Hi, I've had my Katy (my Kentia) for a while now and I always assumed the small brown tips to the leaflets were a defining feature of the species. However, she seems to be growing in stature and continues to throw up new spikes that have opened into good fronds. But the latest spike seems to be infested and I include a photo below, can you see what that is?? - (Photo 2) difficult to get a focus on it.
Also, during her life she's had some other phenomena I thought to photograph in July - a young frond with tiny speckles and a mature leaf tip.
I've been watering her regularly, once a week, and wiped all the leaves down a few times. She's by a SE facing window that gives good sun, which I share out by turning the plant & pot round periodically. Some seriously brown leaves do arise, but only for the wider leaves (which grow in 2-leaf sprigs lower down, rather than nice fronds).
All in all, my Kentia's survived OK and she looks really good, but this latest has me worried - I do hope you can help.
regards, Phil.


Katy in situ, looking healthy I think.

Infested spike?

An earlier young frond from July 2022

The worst brown leaves - only these wide leaves (why are there such different leaves?)

A mature leaf, again from July 2022

If it's still above 50 degrees where you are take the palm outside and use a harsh stream of water and wash off the mealy bugs as much as possible . Also rinse out the soil by flooding the pot and let all the water drain out the bottom. Next day wash off and flood pot with water again . Cut any damaged areas off.
I use a 2" paint brush dipped in alcohol then dab off excess alcohol and wipe any remaining areas with insects. Be sure to remove and clean any stems or leaves that have browned or died back. Adding systemic grannuals to the soil will continue to treat the eggs in the soil and the entire plant against any insect infestation for 3 to 6 months. Keep the plant away from children and animals.

Or spray with insecticidal soap as needed to remove mealy bugs per directions. And or use the alcohol method to remove all insects. It may take a few more sprays to treat the infestation .

Thanks, Bea. So it is the dreaded mealy bugs - not that I know anything about them than what I've recently read. Are these the blighters that are difficult to remove when they've settled in the base of the plant, under the remnants of old stems? I'll pay particular attention down there anyway.

Thanks again. - Ieuan

Your welcome.. systemics will kill every insect for 3-4 months..
I use a systemic from Bayer available at big box stores. A 1/2 teaspoon usually takes care of the infestation and if possible remove all dead or dying plant material.
I have a palm for several years have the same problem in winter . Palm don't like the dry heat causing the plant to dry out . As a result leaves begin to die and insects move in. If you have a place to mist the palm every day , it will keep the plant hydrated enough to stay healthy.

I also recommend the systemic insecticides. Look for one with Imidacloprid.

Regarding the buildup of soil salts and flushing, my indoor palms always appreciated being set outside in a good downpour.

Thanks Bea and James, I think I have a good hold on the situation now.

Not living in California sunshine, I have put my palm in the shower to give it a good spray/watering a few times. I worried that an awful lot of water found its way into the pot, but it sounds like I was accidentally flushing the salts out!

Hi, I've swabbed stems with alcohol and pulled / cut off the brown remains at the bottom of the main stems. The insecticide wasn't delivered till the next day, so there was a gap of 24 hours before I did anything else.
When I did go to spray it, I noticed a delicate looking, blue-purple, sort of cushion, about 1.25" x 0.75" on the soil, against the stems. What could this be and is it bad? It was actually quite beautiful, ethereal might be the best word, but I thoughtlessly made it disappear with a quick squirt before I took a photo. Some sort of ultra fine fungal manifestation, perhaps??