I am a fairly new novice with growing palms, but don't most palm's leaves develop nearly first, and then the trunk begins to develop more and more. doesn't this follow with more leaves growing out of the top, and eventually the main trunk being formed higher as each layer of older leaves die and are cut off.

Also, it seems reasonable to me, that even though you do not see the trunk growing much above the soil that your palm is busy pushing it's main root deeper into the soil, Thus, developing it's main root to the point where it can stabalize any top growth which is due to continue developing.

I think it has to do with not receiving enough sunshine and soil warmth.
I have 3 coconuts,and a triangle palm doing the same thing,they will return to normal when I take them back outside next spring,this happened last winter,funny thing is that not all palms are doing this,my kings and all of my fan palms doesn't do this,and I can't explain why!
Don

If I am understanding you correctly,new leaves are coming out of the base of plant instead of the top?If this is correct the top of the growth point has died off up there and your palm has broken out of the base with new growth,it may,in time,take over from there(if it hasn't already)or you may need to give it a little help,in none suckering palms this happens when the main bud is damaged or the palm just becomes deformed,it will probably grow out of this in time,has the main growth point stopped growing?

I think what he's saying is as soon as the new spear starts emerging from the crown cavity, it starts to open instead of forming a full spear and then opening afterwards.

If that is the case, I believe it has to do with the temperature and sunlight, as suggested by dbrya1.

Islandbreeze, I love this name, you couln't of put in in simpler terms..Thanks!!

Ok. I think my temps are ideal for my Kentias.I would have to think better than the temps at malls. My room hits the 70's by day, and never below 60's by night. The room has great humidity and I was told that Kentias love low light conditions. At least that is what I see at the malls and buildings they are growing in. I never see them in lots of light.
In fact, I am almost wondering if mine are getting too much light since the winter sun shines on them from the window to across the room. Maybe too much light doesn't encourage the spear to grow long, but open short?
Maybe less lights encourages the spear to have time to mature before opening.
I have Clivias ok. If I am trying to flower them, in order for them to grow a long tall flower stem, before the flowers open, they are to suppose in darkness as long as possible, until the flower stem is tall. As soon as you give them bright light,the stem stops growing and the flowers will open. If I give them bright light to early, the flower stem would stay short while the flowers open within the leaves, near the soil line. Is this the same for this particular palm?
Less light, the longer the spear, and the more bright light, the shorter the spear and the quicker opening of it to leaves near soil line? Are you all with me?...lol
I wish I knew what was causing this. There is no easy anwer! All I know is that the conditions in this room are ripe for good growth, although I must say they are getting alot more light than I think they should get, maybe? The sun shines through these windows in my 12 x 12 room with 8 hours of grow lights besides all winter. These plants are not in windows though. They are at least 8 feet set back away from windows and the lights, yet still in a bright room.
So, Do these kentia palms trees grow best in BRIGHT light, with some sun, or poor light, in a dark corner with no sun. Maybe here lies my solution.:-)
Do you think I might get better developement of spears to leaves putting these plants in dark corners of my home.?
Thanks alot
Mike

I did fail to notify that I have transplanted my palms 3 times since last November. I did mention this today to a nursery man after he said the only thing he could think of is that for some reason the plant is not getting enough energy to push up the frongs. So I figure if the roots to those plants are still trying to grow or recover after all the transplants, maybe once the roots are strong, it will push up frongs the way they are suppose to with strong root developement? Who knows

I think you have your answer there Mike. That much transplanting is a lot of shock. Just let it grow for a while. I doubt that you are getting my much light. I'd just say give it full sun, and time
good luck

Yes.Definitly in shock.Way to much transplanting.Buy a good size pot that the palm can grow up in.I hope you know that this palm can grow to height of 40+ ft. by 20-30ft wide. In the house it will be a lot less.Also you may want to check the ph level of soil.It likes a ph of between 6.1-6.5.

Thankyou so much for that info....
Ok...I have to say..I love that name secretsqirral!!LOL
Reminds me of those darn critters I have around my house that secretly dig up my back yard when I am not looking..lol
Thanks alot for the help all of you. Think I will just let them be for quite a while, the palms of course, and let them take root and grow strong in their pots...:-)
Mike

Hi. I am in Australia & am having the same problem with 2 Kentia's & a Solitair Palm. Mine are outside so I don't think that you have a sunlight problem, the Kentia's come from Lord Howe Island and therefore have to put up with wind & sunlight in their natural enviroment, but reading one of my palm books it says that they like shade till they get a bit taller & sun-hardened. In warm climates they prefer "some shading from the hot sun & drying winds". It also says "indoors, however, the better the light, the better growth will be. Feed occasionally with a complete palnt food, particularly when the plant is making new growth". Maybe I will take the books advise & fertilise mine as I am now in Summer. A landscape gardener said to spray in the trunk if you see aphids, but it didn't help with stopping the fronds from opening too early. Hope this helps abit.

You transplanted kentias in zone 5 in november ? Thats defindtly your problem You should not transplant any tropical in colder temps.

Yeah I am so late finding this like years, this is not the frond prematurely opening, it is the frond being stunted in the crown by activities of mites. use a product containing imidacloporid (synthetic nicotinoid) as a soil drench and as a foliar spray once a month for three months, it is a systemic insecticide, new growth should be better, deformed growth won't improve, never use on plants in flower as it kills bees. Never use oil on palms as it burns the leaves. Soaps and greeny fixes work but you have to do it so often, it's not like you gonna eat it.

Unfortunately, none of the answers are correct. I live in South Florida, and my palms, getting full sunlight, and lots of rain and water. They are in the ground, so transplanting too much, or not enough sunshine are incincorrect. I have been searching on the web, and there is no definite answer as to why the fronds open prematurely. I sure wish I knew, but I have not found an answer yet. So sorry to disappoint you on all of those great answers, but none are correct.

Burwood7 on the money!

I’m in Australia, in a generally warm house. During the years, my two Kentia have had a lot of light (indirect from skylight) and now only low light. I have never re-potted either of them and still get this problem. The latest leaf expanded before it had fully exited the trunk, so its now squashed at the bottom.

Ill try the advice from Burwood7 (sounds like you might be in Melbourne too?!) and report back, if I remember.