Scotts Miracle Grow "Shake & Feed" Fertilizer

[BlufftonSC]

I'm trying to put the big freeze behind me and move on to more positive things... like the palms growing again (but not so much the removal of a couple hundred burnt fronds about a month from now). Has anyone had success with the Miracle Grow "Shake & Feed for Palms"? If there's something better and just as convenient, I'd like to know. Because of the part sandy/part black "dug out of the bottom of the lagoon" soil in my yard (very weird), a lot of my palms are suffering from potassium deficiency as well as the need for heavy fertlization, so that's a big consideration.

Thanks!

[_Keith]

I'm trying to put the big freeze behind me and move on to more positive things... like the palms growing again (but not so much the removal of a couple hundred burnt fronds about a month from now). Has anyone had success with the Miracle Grow "Shake & Feed for Palms"? If there's something better and just as convenient, I'd like to know. Because of the part sandy/part black "dug out of the bottom of the lagoon" soil in my yard (very weird), a lot of my palms are suffering from potassium deficiency as well as the need for heavy fertlization, so that's a big consideration.

Thanks!

I used Lutz Palm Spikes last year with very good results. Very convenient to put in, don't have to worry about washaway.

[Palm Guy]

I'm trying to put the big freeze behind me and move on to more positive things... like the palms growing again (but not so much the removal of a couple hundred burnt fronds about a month from now). Has anyone had success with the Miracle Grow "Shake & Feed for Palms"? If there's something better and just as convenient, I'd like to know. Because of the part sandy/part black "dug out of the bottom of the lagoon" soil in my yard (very weird), a lot of my palms are suffering from potassium deficiency as well as the need for heavy fertlization, so that's a big consideration.

Thanks!

I never used this product before and it is available here....but I chose to stay away from it. The ratio 8-8-8 seems to contain too much phosphorous for my liking. Most palms like a 3-1-3 factor for in ground specimens or a 3-1-2 for pots. It doesnt have to be exact but close enough. I dont think that the fertilizer will do much harm but dont risk it on your most prized palms when testing it out.

Since you have potassium deficiency already you would probably need something like a 4-1-6 or 4-1-5 which is recommended for areas like Bermuda and Florida being mainly limestone based soils. Potassium deficiency is very common on limestone based soils and sandy soils.

I recommend reading this link: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep114

Recommended fertlizers:

Sure Gro 8-2-12 http://suregro.net/

If your into organic ferts (to me they only really work in the soil, not so much in pots unless you incorporate some 'real' soil in the mix) : http://gardening.yardener.com/KelpMealbyEspoma.html combined with this :http://www.esbenshades.com/onlineshopping/...LM-TONE%204-1-5

Also, if your soil is on the alkaline side, a few shots of foliar seaweed fert usually corrects any yellowing of the new growth due to being high in micronutrients.

[BlufftonSC]

I'm trying to put the big freeze behind me and move on to more positive things... like the palms growing again (but not so much the removal of a couple hundred burnt fronds about a month from now). Has anyone had success with the Miracle Grow "Shake & Feed for Palms"? If there's something better and just as convenient, I'd like to know. Because of the part sandy/part black "dug out of the bottom of the lagoon" soil in my yard (very weird), a lot of my palms are suffering from potassium deficiency as well as the need for heavy fertlization, so that's a big consideration.

Thanks!

I never used this product before and it is available here....but I chose to stay away from it. The ratio 8-8-8 seems to contain too much phosphorous for my liking. Most palms like a 3-1-3 factor for in ground specimens or a 3-1-2 for pots. It doesnt have to be exact but close enough. I dont think that the fertilizer will do much harm but dont risk it on your most prized palms when testing it out.

Since you have potassium deficiency already you would probably need something like a 4-1-6 or 4-1-5 which is recommended for areas like Bermuda and Florida being mainly limestone based soils. Potassium deficiency is very common on limestone based soils and sandy soils.

