Palm fertilizer?

JohnC · Post by **JohnC** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:41 pm

I have two T. Fortunei indoors right now and I just realized the potting soil I used is a "soilless" formula so I think I need to feed them.
I've been browsing the net looking for info on what to use and some sites say you *have* to use "Palm fertilizer".
We checked the local nurseries but being on Vancouver Island in Canada they didn't carry any Palm fertilizer, there are sources in the U.S. but the shipping is outrageous.
Is "Palm fertilizer" really necessary? Can I use something else?

palmmandan · Post by **palmmandan** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 7:59 pm

The palm fertilizer I use is a granular. It is a 14-4-14 mix. Palm fertilizers have a few extra trace elements. I also use Palm tree spikes that I bought from treehelp.com

palmmandan · Post by **palmmandan** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:04 pm

http://www.treehelp.com/trees/palm/fert ... a-palm.asp

JohnC · Post by **JohnC** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:23 pm

palmmandan wrote:The palm fertilizer I use is a granular. It is a 14-4-14 mix. Palm fertilizers have a few extra trace elements. I also use Palm tree spikes that I bought from treehelp.com

Ah...ok, I tracked down that they are selling Lutz tree spikes and the Lutz site has a guide for using them with "small potted palms":
https://www.lutzcorp.com/palmtrees/

It's a bit bizarre that I can't find any of this kind of stuff in local nurseries or even from Canadian online sites, not even the Jobe's fern and palm spikes for indoor plants.

I've seen a zillion palm trees in office and hotel lobbies and outside in containers; I guess the pro's who maintain them must have their own sources.

Funny but now that I've done some research on palm fertilizers I have a pretty good idea why the large palms at the local nursery look the sickly way they do.

I'm seriously tempted to just get some Osmocote indoor controlled release pellets (19-6-12) as that seems to come closest to the magic 3-1-3 formula that's available here and some epsom salts for the magnesium.

I thought with all the palm growers on here there would be more discussion about fertilizer but after searching it seems to be an extremely rare topic of discussion or I just used the wrong terms.

Thanks for your help, that led me in the right direction.

Cheers!

dave · Post by **dave** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:41 am

John:
In my opinion, the best palm/cycad fertilizer out there is controlled-release Nutricote, made by Florikan. This has a 3-1-2 ratio of majors, and a good selection of minors in the blend. Down south you can buy it in 50 lb bags. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a distributor in the area that handles the large bags. However, the stuff is available at Home Depot under the brand name Dynamite. It comes in 1lb and 2lb cans. The green label cans are 270 day release. I fertilize (top dress) once in the spring and that's it. People say you can't burn palms and cycads with this stuff, no matter how much you put on. I doubt that's true, but have never had a problem.

I noticed this year Lowe's has also started selling Nutricote 270 under their house brand Garden Select. Its in the same-shaped cans as the Dynamite, and if you read the label carefully, you can see its from Florikan. The composition is the same as Dynamite as well.

I realize you are from Canada. I don't know if the HD's and Lowes up there sell it, but its worth a look. You can read about it at the Florikan web site - http://www.florikan.com. '

Enjoy your palms.
Dave

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:27 am

John, I've had trouble finding palm fert too.

Agree with Dave and Palmandan about both of their choices.
The trick, I believe, is to try to get the SAME proportion of NPK+ that's recommended.
Broschat Meerow recommend a 3N 1P 3K +1 magnesium.

You'll read of palms--particularly in S. Florida where they have sandy soil--with lots of problems because nutrients leach through sand so quickly. Probably why a time release fertilizer is always recommended.
But those of us who make our own mix (native soil--if it's good, some fir bark, gravelly mix for drainage) could probably use other fertilizers as long as the 3 1 3+1 ratio is retained.

I'm certainly not an authority, but I do know that Epsom salts (magnesium) are a quick tonic to green up palms, but trace elements are a good idea too. I found an old dusty box on a shelf years ago called Fritted Trace Elements, and use it once a year along with once a month dilute fertilizer.

Barb
PS--most recently on my youngest palms, I used 24-18-12 (not perfect, but ...), and they all responded nicely in a sunny south window.

JohnC · Post by **JohnC** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:06 pm

Thank's Barb and Dave, I'll hunt around some more armed with that extra info.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:34 pm

Just remembered that someone said a while ago there is a rose fertilizer that has an appropriate ratio of N P K for palms
(approximating the 3-1-3). So, 6-2-6 is fine; also 12-4-12, etc.
Barb

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:39 pm

I didn't know rose fertilizer was good for palms.

Dean

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:49 pm

I haven't tried it but as long as the RATIOS are close to the 3-1-3. i.e. 24-8-24 etc etc
wouldn't go any higher than that though...might be too strong and burn.

Just check the numbers...
and the +1 that's Magnesium which you can add a one-quarter tsp of Epsom Salts to the fertilizer water.

Trace elements...look for those.
Barb

Stevea07 · Post by **Stevea07** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:54 pm

Hardypalms in the U.K. sells two types of fertilizers for palms. Shipping to you may be reasonable as they are just across "the big pond". Link below.

http://www.hardypalms.co.uk/EN/Default.aspx

Cowtown Palm Society · Post by **Cowtown Palm Society** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:21 am

JohnC,

Check out an ebay.com (not .ca) store called Sunshine Gardens. They carry "Carl Poole Palm Fertilizer" for $9.99 US + a rather hefty shipping charge of $25.10 (to Calgary-similar to Vancouver Island I'm sure). I think the shipping charge is a relatively small price to pay though, to ensure my palms (that I've worked hard to acquire, pay for and maintain) get the right nutrients, especially Magnesium and Manganese, which are crucial to healthy palm development. I ordered some and have been very happy with the progress and colour of my palms this summer (Trachy Fortunei, Needle and Washy Robusta). Also, the fertilizer has an ideal 12-4-12 N P K ratio suited to palms. Shipping was very quick, by the way!

http://cgi.ebay.com/PALM-FOOD-Carl-Pool ... rksid=p328

Best of luck!

Duncan

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 10:19 am

Thanks for those links, Steve and Duncan.
Will have a look.
Barb

PalmsNorth.com

Palm fertilizer?

Palm fertilizer?

Controlled release fertilizer

This may help Canadian palm growers.

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