Palm Tree Fertilizer: The Secret to Lush and Healthy Palms

Palm trees are a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape, but they require proper care and maintenance to thrive and prevent them from getting pests & diseases. Choosing the right palm tree fertilizer is essential for a palm’s growth and health. Plus, it can avoid a lot of the high costs of palm trees.

Generally, fertilizers for palm trees should have a low middle number (phosphorus), potassium levels equal to or greater than nitrogen levels, and micronutrients such as magnesium, manganese, and iron. We tested several different fertilizers and Carl Pool Palm Food 12-4-12 has proven to work the best for most palm species. Though, every single one of them works well for all palm species.

Keep reading if you want to learn more about how to keep your palm trees healthy and beautiful!

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Best Palm Tree Fertilizers: Our Top 5 Choices

As a botanist with years of experience, I have tested plenty of different palm tree fertilizers already. Here is a review of my top 5 favourite fertilizers for palm trees available on the market today.

1. Carl Pool Palm Food

2. Miracle-Gro Shake’ N Feed Palm Plant Food

3. Jobe’s Fern & Palm Tree Fertilizer Spikes

4. Jobe’s 1010 Palm Tree Fertilizer Spikes

Jobe’s 1010 Fertilizer Spikes Palm Tree is another great option for palm trees. They contain a high level of potassium that helps to promote strong root growth and overall health, making it a good fertilizer for indoor palm trees. But, just like Jobe’s Fern & Palm Fertilizer Spikes, it is only suitable for certain palm tree species.

5. Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm Tropical & Hibiscus Fertilizer

Overview about the Best Palm Tree Fertilizers

Palm Tree Fertilizer	Pros	Cons
1. Carl Pool Palm Food	– Balanced NPK ratio – Contains essential micronutrients – Promotes healthy growth	x
2. Miracle-Gro Shake’ N Feed Palm Plant Food	– Easy to use – Contains essential micronutrients – Promotes healthy growth	– Contains synthetic ingredients
3. Jobe’s Fern & Palm Tree Fertilizer Spikes	– Easy to use – Slow-release of nutrients – Balanced blend of macronutrients	– Not suitable for all palm tree species
4. Jobe’s 1010 Palm Tree Fertilizer Spikes	– Easy to use – High level of potassium – Promotes strong root growth	– Not suitable for all palm tree species
5. Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm Tropical & Hibiscus Fertilizer	– Organic ingredients – Promotes healthy growth – Can be applied to indoor palms	– Expensive

How to Fertilize a Palm Tree?

Fertilizing palm trees is essential for their growth and health.

Here are some steps you can follow to fertilize your palm tree:

1. Choose a slow-release palm tree fertilizer

When fertilizing palm trees, it’s important to use a slow-release fertilizer that can work for up to 10 weeks, as it provides nutrients over a longer period of time and reduces the risk of leaching.

Quick-release fertilizer, especially in sandy soil, can easily wash away after only a few rains.

Slow-release fertilizers come in different forms such as granules, spikes or liquids. Granules are the most common form of slow-release fertilizers and are easy to apply. Spikes are also easy to apply but may not provide enough nutrients for larger trees. Examples of slow-release fertilizers include Osmocote Plus Outdoor & Indoor Plant Food, Jobe’s Organics Palm Tree Fertilizer and Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Palm Plant Food.

Liquid palm tree fertilizers are more expensive than granules or spikes but can be more effective because they are absorbed more quickly by the roots.

Finally, when shopping for palm tree fertilizer, look for an NPK ratio of 3:1:3, 2:1:2 or similar to ensure proper, balanced nutrients. Also, keep in mind that different palm species have different nutrient requirements.

2. Water the soil thoroughly

Don’t fertilize on dry soil. Water the soil thoroughly before applying fertilizer. This helps prevent root burn and ensures that the nutrients are distributed evenly throughout the root zone.

To water your palm tree properly, use a hose or sprinkler system that delivers water slowly and deeply to the root zone. Watering should be done once or twice a week depending on the climate and soil type.

3. Apply the palm tree fertilizer

Don’t put all fertilizer in one pile. Spread it evenly around the tree’s “drip line” (the tips of the fronds), approximately 12-18 inches away from the trunk. That way, the palm’s root system can absorb the fertilizer the best. Never apply fertilizer directly on the palm, because this can cause root burn and damage to the tree.