I recommend reading this link: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep114

Recommended fertlizers:

Sure Gro 8-2-12 http://suregro.net/

If your into organic ferts (to me they only really work in the soil, not so much in pots unless you incorporate some 'real' soil in the mix) : http://gardening.yardener.com/KelpMealbyEspoma.html combined with this :http://www.esbenshades.com/onlineshopping/...LM-TONE%204-1-5

Also, if your soil is on the alkaline side, a few shots of foliar seaweed fert usually corrects any yellowing of the new growth due to being high in micronutrients.

Thanks for the great leads. I'm in South Carolina and I'm almost afraid to find out how acidic my soil is. I know it's not alkaline.

[BlufftonSC]

I'm trying to put the big freeze behind me and move on to more positive things... like the palms growing again (but not so much the removal of a couple hundred burnt fronds about a month from now). Has anyone had success with the Miracle Grow "Shake & Feed for Palms"? If there's something better and just as convenient, I'd like to know. Because of the part sandy/part black "dug out of the bottom of the lagoon" soil in my yard (very weird), a lot of my palms are suffering from potassium deficiency as well as the need for heavy fertlization, so that's a big consideration.

Thanks!

I used Lutz Palm Spikes last year with very good results. Very convenient to put in, don't have to worry about washaway.

That's good to hear. That's actually my first choice, I'm just a little intimidated, however, about finding the right place to drive the spikes. And, at that price, I sure don't want to waste anything. Did you just measure out 3 feet from the trunk and drive them in?

[cencalpalmguy]

I use the Lutz spikes on my queen palms twice a year and they do great. Last year I got the Vigoro spikes from Home Depot tring to save a few bucks. Big mistake. They looked like crap in no time. I went back to the Lutz spikes and saw great results once again. I put a couple in the ground on each side about 2 feet from the trunk and run my drip line over them. I'm still looking for a good fert. for my potted palms.

Edited January 21, 2010 by cencalpalmguy

[kahili]

I use much higher numbers on my fert! I figure that I only have 6 months or so for good growth and so I give them Multicote 19-6-12. Same with all the tropicals in the ground where good foliage growth and not blooms are key-alocasias, colocasias, bananas etc. I use the same fert on all the palms in containers as well. I never see any nutrient deficiencies. For all the plants that are blooming, I use a Multicote triple 14. Although I don't have any sand or heavy leaching problems here. I think I would be using heavy mulch around the palms if I did, maybe mulching twice a yr around the palms.

[BigBpalms]

I have a large hibiscus coccineus that loves that shake and feed- i take a screwdriver and poke holes around the base( about 20 holes) and shake away -not sure about palms though

[_Keith]

I'm trying to put the big freeze behind me and move on to more positive things... like the palms growing again (but not so much the removal of a couple hundred burnt fronds about a month from now). Has anyone had success with the Miracle Grow "Shake & Feed for Palms"? If there's something better and just as convenient, I'd like to know. Because of the part sandy/part black "dug out of the bottom of the lagoon" soil in my yard (very weird), a lot of my palms are suffering from potassium deficiency as well as the need for heavy fertlization, so that's a big consideration.

Thanks!

I used Lutz Palm Spikes last year with very good results. Very convenient to put in, don't have to worry about washaway.

That's good to hear. That's actually my first choice, I'm just a little intimidated, however, about finding the right place to drive the spikes. And, at that price, I sure don't want to waste anything. Did you just measure out 3 feet from the trunk and drive them in?

They recommend probing around for the outer edges of the rootball, but no closer than 2 feet as I recall. I didn't probe around just guessed at it.

[MattyB]

I auditioned for the commercial and they didn't choose me. I hate them.

[BlufftonSC]

I auditioned for the commercial and they didn't choose me. I hate them.

Hysterical comment. Thanks for the humor. My wife is from Kearney Mesa.

[OverGrown]

I am currently using this fertilizer on my palms w/ no problems so far.