The green-thumb is always on the look out for chemical fertilizer alternatives, especially when dealing with an outdoor garden. The palm or palmae is one of the most preferred garden plants. It does not demand much attention, but definitely requires a good homemade fertilizer to thrive in other-than-native environs.
The palm tree belongs to a family of monocot flowering plants, of the order Arecales. Most of the 2600 species are native to tropical and warm temperate climates. Their large, compound leaves, make them stand out against the surrounding landscape. Today, these morphologically diverse plants have been introduced to practically every type of habitat, from deserts to rainforests. Palms enjoy the highest diversity in wet, lowlands. However, they also survive in areas with poor drainage, coastal freshwater swamps, mountain habitats, grasslands, scrub-lands, and lands with an acidic serpentine topsoil. Palms are extensively cultivated all over the world. Their exotic appearance makes them the first choice for landscaping. In ancient times, this tree symbolized fertility, victory, and peace. In the modern world, they are more associated with the tropic flora and great vacations!
Self-manufactured Fertilizer for Palm Trees
Palm tree care is a frequent concern addressed by green thumbs, the world over. Ideally, a palm needs to be fertilized at least three times a year. There are a number of ready-made, chemical options available in dedicated stores. Most come with instructions on how to optimize the slow-release of the micro-elements, both soluble and organic. However, like all plants, the palm is also adversely affected by over-fertilizing and chemical quick release preparations. Homemade Palm tree fertilizers are easy to make and store and most importantly, they are gentle on the plant. Palm trees need specially formulated root-food, rich in magnesium, manganese, iron, potassium, nitrogen, and copper sulfates. A perfect blend for the sapling you tended, not so long ago, can now be easily mixed and preserved at home!
Recipe 1
Invest in natural plant nutrients, easily found at any exclusive ‘garden’ store. The product could be either feather meal, cottonseed meal, bat guano, soybean meal, or any other natural derivative rich in nitrogen, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. Add to the mixture, equal parts of kitchen waste, especially stalks and peels of spinach, beet, kelp, whole grains and leafy vegetables. Also add iron-rich foods like orange rind and/or dried oranges.
Recipe 2
Take ready-made ‘Houseplant’ food and mix it with ‘wet-vegetable’ kitchen waste, 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt and a liter of water. The roots and firming soil should be fed with the mixture at least once a month. Epsom salt is rich in the vital plant nutrients – magnesium and sulfate. You could also add eggshells to the mix to provide potassium and calcium. Milk is another additive, that would do the palm a world of good. It contains nitrogen-building protein. Homemade palm tree fertilizer is not only very safe to use and feed the plant with, but also inexpensive.
Recipe 3
Mix together 5 cups of seed meal, 1 cup of dolomite lime, 1 cup of bone meal, 1 cup of kelp meal and used tea leaves. This organic fertilizer can be stored for the whole year. It doesn’t take more than 30 minutes to mix well and can be sprinkled with a black coffee concoction, if it dries up completely.
Organic gardening techniques involve the extensive use of innovative homemade plant care recipes. By reducing the use of commercial chemical fertilizers available in bulk, you not only help to improve the environment, but also add to the life of the palm.
