Fertilising Palm Trees

Firstly , we would advise any client to firstly have their soil tested to establish whether it is acid or alkaline as this is vitally important when diagnosing problems in palm nutrition. An alkaline soil can cause all sorts of problems with certain plants and prevent uptake of vital mineral elements.

Types of Fertiliser available

We sell two types of specially formulated fertiliser for palms, soluble and slow release. Soluble fertiliser is very popular, is dissolved in water and watered into the soil. It can be used for either potted or garden palms, but it is easily washed away and regular applications are required, which can lead to build of salts in the soil.

Alternatively, we also sell slow release fertiliser, in the form of granules which release nutrients slowly over a 2 to 3 month period. The advantage with this sytem is that it is far less time consuming, and due to the chemical formulation it is very hard to cause fertiliser burn to seedlings or palms if incorrectly applied. It also does not cause salt build up and toxicity in the same way as long term use of soluble fertiliser.

Some question and answers are posted below to help further with theis issue.

What is the best palm fertiliser?

It should first be pointed out that no fertiliser will ever be perfect for EVERY palm in every situation but in general terms we believe this is as close as its possible to get to a general palm fertiliser. Many studies have been carried out to discover which type of fetiliser works best for palms. The common thinking amongst growers is that a 3-1-3 Ratio of NPK works best together with added Magnesium and trace elements. Potassium ( K ) is vitally important for a healthy palm as are Magnesium and Manganese, neither of which are found in sufficient quantity in most commonly sold fertilisers. Phosphate ( P) is less important to palms and too much Phosphate can cause secondary problems. Most popular brands of garden fertiliser are simply unsuitable. Hardy Palms have worked with Gardenpalms in Holland to produce our own specialist fertilisers at a price that we feel cannot be beaten.

 

When should I feed my palm tree?

Feeding should commence in Spring when the palm has resumed healthy growth. For palms planted in the ground a good soluble fertiliser works well , either dissolve the fertiliser into the water you use or sprinkle a little around the palm tree (approx 25g per square metre) and make sure you water it in very well. For beginners not accustomed to the right quantities to use, its best to be safe and mix with water in the recommended proportions. Dont apply to the base of the trunk but in the area around the trunk to encourage the roots to spread out searching for food. Be careful not to spill undiluted fertiliser onto the leaves as it will burn, if undiluted fertiliser gets into the heart of the palm it could kill it.

 

For palms in pots , nutricote/osmacote granules work well but soluble fertilisers can also be used as long as its not used too often. Constant feeding with water soluble fertiliser to palms in pots will lead to a build up of salt in the soil.

Growers should resist the temptation to overfeed palms as this will cause more harm than good.

Feeding should stop at the end of August as you want your palm to slow its growth as autumn approaches and harden the leaves ready for winter.

For newly planted palms , feeding should not take place for 12 months as you do not want to encourage top growth whilst the roots are trying to re-establish themselves as this puts the palm under increased duress in hot weather.

How often should I feed my palms?

In spring when growth is slower a monthly feed is all thats required, however with adequate watering in summer when the palms are in full growth this can be stepped up to fortnightly for established palms.

 

How do I feed palm seedlings?

Palm seedlings are notoriously slow growers. We all get impatient and think that adding fertiliser will make them grow faster.

 

For the first few months of its life the seedling gets all the nutrients and minerals it needs from the seed itself to help it establish a root system so that it can fend for itself. For seedlings the simplest method is to use 12 month release Nutricote or Osmacote granules.

What you must never do is feed TOO regularly with soluble fertiliser. This will quickly cause yellowing seedlings as mineral imbalances and salt build up starts to damage the seedlings health