Komodo Licuala Spinosa

It likes bright light but not direct sun. Direct sunlight will scorch its leaves. A shady spot in a sunny room would be ideal.

If you place it near a window, keep the window open as much as possible as the window glass can burn up, particularly in the summer.

The best way to water it is to give it a generous watering until water runs out of the drainage hole of the pot. Pour water slowly over the central stem so it nourishes the root ball.

Let the top layer of soil dry out slightly between waterings.

Poke your finger into the soil to test its moisture level. If the top few inches of the soil are dry to the touch, then it is safe to proceed with watering, but if you can feel moisture, then you should wait before watering the plant again. The aim is to keep the lower level of soil moist but not soggy. It’s a bit of experimenting to get to the right balance but don’t worry, you’ll get it after a bit of trial and error.

Start with roughly 3 times a week. More in the hot, summer months, less in the monsoon and cooler seasons.

1. Trim off brown leaves snipping closely to the central stem.

2. Scrape off any white mould on top of the soil. It’s just harmless fungi that lives in the soil. Lightly dust the soil with ground cinnamon.

3. Poke holes in the soil with a chopstick to aerate it and and give your plant a bit of extra breathing room. Sprinkle a tablespoon of vitamins in the soil and massage in.

4. Shine its leaves with a damp cloth, gently removing any dust. Front and back. This not only makes your plant look nicer but helps it to soak in light more easily too.

5. Spin it around to make sure its leaves are sunned evenly as it tends to grow towards sunlight.

Spritz its leaves as an occasional treat. It loves that.