Why is fertilizing important?
Plants, just like humans, need nutrients to grow and develop healthily. So, fertilizing is an essential process that ensures that our plants receive the necessary nutrients that the soil may not have in sufficient quantities. Due to their stately size, most palm trees depend on a balanced supply. Fertilizing can increase leaf development, enhancing the beauty of your palms and improving their resistance to disease and pests.
What makes good palm fertilizers - what nutrients do palms need?
Good palm fertilizers are characterized by a balanced mixture of nutrients. These do not have to be specially tailored to the needs of palm trees, because green plants and palm trees have similar needs. The three most important nutrients that palm trees need are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). These are often listed as the NPK ratio on the fertilizer package.
- Nitrogen (N) is important for leaf growth and green leaf formation. A lack of nitrogen leads to pale leaf color and reduced plant growth.
- Phosphorus (P) supports root development and contributes to the formation of flowers and fruits in a plant. A lack of phosphorus can affect the growth of the plant.
- Potassium (K) is essential for strengthening plant cells and regulating water balance. It makes the plant more resistant to drought and diseases.
If the leaves of the palm tree turn yellow and curl, this can be due to a lack of nutrients. In this case, in addition to the main nutrients, we also recommend the supply of trace elements, for example: iron, manganese, copper, zinc.
The FARBIO® organic micro-complex is plant care in a class of its own: plant protection, plant healing and micronutrients in one. The 100% organic and vegan foliar fertilizer supplies all types of plants with important micronutrients and significantly increases the natural processes within the plant through nanoparticle technology and bio-stimulants.
The most beautiful & popular palm trees for your home
Before we delve any further into fertilizing, it's important to find the right types of palm trees for your home:
1. Areca Palm ( Dypsis lutescens ):
Appearance: The Areca Palm has slender, pinnate leaves that grow in a fan arrangement. Its leaves are rich green and give the palm tree an elegant look. It is one of the most popular indoor palms.
Origin: The Areca palm originally comes from the tropical regions of Madagascar. It is also called golden fruit palm!
Care tips: The Areca palm prefers a bright location, but not direct sunlight. It should be grown in a well drained substrate. Waterlogging should be avoided as this can lead to root rot.
2. Kentia Palm ( Howea forsteriana ):
Appearance: The Kentia palm has elegant, fan-shaped leaves that grow in a long stalk. Its leaves are dark green and slightly curved, giving the plant a majestic appearance.
Origin: The Kentia palm originally comes from Lord Howe Island in Australia.
Care tips: The Kentia palm prefers a light to partially shaded location. It is relatively easy to care for and also tolerates somewhat drier air. Regular but not excessive watering is advisable.
3. Dwarf Date Palm ( Phoenix roebelenii ):
Appearance: The dwarf date palm has pinnate, feathery leaves that grow in a bushy habit. Its leaves are deep green and the trunk is slightly thicker - this gives the palm tree a compact look.
Origin: The dwarf date palm comes from Southeast Asia, especially from Thailand and Malaysia.
Care tips: The dwarf date palm prefers a bright location and can also tolerate some sun. It needs regular watering and should be protected from drafts. Occasional spraying of the leaves increases the humidity and promotes the well-being of the plant.
4. Elephant's Foot Palm ( Beaucarnea recurvata ):
Appearance: The Elephant's Foot Palm has an unusual and distinctive trunk resembling an elephant's foot. At the top grow long, narrow, green leaves that curve slightly downwards.
Origin: The elephant foot palm originally comes from Mexico and other parts of Central America.
Care tips: The elephant foot palm prefers a light to partially shaded location. It is extremely easy to care for and requires little water. The soil should be well drained to avoid waterlogging.
5. Mountain Palm ( Chamaedorea elegans ):
Appearance: The mountain palm has delicate, pinnate leaves that grow in a rosette-like arrangement. Its leaves are medium green, giving the palm tree a charming, compact look.
Origin: The mountain palm comes from Central America, especially from Mexico and Guatemala.
Care tips: The mountain palm prefers a light to semi-shady location, but can also thrive in shady areas. It needs regular watering and should be protected from drafts. The mountain palm is an ideal houseplant for beginners as it is easy to care for.
Do palm trees need a special fertilizer?
Since palm trees have no special requirements, it does not necessarily have to be a palm fertilizer. These products are more expensive than green plant fertilizer and often contain the same nutrient composition. A distinction is made between mineral fertilizers and organic fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers are artificially produced - the nutrients are present in salts. Organic fertilizers are made from natural materials of plant or animal origin.
The FARBIO® liquid fertilizer for green plants provides your palm trees with the most important organic nutrients that are important for healthy growth, strong leaves and strong roots. The formation of leaf green is also stimulated by the application. The basic supply consists of a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium - the essential macronutrients. The organic liquid fertilizer ensures a healthy and lively soil, which makes your palms more resistant to disease and pest infestations.
Alternative to palm fertilizers
Long-term fertilizers in the form of granules, pellets or fertilizer sticks can simply be worked into the planting hole when planting or transplanting. In this way there is continuous fertilization and nutrients are released with every watering process. However, this has the disadvantage that it cannot be determined exactly when the palm tree will receive how many nutrients - this can lead to an undersupply because the nutrients do not reach the roots of the plant through the irrigation water in time.
Numerous home remedies can also be used to add fertilizer. For example, your coffee grounds make a good palm fertilizer - they contain the three main nutrients and some trace elements. You can simply mix it into the plant substrate. However, you always have to make sure that the sentence doesn't go moldy.
Buy palm fertilizer: You have to pay attention to this
Although palm trees are generally considered undemanding, choosing the wrong palm fertilizer or the wrong dosage will cause palm trees to die. When buying palm fertilizer, there are a few important points to consider:
NPK ratio: Look for a balanced NPK ratio on the packaging.
Trace elements: Make sure that you also supply your plant with important trace elements such as magnesium, iron and zinc when fertilizing.
Simple application: Palm fertilizer should be applied regularly - simple application and precise dosing is therefore essential, for example using a pipette!
Quality: Choose a high-quality and environmentally friendly fertilizer for best results and to prevent over-fertilization. Natural fertilizers designed specifically for indoor plants are best suited.
How often should you fertilize palm trees?
In general, it's advisable to give your palm more fertilizer during its active growing season, which occurs in spring and summer. Then it is advisable to use a fertilizer every two to four weeks. During the dormant period in fall and winter, you need to fertilize less.
