here. I will answer them all, but not in as much detail as I normally would for a single question.

Your Aspidistra roots are gradually expanding and filling the pot. Consequently, the soil will dry out sooner. This is not a problem. Just water more frequently. Do not repot.

ZZ plants must dry out thoroughly between waterings. They rarely need watering more than once every 3 to 4 weeks. Do not repot it. The bulb coming out of the soil is normal and requires no remedy.

I need a photo or a better description of the "faint white spots" to be able to help you.

I can recommend non-pesticidal treatments for specific pest remedies. Broad spectrum pesticides are bad for the environment and lead to certain pests developing immunity to them.

Kentias palms must be protected from direct sun. Otherwise, they prefer bright light. They are quite pest resistant compared to other palms, but they are less tolerant of improper watering. They tolerate low humidity quite well.

Fertilizer is vastly overrated. If you must use it, apply it monthly at half strength and only when a plant is healthy and growing vigorously. Use a complete fertilizer that includes micro and trace elements as well as the macro elements.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]