Can you over fertilize a palm?

[_Keith]

I have read many comments about it being very hard to overfertilize a palm. In the past I have used Palm Spikes, and some broadcast chemical ferts, and although most of my palms are quite healthy, I can't help but to believe that I could push more growth. For the last couple of years, I have moved my veggie garden to organic, with outstanding results.

So, I have some bags of commericla Composted Chicken Manue headed for the vegetable garden. I am wondering about using one or two bags around every palm, spread thick like mulch. Do you think they can take it, without burn.

[Mandrew968]

Heck yes you can overfertilize them--pay close attention to the tips of your fronds for burning.

Edited February 24, 2011 by Mandrew968

[DoomsDave]

The short answer is, yes, you can.

But, the consequences are more nuanced than might appear.

On the one hand, way overdoing it something that's released fast, like urea, can cause burning. Less severe over-ferting can cause some plants to make weak, tender growth which can be more vulnerable to freeze damage.

But there are other consequences, too. Chemicals not absorbed by the plant will wash into groundwater and can pollute rivers, lakes, and the ocean, sometimes very severely.

In theory, the same thing can happen when you overdo it with organics like chicken manure. However, unless you're dealing with an Industrial Chicken Death Factory, which churns out tons of c-poop in a period of time, it's hard. (Though they did pass laws about watering cows in streams that drain into Chesapeake Bay because of the manure problem.)

In your case, with a couple of bags of the stuff, I think you have a good idea, spring's here, so spread the manure and hold your nose. You may want to keep it away from the stem of the palm. Some people have told me that c-poop can also burn.

Let us know what happens.

[_Keith]

The short answer is, yes, you can.

But, the consequences are more nuanced than might appear.

On the one hand, way overdoing it something that's released fast, like urea, can cause burning. Less severe over-ferting can cause some plants to make weak, tender growth which can be more vulnerable to freeze damage.

But there are other consequences, too. Chemicals not absorbed by the plant will wash into groundwater and can pollute rivers, lakes, and the ocean, sometimes very severely.

In theory, the same thing can happen when you overdo it with organics like chicken manure. However, unless you're dealing with an Industrial Chicken Death Factory, which churns out tons of c-poop in a period of time, it's hard. (Though they did pass laws about watering cows in streams that drain into Chesapeake Bay because of the manure problem.)

In your case, with a couple of bags of the stuff, I think you have a good idea, spring's here, so spread the manure and hold your nose. You may want to keep it away from the stem of the palm. Some people have told me that c-poop can also burn.

Let us know what happens.

They say this stuff is "composted" which is what has me tempted, but I can tell you it still smells very much like chicken poo. That has me wondering to what degree it was actually composted. I will use it as side dressing on my garden rows. Hard to get into trouble that way.

But the palm thing has me really tempted. And don forget to factor our annual rainfall into the equations. With 50 to 60 inches of rain a year, falling mostly in torrents between many droughts, nitrogen leaching is one of our biggest growth issues. That is where I am thinking the poop would release more slowly. If it doesn't but them up in the interim that is.

[Palm Hound]

Isn't manure basically nitrogen? I thought palms don't require that much of it unlike other plants.

[_Keith]

Isn't manure basically nitrogen? I thought palms don't require that much of it unlike other plants.

Hard to find real numbers on this stuff, but as best as I can tell it is (2.3%N, 3.5%P, 3.0%K).

[Jason Baker Portugal]

Palmarati,

I used some cheap "ecological" chick-poo last year and it did burn several types of palms. Syagrus were unscathered but others like ceroxylon showed burnt leaves. I´m going to fertilize with it again but I think I´ll compost it first and mix it with the other compost.

Cheers Jason

[Tropicgardener]

A number of years ago I almost killed 3 fruiting Malay Dwarf Coconunts with too much CK88.......I was a bit keen one spring to get them moving......The result was black frizzled tops. I had thought that they were lost but with plenty of water they came back better than ever.

[sonoranfans]

Its complicated but of course you can over fertilize. Its harder in high drainage sandy soil with a slow time release fertilizer. I use fish emulsion, not so easy to burn with that, but you can always over fertilize as it can change the drainage of the soil, and the transit time of nutrients will determine whether you get pH burn. If you want to keep a consistent nutrient level perhaps you can use time release(osmocote types are good) and in addition use a fish emulsion. Finally if you use humic acid it can prevent excessive buildup of things like mg and calcium. Cant say too much about chicken poo, but I expect it doesnt breathe and has a non neutral pH. adding lots of poo to your soil cant be too good at some level as it will likely shift the pH extend the transit time. The pH is critical for some palms as it can impede nutrient uptake of nutrients like Fe, Mg, and Boron. I use a time release and a bio based liquid(either fish or other) and in addition I add humic acid which chelates minerals which makes them bioavailable outside the normal pH range of bioavailability.