Can You Fertilize Palm Trees In The Winter?
Raising palms isn’t all about using high-quality palm fertilizer. You also have to feed them at the right time. So when do they need fertilization? Can you fertilize palm trees in the winter?
Winter fertilization is not suitable for your plants. It would be best to feed them during their growing season (from March to October).
Today, Swipe Garden will share with you more necessary information about fertilizing this kind of plant. Follow our sharing in this article!
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Should You Fertilize Plants In The Winter?
In many cases, the answer is probably no. Fertilizing at the wrong time is more harmful than not fertilizing at all. Fertilizing is an important aspect of palm tree care you should know.
For many trees, winter or cold weather is a period of resting. Plants need light to survive.
There is less sunlight in the autumn and winter than there always is in the summer. As a result, most plants tend to be less vigorous.
Plants require less palm tree fertilizer when they are semi-dormant. Most foliage plants can even last four months without any food.
Before the ground freezes, feed your plant with a slow release fertilizer to give it nutrition. Slow release fertilizer will help your palm tree through the winter and prepare for spring.
Here are some consequences you may expect if fertilizing your garden in winter.
Root burning
If you feed your plants in their dormancy period, they can’t absorb all the nutrients. Then, the excessive nutrients will accumulate in soil, causing root burning.
If the over-fertilizing continues, it may ruin your palm tree or even kill it.
Yellow or drooping leaves
When the root breaks down, other parts will suffer too.
When planting palms, the most important feature to pay attention to is leaves. Unfortunately, when the root system fails at delivering nutrients, leaves can’t grow properly.
Drooping and yellow leaves are the most apparent signs of improper palm tree fertilizer. Once you detect any of these symptoms, try to save your palm trees immediately.
Your palm tree will suffer if you feed them at the wrong time
What Month Do You Fertilize Palm Trees?
The best time to feed your palms is in their growing period, which starts in March and ends in October.
You may need to feed your plants four times per year if you live in a warm region where temperatures do not drop below freezing.
Palms can develop in a variety of conditions, including locations where the temperatures are low. Stop feeding a few months before the first harsh winter if you stay in one of those places.
In addition in early spring, you should put on the first dose of palm fertilizer for your palm trees.
Newly planted palms
If you have young palm trees, wait until it forms a new spear before fertilizing palm trees. The ideal time for fertilizing palm trees is two months after you plant them.
Palms that have reached maturity are distinctive. It would help if you fertilized according to their typical routine.
You can learn more tips to feed your palms via this video.
Fertilizing Palm Trees during the plant’s growing season is ideal
Do Palm Trees Need Special Fertilizer?
Palms require the same nutrients as other plants, such as NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), iron, manganese, and magnesium. Besides, there is a product aimed at these plants: palm focus fertilizer.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is essential for all plants, accounting for around 3% to 4% of their composition. This nutrient contributes significantly to the plant’s development.
Nitrogen aids the growth of the palms by allowing them to produce amino acids. Amino acids are the basic components of proteins, which play a role in plants’ metabolic and development processes.
It’s a key element of chlorophyll too. This nutrient helps plants collect sunlight and convert it into sugars through photosynthetic activity.
Furthermore, nitrogen is a crucial component of DNA, the genetic element that enables plants to thrive and reproduce.
To summarize, nitrogen plays an essential role in plant survival. Palm trees cannot work properly without it.
Potassium
Potassium plays a variety of roles in palms, but it is mainly responsible for the flow of all vital carbohydrates and minerals throughout the palm tree.
Palms absorb vast amounts of potassium throughout their lifespan. It allows water, carbohydrates, and nutrients to flow freely across all palm tree cells.
The nutrient also enhances the activation of enzymes in the plant. It aids in the production of carbohydrates, proteins, and ATP.
Iron
Iron is an essential element for nearly all plants because of its vital role in metabolic activities.
Iron also activates many plant activities since it is a constituent of many proteins’ prosthetic groups.
Iron chlorosis results from a mismatch between the amount of iron in soil and the need for it by plants.
Despite being abundant in most well-aerated environments, iron’s biological activity only becomes limited due to its propensity for forming very insoluble compounds at moderate pH levels.
Your trees will thrive with proper and balanced nutrition
Palm focus fertilizers
Palm focus is a one-of-a-kind liquid concentrated nutrient explicitly designed for palms. It’s good for all palms, whether in the soil or in containers, indoors or outdoors.
This product comes from pure salts and organic acids, including fulvic and humic.
The solution comprises pure seaweed components and contains all 14 critical elements required for healthy development and vibrant fronds.
Read more: How To Fertilize Palm Trees
When Should I Take My Palms For The Winter?
If your palm is still tiny, you can hold it by covering it with a blanket or a box. Keep the cover on for no more than five days.
You may also use straw or other similar mulch to wrap your plant. When the weather heats up, remember to take the mulch out right away.
Final Words
We have shared with you some tips about fertilizing palm trees. These plants need nutrients to flourish. Hence, you need to opt for suitable fertilizers to treat them.
Besides, the time when you feed your plants plays an equally important role. Don’t give them food in their dormancy since they can’t absorb nutrients. Otherwise, you will ruin them.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. If you need any further information, please leave your question in the comment. Thank you for reading!
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