Groganic liquid palm fertilizer

[cencalpalmguy]

Hey all. I bought a jug of this stuff from the distributer in San Diego a few years ago, but only used it occasionally when I had the time or remembered to. I didn't notice any great effects on my plants, but I didn't use it as directed either. Was thinking about getting more and using it in a hose end sprayer when I water my potted plants and palms but wanted some input before I spend the $85 (shipping included). Any thoughts?

Chad

[insipidtoast]

  On 3/28/2011 at 3:57 AM, cencalpalmguy said:

Hey all. I bought a jug of this stuff from the distributer in San Diego a few years ago, but only used it occasionally when I had the time or remembered to. I didn't notice any great effects on my plants, but I didn't use it as directed either. Was thinking about getting more and using it in a hose end sprayer when I water my potted plants and palms but wanted some input before I spend the $85 (shipping included). Any thoughts?

Chad

What makes this product specifically for palms?

[cencalpalmguy]

I have no idea. It is sold by a palm nursery in San Diego and they say this is all they use. It is 8-7-7 liquid chicken manure with blood and bone meal and "trace elements". It says it is an all purpose liquid fertilizer but they sell it for palms.

[cencalpalmguy]

bump

[Justin]

I've had the most notable luck with "Fish and Poop" - not a good name, but works very well. For the most part, I use solid fertilizers (fish meal, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, etc.), mixing up what I put down, and having a decent mix of different stuff so that the soil can take in whatever it wants.

But for relatively new plantings, small stuff, or plants I am paying close attention to, I will use liquid fertilizers, and Fish and Poop seems to work the best.

[MattyB]

I've found that it really doesn't matter what fertilizer you use. The best thing is to mulch heavily and get all the worms and micro-organisms to do it for you. Then you can throw down granular or water in liquid fertilizer a few times a year to suppliment and give the plants a boost. But the long term, healthy choice is to build a healthy soil, which in turn will build healthy plants.

[Gonzer]

  On 3/30/2011 at 10:11 PM, MattyB said:

I've found that it really doesn't matter what fertilizer you use. The best thing is to mulch heavily and get all the worms and micro-organisms to do it for you. Then you can throw down granular or water in liquid fertilizer a few times a year to suppliment and give the plants a boost. But the long term, healthy choice is to build a healthy soil, which in turn will build healthy plants.

Matty pegged it. Too much thinking goes into what to feed plants, any plant. Mulch, proper irrigation, and attention are the keys to healthy growing. Take the time, or if you don't have it, MAKE the time to go out and be among your plants once a day at least. The old urban legend about talking and touching your plants is not a myth. People have drifted away from this practice in lieu of "feed, feed, feed". Instant this and instant that. A well-balanced organic or synthetic fertilizer a few times a year is a treat for plants, kinda like a Double Double from In 'n Out Burger once or twice a year. The important element is to stay in tune with what you grow.

[Justin]

I concur. I tried to say the same thing, but it did not come out as eloquently. The "stuff" in the Alfalfa meal, Bone Meal, Kelp Meal, etc. is to feed the soil, not feed the plants. Between that and the mulch (and good luck on where I moved), my soil is generally very rich now, so feeding an individual plant is not really necessary, save for transplants, young plants, etc.

[edric]

I'm in a fix cause I grow in pot with Coco peat coir and Perlie, and the Coconut husk grounds don't start to break down for something like seven years, there are no worms in Coco peat coir, so a little more attention must be given, as to what I treat the soil, as it were, with, liquid seaweed, liquid fish, {Maxicrop}, and regular palm fert., however I do subscribe to an intimacy with ones plants, I swear they know you're there! Ed

[MattyB]

I'd have to disagree about the coir not breaking down for 7 years, Ed. I started my worm bin with a brick of coir and in just a couple of years they've completely broken it down to mushy worm castings.

[edric]

  On 3/31/2011 at 3:11 PM, MattyB said:

I'd have to disagree about the coir not breaking down for 7 years, Ed. I started my worm bin with a brick of coir and in just a couple of years they've completely broken it down to mushy worm castings.

Yea, I thought that sounded like a long time, but that's just what I read somewhere, Ed

[MattyB]

That pot culture is a whole different world in my opinion. Sometimes the medium can be close to sterile so high quality slow release fertilizers are essential in my experience. Also, I use (sparingly) fungicides and pesticides on potted plants in the shade/green house, whereas I almost never use them out in the garden.

[AggiePalms]

I agree with what most of us are saying about fertilizer type, etc., not mattering all that much on palms in the ground. I will say though that I use a commercial micronutrient/liquid fertilizer as a foliar spray several times a year; sold as Spray-n-Grow. It does a nice job to supplement, not replace, fertilizer and mulch on the roots. Proper ground mulching with any plant based material will improve soil tilth, health, and hold the nutrients for the roots. I don't think it matters a whole lot what gets used on the ground, except to avoid quick release fertilizers...most of the very soluble nutrient goes through the soil too fast for the roots to pick it up, but goes into groundwater or streams, producing water contamination. Other than avoiding those rapid release fertilizers, go ahead, fertilize and mulch away!

[Darold Petty]

This Howea forsteriana was grown in Encinitas by the same people who import this liquid fertilizer from New Zealand. The palm is 28cm in diameter at the soil surface and the true trunk is 30 cm tall (11 inches x 12 inches).

I believe that regular applications of organic matter to the soil is the best practice, but container plants need more. This is the largest and best grown Howea I have seen in this container size,(60cm / 24 inches).

And yes, I did purchase this palm !

[LJG]

  On 4/1/2011 at 4:40 AM, Darold Petty said:

This Howea forsteriana was grown in Encinitas by the same people who import this liquid fertilizer from New Zealand. The palm is 28cm in diameter at the soil surface and the true trunk is 30 cm tall (11 inches x 12 inches).

I believe that regular applications of organic matter to the soil is the best practice, but container plants need more. This is the largest and best grown Howea I have seen in this container size,(60cm / 24 inches).

And yes, I did purchase this palm !

Darold, I think "Green Ganic" and "GroGanic" are the same. Green Ganic came highly recommended from many palm and cycad growers around the world. Sold as Nitrosol elsewhere, it is a very popular organic fertilizer. I just started using it a few weeks ago so I can't say how well it works for me yet. But the results you posted seems about right from what others have stated that use it too.

[cencalpalmguy]

Thanks for all the help guys. I do mulch my in-ground palms and use granualar fert. My bigger palms I use spikes as well. I have plenty of seedlings in one gallon citrus pots and dozens of potted palms and tropical plants of various sizes covering my patio. While I do use compost when I plant or transplant, I'm looking for a liquid organic to continue to supplement the nutrients in the soil. Guess I should have specified that earlier. I have a little of the Groganic left so I will try using it on a regular basis and what happens. Any other input is welcomed.

Thanks, Chad

[insipidtoast]

  On 3/28/2011 at 1:59 PM, cencalpalmguy said:

I have no idea. It is sold by a palm nursery in San Diego and they say this is all they use. It is 8-7-7 liquid chicken manure with blood and bone meal and "trace elements". It says it is an all purpose liquid fertilizer but they sell it for palms.

This would be easy to make yourself. Otherwise just use compost tea for your liquid nutes.