The amount of fertilizer you need depends on the size of your palm tree and the type of fertilizer you’re using. A general rule of thumb is to use 1 pound of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter. For example, if your palm tree has a trunk diameter of 12 inches, you’ll need 12 pounds of fertilizer.

4. Work the palm tree fertilizer into the soil

Use a rake or hoe to work the fertilizer into the soil. This helps ensure that the nutrients are distributed evenly throughout the root zone.Be careful not to damage any roots while working in the fertilizer.

5. Water again thoroughly

After applying the fertilizer to your palm, water the soil again thoroughly to help distribute nutrients throughout the root zone. This also helps prevent root burn.

When to apply fertilizer to palm trees?

Palm fertilizer should be applied up to 3 times per year, as needed by your palm. Palms can suffer from a variety of problems that are caused by nitrogen deficiencies in the soil. Potassium shortage is the most frequent nutrient deficiency, with the earliest indicators being browning/yellowing of older leaves.

We recommend to apply the fertilizer in March, June, and September. But for sure only fertilize throughout the growing season (from the end of March to the end of October). Fertilization should be stopped two months before the typical first frost period in your area. You can use a plant care app to determine the exact timing to fertilize.

If you just planted a new palm tree, don’t fertilize for the first 6 months after planting. Here’s how to grow palm trees from seeds.

How to make your own palm tree fertilizer?

Instead of using synthetic fertilizers that can be harmful for the environment and the plants, you can make your own homemade palm tree fertilizer from natural ingredients that you can find at home or in the garden store. Here are some recipes for homemade fertilizer that you can try on your palms.

Recipe 1: Animal or plant-derived nutrients

For this recipe, you will need a mixture of natural animal or plant-derived nutrients that are rich in nitrogen.

Nitrogen is important for the formation of chlorophyll and proteins in the palm trees. You can use for example feather meal, soybean meal, cottonseed meal or bat guano. You can buy these products in bulk from any garden store. Mix one part of each in a wheelbarrow with a shovel.

Add to the mixture foods that are rich in manganese. Manganese is important for the photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism in the palm trees. You can use for example spinach, seaweed or kelp, beets, nuts, whole grains or leafy vegetables. Mix an equal part of each in the wheelbarrow.

Mix in the wheelbarrow a good amount of magnesium. Palm tree fertilizer must contain magnesium to ensure a healthy plant production. Magnesium is responsible for the green coloring of the palm leaves and helps with the activation of enzymes. You can use for example Epsom salt or dolomite lime. Mix one part of each in the wheelbarrow.

Don’t forget the iron. Iron is important for the synthesis of DNA, respiration and photosynthesis in the palm trees. Iron also contributes to color retention, oxygen transport, protein synthesis and structure formation. So if you notice an overall lack of green in the palm tree’s leaves, it may be a sign of iron deficiency. You can use, for example, iron sulfate or iron-rich foods like orange peels or dried oranges. Mix one part of each in the wheelbarrow.

You have now made you own fertilizer for palm trees from natural ingredients. You can store this self-made fertilizer for up to 24 months.

Recipe 2: Houseplant food and kitchen waste

For this recipe, you will need ready-made houseplant food and wet vegetable waste from the kitchen. Houseplant food usually contains all the important macro and micronutrients for your palm trees. Wet vegetable waste is a good source of organic matter and additional nutrients.

Take ready-made houseplant food and mix it with wet vegetable waste like potato peels, carrot peels, lettuce leaves or banana peels. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salt and a liter of water.

You have now made a homemade palm tree fertilizer from simple ingredients. You can apply this fertilizer immediately to your palm trees or store it for up to a week in the refrigerator.

With these recipes, you can make your own homemade fertilizer for palm trees and keep your palm trees healty. We find that the biggest benefit of making fertilizer yourself is that you can control what you feed your palm (and what not). But: You should know what you are doing. Otherwise chances are high you will cause more damage to your palm tree than help it grow.

Conclusion

Choosing the right fertilizer is crucial for your palm’s growth and health. The best palm tree fertilizers should have a low middle number, potassium levels equal to or greater than nitrogen levels, and micronutrients such as magnesium, manganese, and iron. Whereas the market offers great products, you can also make your own homemade palm tree fertilizer to be sure what exactly you feed to your palm. Fertilizing should be done with slow-release fertilizer, and watering should be done thoroughly.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article! Make sure to check out my other articles about the fastest growing palm trees & the most cold hardy palm trees.