Fertilizer for Potted Palms

[Zentaur]

I’ve never used fertilizers for my potted palms, but I now I feel like I want to start because I might be missing out in some palm growth gains.

I’ve heard good things about nutricote and osmocote, but they don’t sell them in Tokyo where I live. Ironically nutricote is made by a Japanese company, and when I checked with them it seems they don’t sell nutricote in Japan; it’s a product for America.

They do sell a slow-release fertilizer but the ratio is 20-7-11-2. Do you think this would be alright for my palms? (Bismarckia Nobilis, phoenix roebelenii, Brahea Armata, Sabal,  Jelly Palm, Washingtonian, Sago Palm, Elude, Chamaerops, Canary Palm, Mexican Grass Tree)

[happypalms]

Nice setup I like it. Liquid fertiliser I find work best for me in the form of seaweed or fish emulsion. A plant is like a baby you can’t force feed them it simply won’t work. Only fertilise in summer when root activity is at its best and soil temperatures are up. A little goes a long way always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines even a little under in recommended rates and measurements to be safe. Provided you have good drainage fertilise every watering if you don’t have good drainage then wait until you need to water. It’s a fine balance of getting it right and wrong, given good drainage you can water quite frequently in summer but back of in winter with water and fertiliser unless you’re lucky enough to live in Hawaii those lucky growers. But remember a little goes a long way get your soil correct in the first place and most of your problems are over but get wrong and it’s a world of grow trouble with the incorrect fertiliser and water. Use a seaweed based mix I use one called power feed an organic mixture just have a google for it and you will see what I mean, Charlie carp is another good one. Good luck.

[Zentaur]

Thank you for the detailed response Happypalm.

Well, to be honest I was hoping that you’d say the slow release fertilizer I mentioned would be acceptable because it seems so much more convenient, but you’re probably right in that I should err on the side of caution with fertilizers as overdosing is far more likely with a slow release type.

The thought of using a liquid fertilizer made me wince a bit because it seems like so much more of a hassle, but actually I think I’ll give it a shot! I found the Powerfeed All-Purpose (fish-compost-seaweed) 12-1-7, comes in a green bottle with a yellow cap. Is that the one you recommend? 
 

Another problem is they don’t sell these fertilizers in Japan, so I’ll have to try a find some kind of equivalent. The good news is that if I do, I’ll be able to help other Tokyo palm growers find fertilizer in the future  !

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, Zentaur said:

Thank you for the detailed response Happypalm.

Well, to be honest I was hoping that you’d say the slow release fertilizer I mentioned would be acceptable because it seems so much more convenient, but you’re probably right in that I should err on the side of caution with fertilizers as overdosing is far more likely with a slow release type.

The thought of using a liquid fertilizer made me wince a bit because it seems like so much more of a hassle, but actually I think I’ll give it a shot! I found the Powerfeed All-Purpose (fish-compost-seaweed) 12-1-7, comes in a green bottle with a yellow cap. Is that the one you recommend? 
 

Another problem is they don’t sell these fertilizers in Japan, so I’ll have to try a find some kind of equivalent. The good news is that if I do, I’ll be able to help other Tokyo palm growers find fertilizer in the future  !

Your welcome slow release fertiliser works well and is great to use, I find it to exspensive for the amount I need. Yes that sounds the fertiliser I suggest you can always import the fertiliser you need but once again cost is involved. But when I have paid up to $300 dollars for one palm seedling a collector has no limits. Just look at Japanese variegated rhapis they sell for huge prices. And on good note I have been to Japan one amazing beautiful country with such friendly people. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Whether you use liquid or dry fertilizer , I would stick with organics . Potted plants can have adverse build up of unwanted stuff from certain fertilizers . I am not sure what is available there but I use an EB Stone product that is derived from different organic sources . It seems to last a few months and is powdery stuff that I mix into the damp soil ( never apply to dry soil) . I don’t have that many potted palms so a 4lb bag does the trick . I also use it on just a few of my in ground palms that need a little helping once in a while. Harry

[happypalms]

10 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Whether you use liquid or dry fertilizer , I would stick with organics . Potted plants can have adverse build up of unwanted stuff from certain fertilizers . I am not sure what is available there but I use an EB Stone product that is derived from different organic sources . It seems to last a few months and is powdery stuff that I mix into the damp soil ( never apply to dry soil) . I don’t have that many potted palms so a 4lb bag does the trick . I also use it on just a few of my in ground palms that need a little helping once in a while. Harry

That white crystalline looking stuff on the bottom of your plant contains, salt build up from synthetic fertiliser burning your plants roots. Go organic for sure the old saying don’t panic it’s organic!
Richard

[Zentaur]

After searching the internet for hours I couldn’t find any “all-in-one” organic fertilizer like Powerfeed being sold here in Japan. Failing to find an all-in-one solution, I started researching about organic fertilizers in general and then I had an idea... Is combining different organic fertilizers a good idea?

I read that the ideal palm fertilizer should have a ratio of 3-1-3. I was thinking to use Rapeseed Oil Cake in combination with Seaweed Meal to balance out ratios. Rapeseed Oil Cakes would give high nitrogen, and seaweed meal would give high potassium. 

Rapeseed Oil Cake (5-2-1) popular in Japan, slow release, organic, and “virtually impossible” to over feed apparently. High in trace elements

Seaweed Meal (1-0-8) also rich in trace elements