Question
Hi I recieved two beautiful kentias from cal palm growers in january and have placed them in a semi sunny area, I was careful not to over water , but I noticed the tips of some of the leaves were brown so I figured not enough water so I poured in in and waited for the water to come out the drainage holes, but nothing so I gave more. now it apears I have some yellowing , I will hold off watering till it appears dry about a third of the way down the pot. Is there anything I can do to speed up drying so rotting doesn't occurr? also am I watering correctly?

Answer
Hi Rose, like the Majesty Palm, Kentias like low light situations; they will tolerate direct sun but will show it on the fronds with browning and spotting, so first thing is to move it where it is in a dappled shade; second, not to be allowed to dry out completely, that said, it can't have its roots saturated either. I would just elevate the pot a couple of inches (on a couple of pieces of board) to allow the drainage holes to expel the excess water that you said you may have applied; hereafter check the bottom drainage holes periodically, and when they appear to be drying out then water again. One other thing, usually when nurseries send out plants, they are in what we call transient containers, not meant to be their final resting place, consider removing the rootball and putting into a larger container...regards Nick