When to start fertilizing seedlings?

[wendisplantation]

I am curious as to when is the right time to start fertilizing baby palms?

Is a regular palm specific granular too strong for a seedling? ???

Thanks!!

[Patrick]

I usually like to start with some water soluable stuff..... Miracle makes one with a nice 3-1-2 ratio....

I like to use Mattyb's cool-kid comment......" If it's growin', I'm throwin'!"

    You know, that really DOESN'T sound as cool as I thought it would. Hmm.

[Jeff Searle]

Wendi,

    Different people are going to use different methods. And all of these can work. I personally use a pinch of nutricote in small pots with seedlings and this has worked fine for me. Others that have only a few seedlings or small groups of different species, could use a liquid fertilizer. This just requires more time and needs to be done more often. So many factors are considered. How many seedlings do you have spread all over the yard in pots and how much spare time can you afford to spend? What you definitely don't want to use , is a palm granule fertilizer put on the surface of soil in these pots. There's a good chance your going to burn your palms!!

Jeff

[wendisplantation]

OK, Thanks-they are in one gallon pots, and I just put a little in there.

Should I take it out? i can throw it on my ground planted P. robelenii.

[Kris]

Dear wendi  

as jeff and patrick have stated,appears to be very true in real

sense.

and i will be nice if you can post stills of the palms that need to

use fertz on.since if it has a solid trunk region and if the leaves

have fully opened up as a mature palm(Features).then the

fert & its dosage will be different than the ones in root trainer

pots.

here i usually use Di Amonium Phospate one tea's spoon for a

normal sized bucket of water.stir it well till all the granuals

are disolved.and it does take some time to disolve.

and this diluted liquid fert is poured in the side walls of the pot,every weekends.and this fert is used on all plants.

here in india in perticular in madras we do not have palm

or cactus specific fertz.like slow release fertz.

but recently one nursery in the out skirts of madras i happen to buy some tablets fertz for all plants.but its content is not mentioned_N_P_K ? but its terrefic.

its easy to use and the time limit is every 14 days i must

place this tablet in the pot or containers.very effective.

here is the still of that product_

[Kris]

For small plants & young sprouts,there root accelators_

[Kris]

Now lets see stills on liquid fertilizers_totally organic type..

but wendi i have these fertilizers but still have not tried since

iam scared if it will burn my palms,since its totally new stuff to me.and iam living in a hot country so i can not fool around fertz and chemicals...

here are the stills_

[Kris]

another one_

[Kris]

one more_

[Kris]

now lets move to micro nutiriants kind of fertz.but mostly used

on grown-up specimens like coconut trees,banana,jack fruit,

sopotas,date palms,oil palm.

these contains trace quantities of boran,megnisium,manganese,ferrous,zinc..etc

this certainly boost higher yield in cash crops...

[Kris]

And wendi here is a beneficial mulch from neem trees,it is used

in the roots of plants that are grounded in the soil.

the benefit of this composite is encourages root grouth and kills harmful pest & parasites.and its totally safe for human

beings & animal.what i mean its Bio Product.

here is a still_

[Kris]

Now lets see some seeweed fertz_this item is also bio product and is safe !

[Kris]

here is organics a soil addative its also bio product.its very helpul when you change the small plants to bigger pots or containers.its more a soil ammendement than a fert_

[Kris]

So to sum-up ! i think the best bet will be what Jeff has said_

use nutricoat.

and if you want your potted plants look as though they are on

steroids then our member negil has raised a topic on a vitamin chargers in the name of superthrive.if i were you i will certainly check this product too.

in his post he has given illustrations on who to go about.its

results etc.if our friend does not see this thread.then i

suggest P.M him iam sure he will help you out.he a very kind &

a nice gentleman.

And a word of advice thinking that more fertz means more grouth,that does not work like that.it can be catastrofic

and most ocassions potted plants tend to die of root burn.

so get all the advise and see what works for you and try

testing in mild dosages as our friend patric has suggsted.

since when i was new to gardening i used to pour lots of fertz on the roots result most of the flowering plants just dried up.since most of the fertz carton has no or very little information on how to use and the dosage quantity.

for this i think the best bet will be jeff.to get the pot size and quantity ratio.(time table with mixture quantity).

i hope i have spoken enough and think you guys had enough for the day...

and wendi here is an interesting link of bio fertz that we indians buy from_

http://www.tstanes.com/products.html

Love,

Kris  

[wendisplantation]

Thanks Kris-

I will go look for that thread, asI have some of that 'Superthrive', and was wondering about using it on small potted palms!

Thanks again for all responses!!

[Jeff Searle]

Wendi,

   It appears your well on your way to becoming a vendor at maybe the Palm Bch. Palm Society palm sales. Good lord......you ARE one of us!

Jeff

[alex_7b]

I never fertilize anything while it's "on the seed".  I wait until the second year. The seed should contain all the nutrient the plant needs.

[wendisplantation]

Jeff- I'm going to have to get them liquidated somehow....LOLOL   And.... as long as you don't mind me picking your brain for the valuable info deposited there...........

Alex7b and Jeff- am I correct thinking that the seed is only nutritionally valuable in the very early stages? My A purpurea are about 6-7  months from germ, and trunks are big as my thumb or larger. They have 2 full leav es and sprouting third leaf.....

Is the seeds still working at this point, or is it basically just sitting there?

