Can anyone tell me a simple way to fertilize palms without actual fertilizer?

[joe_OC]

Sounded like a bit of CYOA...

[DoomsDave]

Be careful using chemical fertilizers!

Dog pee is a chemical too and it burns nastily, since dogs aren’t worried about the harm to plants they often cause.

I’ve still got most of the urea I got for the BS Man nitrogen bomb; I’m looking for safe uses for it. 

Anyone need some 45% N fertilizer for your own nitrogen bomb?

[DoomsDave]

10 hours ago, BS Man about Palms said:

Never heard back from you on that Dave! Glad to know it worked!!

Oh Lordy did it work! I thought I sent you a PM thanking you, but if not, sorry.

And thanks!

[Mangosteen]

On 10/2/2018, 9:11:51, Rickybobby said:

There is a agriculture fertilizer called “urea” 46-0-0 and it is a organic synthetic made out of mammal urine 

AG urea chemical fertilizer (46-0-0) is not made from urine.

Urea is made when carbon dioxide is reacted with anhydrous ammonia. This process happens under intense pressure, at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Urea is processed to take the form of granules. 

[Moose]

I have not fertilized my palms in years. They are all very well established. Used fertilizers during their establishment. Now I heavily mulch only. The earthworms along with the others critters in my living soil seems to be giving all the nutrients they need. All kitchen waste goes out in the garden.

I don't put salt on any of my plants

[DoomsDave]

And don't forget the product of fluffy fertilizer factories . . .

[Ilovepalm]

11 hours ago, DoomsDave said:

And don't forget the product of fluffy fertilizer factories . . .

Nice kitty DoomsDave  

[naraj]

If I fertilize my palms with coffee beans instead of coffee grounds, do you think that would be better (because they won’t wash away/break down as easily) or worse (because they’ll sprout instead of fertilize)?

[naraj]

On 10/3/2018, 6:29:40, DoomsDave said:

@naraj! Whoa! AFRICA? Where? Would you mind sharing that? Sounds like a massive adventure in itself.

You're in a situation that's a big blessing in disguise. While chemical fertilizers have their good points, they can get expensive and also pollute natural water sources. I use slow-release types, except when kicking something that needs a kick to get growing.

Florida, I recall (and as others have posted) has places with monumentally poor soil, which often doesn't really even deserve the dignity of the term (Rocky Horrah'). Sounds like your present place has nice, naturally fertile soil. Soil is the result of actions by microbes, insects, worms, etc., on inorganic and organic materials in the ground. The best way to think of it, is you grow your soil as you grow your garden. Take care of your soil and the garden will at least partly take care of itself, at least from the fertility perspective.

All of the organic wastes derived from animals and plants can be used. Pee, poop, animal and human, will work, though MD's get a bit fidgety when people poop in the garden. If you're near a place where critters poop, you can gather it and: (a) pile it away from the beaten path, cover with dirt and keep moist, and it will rot down fast, and, best of all, rot other organics with it; or (b) mix it into the top layer of soil, though too much can be a problem with manure from grazing animals like cattle. If you go with (a), periodically dig the rotted stuff out, and mix it in your dirt, or use it as mulch. Go ahead and use wood ashes; it takes A LOT to increase the PH much, though do be careful if you're in a spot with alkaline water.

While my garden isn't organic, I pretty much bury anything organic I can find. Including dead animals, food that went bad in the fridge or freezer, dead leaves, branches, etc., and lots of wood ashes.

Hope this helps, and do tell us a bit about your corner of Africa, if you would. I'm dying of curiosity to know more.

Thanks for all the helpful info, Dave. Sorry, I missed your post somehow. I’m on a 5,600’ plateau in southern Ethiopia. Life is amazing but a bit short on luxuries here. I’ve only found one place in all of Ethiopia that specializes in palm trees, but I’ve been able to find a couple of bottle palms, triangle palms, royal palms, arecas, kentia palms, Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, some green bismark palms, and a Pritchardia hillebrandii. It’s a miracle I found those as the only palms people seem to grow here are a few types of date palms and Washingtonia filifera. I’m considering eventually making a roadtrip to Kenya for some more exotic stuff. The weather and people are great here, by the way.

[Xenon]

4 hours ago, naraj said:

 I’m on a 5,600’ plateau in southern Ethiopia. 

Sounds like you're in prime coffee growing area. The pulp/mesocarp of the coffee cherry also makes a good fertilizer. 

[jimmyt]

Composted or uncomposted bovine, equine, llama, or poultry poo is a natural way to fertilize.  Many folk give that s___ away  mix it in the top layer of soil. Fresh or dried it works....

jimmyt

[Manalto]

Has anyone tried seaweed? I've had good luck with it in my vegetable garden. I suspect it's rich in micronutrients - based only on speculation. (I'll have to look that up.)

[sandgroper]

22 minutes ago, Manalto said:

Has anyone tried seaweed? I've had good luck with it in my vegetable garden. I suspect it's rich in micronutrients - based only on speculation. (I'll have to look that up.)

I put it around my coconut palm, not sure if it makes a difference but it does eventually break down.