I have a stunted or dormant Kentia palm. It is outside and about 2 metres high on coast SE australia. Trying to work out whats wrong with it. It is at least 10 years old - was here when we bought the house - but has always been a bit dodgy. About 2 years ago we had to move it across the block for a new driveway. Prepared a nice hole - got as much of the root bole as we could, fertilised hole etc etc. Things is, it was always 'poorly' before the move with brown tips to fronds although it did produce a seed spike about 5 years ago. Now it wont grow but wont die either! It just sits there looking very sad.

Symptoms are lots of brown on the fronds - even the 'new' fronds coming out from the centre. I've looked for pests but cant see any but sprayed it with Neem anway. No difference. Tips of new frond in centre are brown and there is some mould there - but not sure whether that is cause or symptom? We get quite a lot of rain in Jervis Bay and plants and trees close by are all fine as well as the 4 metre high bangalows that are about 5 metres away.

Anyway I am attaching some photos in the hope that someone can tell me what might be happening. To be honest I expected it to be dead by now - that hasnt happened - but it isnt getting better either. My wife does all the gardening but I have adopted this palm as I want to bring it back!

Cheers

 

That looks more like Howea Belmoriana to me . They are not as easy to grow as the Foresteriana .  Howea F. grow like weeds here but Bel. Palms are fussy buggers. Harry

I have had the odd palm or two do the same thing. Nutrient issues most likely in the form of trace elements manganese, boron,  magnesium, iron that’s just a couple that could be your problem. Then fungal like phytophora. Many an issue that can be diagnosed which one is the problem at glance many things it could be. A soil leaf sample will my pinpoint it exactly good luck. 

Most likely focusing on growing new roots. Try to give it seaweed and fish emulsion meals weekly for a month and see if it gets better. If you have a lot of rain, do you know if the drainage is good? I noticed Belmoriana are super slow compared to forsteriana.  

Also, try and treat the crown with hydrogen peroxide and copper fungicide. Drench the soil under the palm with systemic fungicide. This should kills any bacteria and heals the roots if they are rotting. 

Thanks for the tips MoPalm. Wife already has seasol (food) and copper (fungicide) in her shed so will try those. What do you recommend as a systemic fungicide thats ok for palms for the soil drench?