A fertilizer question

[_Keith]

I know there are specialty palm fertilizers, but other than missing micros, what would be the harm of using a standard 8-8-8 or 13-13-13 fertilizer on a palm.

[atlantisrising]

In my experience you can use those short term, I've supplemented with 24-8-16 on occasion when it seemed the plant needed an extra nitrogen kick, won't hurt the plant. But long term you need the micros especially certain species. For example queens and some Phoenix will suffer frizzle top if no manganese available, Licuala looks better with iron and all species can suffer from boron deficiency short term if you get a lot of rain that creates a boron flush out. And magnesium is necessary as a stand alone plus must be present for proper potassium uptake. That said not all palm fertilizers are created equal. I have used the palm specials for a long time with poor results, primarily because only a portion of the N and K was coated for slow release with the rest of it including the minors washing through immediately. I had potassium problems in almost all my species in spite of extreme amounts of fertilizer. I now believe it was because the magnesium portion was flushing and without that available the potassium can't be taken up adequately. Jeff Marcus and KWtimo steered me to 18-6-8 nutricote. This is manuf. in Japan and is more than twice the cost of the cheap palm specials, but the entire package is polymer coated for slow release so everything is always balanced. The slow release of all nutrients is the key and I have seen amazing improvement in  the short time since I switched. Worth the money IMO. My neighbors' trees with no fertilizer used to look better than mine, I now think because I also irrigate and my stuff was growing faster but had periods of inadequate nutrients in spite of huge fertilizer dumps. Oh, and the nutricote is available in 100 day, 180 day and 240 day release. I'm using the 100 day as kit releases faster until I get things stabilized.  My two cents.

[HurryUp&Grow]

I don't have nearly as much experience as others here do, but wouldn't soil pH be most important then the nutrients? I live on calcareous soil and its my understanding that alkalinity controls nutrient availability. 

[Cocoa Beach Jason]

2 hours ago, _Keith said:

I know there are specialty palm fertilizers, but other than missing micros, what would be the harm of using a standard 8-8-8 or 13-13-13 fertilizer on a palm.

I have read that adding potassium without adding magnesium can lead to a magnesium deficiency. So when one adds potassium one should also add magnesium to avoid that. 

[Cocoa Beach Jason]

2 hours ago, _Keith said:

I know there are specialty palm fertilizers, but other than missing micros, what would be the harm of using a standard 8-8-8 or 13-13-13 fertilizer on a palm.

Edited December 23, 2016 by Cocoa Beach Jason
oops double post