My first attempt at germing was Wodyetia, and one of 3 of those seeds broke off when I put the sprout in a pot..... I thought I killed it, but it is now(3 1/2 years out) very healthy and in the ground. As well, the third of those guys just now lost it's seed....a straggler....

I'm asking because I have also had a problem with these nasty little tree rats that most call 'squirrels'-

I put out some newly germed Phoenix reclinata that had not sprouted leaf yet (above soil level). The furry tree rats stole the seeds, bit em right off at the seed, and the reclinatas didn't miss a beat. I was definately surprised that theysurvived. Not like the wodyetia, it already had a leaf and good roots.

Let me know here guys, PLEASE. For this information may save a few furry tree rats

Thanks

[Logolight]

Jeff, you mentioned no granules.  I'm using "Dynamite" brand of time release granules.  I take it this is bad then?

[Jeff Searle]

(Logolight @ Apr. 16 2007,14:32)

QUOTE

Jeff, you mentioned no granules.  I'm using "Dynamite" brand of time release granules.  I take it this is bad then?

David,

    No, the dynamite is a slow release. Your safe. I was referring to a palm special type that you would normally use in the yard on the ground, around the base.

Jeff

[alex_7b]

Since they're 7m.o. and entering a new growing season, I'd fertilize with something designed for root development.

[Kris]

Dear Alex  

what is that avatar of your's.very intreguing.have you already shown a bigger image of in our avatar threads.i like to know

what is that banana.and i sense a geraffi head on the opening iam i right.

that icon is taking my thoughts somewhere ? can you tell me..

and sorry folks for diverting from the main discussion,since alex avatar was distracting my attention  

Love,

Kris  

[Logolight]

(Jeff Searle @ Apr. 16 2007,22:22)

QUOTE

(Logolight @ Apr. 16 2007,14:32)

QUOTE

Jeff, you mentioned no granules.  I'm using "Dynamite" brand of time release granules.  I take it this is bad then?

David,

    No, the dynamite is a slow release. Your safe. I was referring to a palm special type that you would normally use in the yard on the ground, around the base.

Jeff

Wheew!!!  Thanks Jeff.  I'm on a 4 day trip and was sweating it for a while knowing I can't get back home to take care of it for a few days.

[Breadfruit Bill]

No worries David, I use Dynamite on one and two leaf seedlings and so far, no burns and no problems...

[Logolight]

(PiousPalms @ Apr. 17 2007,12:15)

QUOTE

No worries David, I use Dynamite on one and two leaf seedlings and so far, no burns and no problems...

Yeah, thanks.  I was reading about fertilizers around the web and alot of websites mention that most granule fertilizers are not for potted plants which is what all of my palms are in buit It's a relief that you and Jeff say Dynamite brand is OK.

[MattyB]

(PiousPalms @ Apr. 17 2007,09:15)

QUOTE

No worries David, I use Dynamite on one and two leaf seedlings and so far, no burns and no problems...

Ditto,

[paulgila]

(MattyB @ Apr. 17 2007,15:23)

QUOTE

(PiousPalms @ Apr. 17 2007,09:15)

QUOTE

No worries David, I use Dynamite on one and two leaf seedlings and so far, no burns and no problems...

Ditto,

...and?

[MattyB]

You picky bastard.....and period not comma....my bad. :laugh:

[wendisplantation]

Ok, i'm glad to find out that info about Dynamite as well, because I ues that in all my other stuff, and it is in all the palms that I look at in nearly any garden center here....  But what about the NPK ratio,isn't the general rule either 3-1-2 or 3-1-3, Dynamite is just slightly different, but does it have enough K, and are all the minors in it? I see it does have some...:

boron, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum.

Jeez Jeff, why didn't you say "Throw some Dynamite on it" in the beginning...LOL .....just teasin! Glad I know, that's easier!

So now my question is.....the palm specific granular isn't slow release?

OR

It is, but ......bla bla bla .......salt buildup!

(reminds me of 1,2,skip a few, 99, 100 )

I have been using the Vigoro palm specific on all (except very young seedlings), and I flush out my pots 2-3 times per year....., to try to prevent the buildup.

OK, Thanks everyone, I'm going to go Dynamite my pots....

[Breadfruit Bill]

Viagra palm specific?  ???

[Breadfruit Bill]

OK, bad joke...      

Dynamite comes in three different flavors...

All Purpose, Flowers and Veggies, and Magnesium Sulfate (The blue bottle)

I use the one in the blue bottle...  It has minors.    :cool:

[Breadfruit Bill]

[wendisplantation]

very funny, Mr. Bill......

So, what is the ratio of the blue stuff, as all I have seen up here in no man's land is the red and green?

[Breadfruit Bill]

Honestly I have peeled all the labels off my bottles and don't have a clue what's in them!  Lots of thing I don't care to pronouce I'm sure!  

Dang that picture was big...  I think Dynamaite may start having to give The IPS royalties for that kind of advertisment!

[Logolight]

Same thing here in Jax.  Only the red and green bottles available.  I use the green bottle.

[Kris]

Dear william  

that dynamite still_rocks.are you a major share holder of that

firm.since its so clear and flashy.even folks who have not used it till today will be prompted to buy one soon  

but i like the clarity.so keep it up.it will be of emence help for

newcommers into this arena of palm tree growing.

thanks & love,

Kris