What to use for boron deficiency in sylvester palm?

[jdl]

I have a little bit of a boron deficiency on one of my sylvester palms. But i also need to fertilize my sylvesters in general right now. What is a good overall sylvester palm fertilizer that also treats boron deficiency?

[Alan_Tampa]

You could use boric acid,  but like a tiny amount. Ask me how I know.

[jdl]

Just now, Alan_Tampa said:

You could use boric acid,  but like a tiny amount. Ask me how I know.

I'm guessing you learned the hard way lol

[Alan_Tampa]

Failure is great teacher. 

 

[Merlyn]

To treat Boron deficiency...er...you need to...er...add Borax!      But a very small amount.  My recollection was 1tsp in a 5 gallon bucket, but the UFL site says 2-4oz in a 5 gallon.  It's better to err on the side of caution, and know that it'll take at least 1-2 completely new sets of spears before you'll know it is resolved.  The reason is that the boron deficiency can show up in the developing spear, which might be several feet deep in the trunk.  So maybe add some now, wait a few months, then add another small amount.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP264

 

[jdl]

5 hours ago, Merlyn said:

To treat Boron deficiency...er...you need to...er...add Borax!      But a very small amount.  My recollection was 1tsp in a 5 gallon bucket, but the UFL site says 2-4oz in a 5 gallon.  It's better to err on the side of caution, and know that it'll take at least 1-2 completely new sets of spears before you'll know it is resolved.  The reason is that the boron deficiency can show up in the developing spear, which might be several feet deep in the trunk.  So maybe add some now, wait a few months, then add another small amount.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP264

 

What’s considered a new set of spears/how long does a new set of spears take to grow out?

[Merlyn]

12 hours ago, jdl said:

What’s considered a new set of spears/how long does a new set of spears take to grow out?

That depends on the palm, somewhat.  Some palms like Bismarck grow a pair of fronds at a time, others like Bottle/Spindle grow 1 at a time, and ones like Sylvester may grow 4 or more at a time.  My two Sylvesters grow about 3 or 4 "sets" of new fronds per year, so roughly speaking it may take the palm 3 months to grow a frond from the bud into a spear and then into a complete frond.  It's faster in the summer, mine didn't do much in January but are just starting to pick up speed now.

Adding boron to the palm now will help any fronds that are growing.  Some of the milder cosmetic effects of boron deficiencies are only evident when the frond opens, like fused tips or failure to open.  More severe deficiencies will cause deformation all the way from the bud, like "accordion leaf."  If you post a photo of your palm here, there are a ton of experts that can help figure out a good fertilizer.  Sometimes what appears to be one deficiency can actually be another.