Howea forsteriana suitability for low lux levels indoors?

[baloo]

Hi all,

Hoping you could to help me with a specific query I have (and am struggling to find a consensus among various parties) with regards to palm planting in an atrium space with low light levels indoors.

During daylight:

• the lux levels will be in the range of 450 to 1000 lux (with an average of 650lux) and the glazing of this atrium space will allow for only 20% LVT.
• air conditioning is in operation from 0930 to 2400. Temperature at ground level is 23˚±1.5˚ and 65%RH. Humidity is not independently controlled, it is a function
  of the air conditioning process. The air conditioning design is cooling at low level and using stratification in the air temperature such that at high levels under
  the roof temperatures could be in the range of 30 to 36˚ depending on the solar conditions.
• Air movement will be 0.25m/s to 0.5m/s due to the operation of the air conditioning system

and during the night:

• Lux level of 150 and less
• Outside of operating hours when air conditioning is not running, temperatures will approach the ambient temperatures and probably settle between 26˚ to 30˚. Humidity could be expected to be 60 to 80%RH.

I am essentially looking to source a single stem palm with approx 4 to 5m clear trunk height. I understand that Howea forsteriana may only require 500 lux level as a minimum, and does well in indoor locations.

However, there has been some question over the suitability of this palm in these conditions, and so I have received suggestions to change it to Wodyetia
bifurcata or Livistona chinensis, however, this based on changing the palm every 2 months, which I really want to avoid doing!

In your opinion, would the Howea forsteriana be suitable for these conditions? Would I need to install grow lights?

Is it a difficult palm to source given we are after a 5m clear stem specimen? FYI, this is for in Singapore.

Are there any other solitary, single stemmed palms with approx. 5m clear stem that would be a suitable alternative for permanent planting?

Melissa

[Brucer]

If you could supply some pics it would help us that dont know exactly what 650 of lux looks like.

I grow Kentias from seed in Sydney, and even to purchase one here of that size would cost a good few hundred dollars.

They handle low light, and are favourites for Hotel foyers etc. They will die if there is not much light, as I found with some in pots under rhapis between 2 walls.

[Zeeth]

From what I know, a Howea would be your best bet for your needs, however it may be difficult to source one in your area at that size for a reasonable price.

[Eric F]

I know of two that survived at least 3 years at around 400 lux. No growth, but they didn't die. There are several in my current office at about that light level, but they are not of trunking size.

Given you say they were prepared to regularly replace the others, all I can say is give the Howea a try. It will probably stand still growth wise, but you may be surprised.

[NorCalWill]

I don't know much about lux levels, but I do know that Howea forsteriana can handle very little light and still look good.

3 or 4 years ago, I bought two 15 gallon Howea forsteriana's that were just over 2 meters tallI. I bought them to use as decor in a church sanctuary...a dark church sanctuary. The only consistent light source is an east facing stain glass window, approximately 2m x 2m in size, located way across the room, maybe 15 meters away. The room gets no more than 20 hours of artificial light during the week, and they are not grow lights. The rest of the time, the palms sit in the low light from the stained glass window, which is basically like sitting in the dark.

Air conditioning is used in the summer, and heating in the winter. The temperature range where these palms are is somewhere in the 18 to 26 Celsius range, and fluctuates from day to day.

The palms look good. I wouldn't say they are thriving, because they don't seem to be growing much at all, but they haven't lost their color and they look good every Sunday morning for church services.

For maybe the first 2 years that I had these palms here, I would move them into a brightly lit room adjacent to the sanctuary during the week so they would receive more light. This got to be too much work, and I couldn't do it every week, so eventually the palms stayed in the dark sanctuary permanently.

For the future of these palms, I would like to find a better home for them and use two artificial plants as decor instead. If anyone is interested in them let me know.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Will

[KennyRE317]

i'm going to go with what Will said, although I also have no knowledge in measured lux levels. I've had H. forsteriana's in pretty low light and have never really had any issues. I've found them to be pretty resilient in terms of growing in full sun and also the complete opposite in lower light

[Kim]

Hello Melissa, and welcome to PalmTalk! You have done some excellent research before choosing your palm, and I applaud your care in the selection process.

Howea forsteriana is a classic indoor palm, and should do well in the conditions you describe. I would, however suggest that the palms should be washed off regulary, perhaps monthly. Howea forsteriana has been known to become infested with scale when left indoors indefinitely without a wash. Chances are you will not have that problem, but an accumulation of dust should be avoided.

In Singapore you have some terrific examples of palms kept indoors -- Changi airport is stuffed with palms, and of course the new Gardens by the Bay has its fantastic domed environments. As I recall, last September plant curator Anton was having some difficulty with a few Howea in the rainforest dome, so you might contact him to ask how they are doing now.

In any case, if you begin with a healthy specimen, I would expect the Howea to do well in the conditions you describe. Best of luck and let us know how your search goes.

[baloo]

Thanks for the re-assurance everyone.

To try and help with the understanding of lux levels, the Domes at Gardens by the Bay have a peak or target illuminance level of 45,000 lux (which is the same level that the Eden Project benchmarked). In Singapore, the light levels would exceed this at times which would have required extra measures taken in the air cooling system and not necessarily benefit the plant growth. So, when the light levels exceed 45,000 lux, there are external solar shading methods deployed. The glazing is also key in the design and allows 70% light transmission, but only 35% solar energy transmission.

45,000 lux is about 100 times brighter than the average office environment.

A great book on the environmental design (and lux levels) at Gardens by the Bay is Green:House Green:Engineering by Patrick Bellew; ORO Editions.

Even better is a trip to the gardens - I'll head back to the Cloud Forest Dome to hunt those Howeas this weekend....and I'll even bring back some photos to show the progress of the World of Palms garden outside for you all.