September Fertilizer

[Magician59]

Is it too late to fertilize my pygmy date palms?  I live in upper Phoenix, AZ and suddenly my palms are looking terrible.  I used Arizona's Best Palm fertilizer on them in April.  Is it too hot & late in the season to give them some more?

[SeanK]

Check the pH of your soil.

[JohnAndSancho]

I can't answer, but I gave all of my outdoor stuff some slow release last week. 

[Johnny Palmseed]

7 hours ago, Magician59 said:

Is it too late to fertilize my pygmy date palms?  I live in upper Phoenix, AZ and suddenly my palms are looking terrible.  I used Arizona's Best Palm fertilizer on them in April.  Is it too hot & late in the season to give them some more?

What do you mean by terrible? That is very subjective. Are they perhaps dry and crispy? That would be not enough water. If so, adding fertilizer would probably make your problem worse. Take a picture or 2 and post with details of the palm like how old, when was it planted, how much sun and water, etc. That will help diagnose the problem.

[Harry’s Palms]

Here in Southern California they need lots of water , especially in the dry months ( like now). I never fertilize my Roebelini but I water the heck out of them . This time of year is very dry here and the lower fronds need trimming more frequently . We have been in the mid 80’s to low 90’s so they get flooded with water every other day. Harry

[Magician59]

We are not the original owners, guessing 10 years old.  The worst looking palm is front & center in the south facing front yard - of course.  It gets morning shade from a tree, but all afternoon AZ sun.  Not my choice landscaping but I hate to watch it die.

[Harry’s Palms]

Yep , more water on those . When the weather gets cooler they will look better. The new growth looks very good . This time of year it is difficult to keep them from having the lower fronds discolored in full sun . I am glad you want to keep them healthy . The lower fronds will eventually get to where you can trim them off and the green fronds should stay green longer. As you may have already noticed , these can poke holes in skin so wear  thick long sleeves and gloves when trimming them , but wait until they get brown , if possible . I usually trim off the lower fronds when they are yellow but mine have a larger green section for the palms to stay healthy. Harry

you can see a bit of the same in the lower fronds as far as yellowing. This is normal . It has been very warm and super dry here. These get copious amounts of water , never fertilized. Harry

[aztropic]

Go ahead and fertilize. Our temperatures are starting to cool off. Easy way to remember when to fertilize in the valley of the sun is to use 3 holidays as your guide. Valentine's day, memorial day,and Labor day.

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[Magician59]

Thank you for the info.  Previous owners really liked pygmies, I have 9.  I'll hold off on cutting lower yellow fronds till they turn brown, landscaper isn't much help.  We increased the water a couple weeks ago.  I realize yellow will stay yellow, I'm hoping to stop the sprial.  I'll also give them some fertilizer.  Thanks everyone for your input.

[Johnny Palmseed]

The yellow in the older leaves could indicate a Magnesium/Potassium deficiency. Phoenix palms can be susceptible to this. Along with a general or palm specific fertilizer, you could add in a supplement of K-mag or Sul-Po-Mg. These are terms for a sulfur based Magnesium and Potassium supplement.

[Looking Glass]

4 hours ago, Magician59 said:

We are not the original owners, guessing 10 years old.  The worst looking palm is front & center in the south facing front yard - of course.  It gets morning shade from a tree, but all afternoon AZ sun.  Not my choice landscaping but I hate to watch it die.

That’s moderate magnesium deficiency with some potassium deficiency in most environments.   New growth is nice and green.  Might want to try Langbeinite/Sul-Po-Mag, and lots of frequent water.   These love water, and shouldn’t be hanging on to older yellow fronds.  They should turn yellow to fully brown quickly.  The lack of magnesium will give you the yellow outline and the lack of potassium gives you necrotic margins exacerbated by sunny/dry conditions.  You need water to uptake nutrients, and the lack of it, in the sun, exacerbates sun damage from the potassium deficiency 
 

4 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Yep , more water on those . When the weather gets cooler they will look better. The new growth looks very good . This time of year it is difficult to keep them from having the lower fronds discolored in full sun . I am glad you want to keep them healthy . The lower fronds will eventually get to where you can trim them off and the green fronds should stay green longer. As you may have already noticed , these can poke holes in skin so wear  thick long sleeves and gloves when trimming them , but wait until they get brown , if possible . I usually trim off the lower fronds when they are yellow but mine have a larger green section for the palms to stay healthy. Harry

you can see a bit of the same in the lower fronds as far as yellowing. This is normal . It has been very warm and super dry here. These get copious amounts of water , never fertilized. Harry

This one looks like more mild potassium deficiency. 

 

[Harry’s Palms]

I used SulPoMag on a couple of Archontophoenix at my old house and after a season or so they really greened up. My Pygmy palms get this way in fall but I have never intervened with any additives and by Spring they are doing better . The pic I posted is recent . They are so easy here I just let them do their thing . This is our hot season , going into fall and the dry conditions don’t do them any favors . I may try some of that if it gets much worse , but this is pretty typical of them for this time of the year. Thanks . Harry

[Looking Glass]

33 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I used SulPoMag on a couple of Archontophoenix at my old house and after a season or so they really greened up. My Pygmy palms get this way in fall but I have never intervened with any additives and by Spring they are doing better . The pic I posted is recent . They are so easy here I just let them do their thing . This is our hot season , going into fall and the dry conditions don’t do them any favors . I may try some of that if it gets much worse , but this is pretty typical of them for this time of the year. Thanks . Harry

It’s typical of all Phoenix species around here.  But normal folk don’t palm fertilize and the soil is sandy, so potassium and magnesium wash away quick in our rains.   I’ve got 10 of these out front and they got it without aggressive langbeinite here.   After a couple of years of supplementation, it’s not much of an issue anymore, but they seem to like a lot.  

[sonoranfans]

Having spent 10 years in arizona, I agree with scott(Aztropic).  Put the fertilizer down now.  You might want to wet it down a bit too.  The palm will be fine, they are bullet proof with water and regular fertilizer there.  I had 6 when I was in AZ, easy care as long as you water 3 times/week in summer and fertilize 3x a year.  Cut back the water in winter to once every 4-7 days as temps dictate.

[ryjohn]

I agree— fertilize with K-Mag and water well.  I fertilized here last week right before a moderate rain to help replace crowns that were cold damaged.  The nitrogen I included so late in the year will make them less leaf hardy, but I’m banking we finally go back to a mild winter

[Magician59]

Thanks everyone, I'll try some additional K-Mag or SulPoMag👍

Double checking to make sure I'm on the right track.  I can use AZ Best Palm Tree fertilizer and also add K- Mag or SulPoMag.  Is this correct?

[Johnny Palmseed]

20 hours ago, Magician59 said:

Thanks everyone, I'll try some additional K-Mag or SulPoMag👍

Double checking to make sure I'm on the right track.  I can use AZ Best Palm Tree fertilizer and also add K- Mag or SulPoMag.  Is this correct?

That is correct. Any palm specific fertilizer will get you about where you need to be for maintenance. The K-mag will be the booster to get rid of the excessive yellowing of the oldest leaves/fronds. That particular brand has some Mg but it’s not enough at 1% to really help correct the deficiency. The potassium or K is 10%, which is good for maintaining the palm. Whatever you do, just don’t overdo it with fertilizer. Follow the instructions and try not to over compensate. Sometimes less is better, especially going into the winter. You don’t want to spur excessive growth if you get cold temperatures where you are.