Palm Nutrition & Fertilization

Select one of the nutrients below to learn more and see how deficiencies effect palms.

Palm TreesPalms growing in landscapes or field nurseries are subject to a number of potentially serious nutritional deficiencies. Although peninsular Florida soils range from acid and alkaline sands, muck, and marl to limestone, deficiencies of N, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and B are common on palms growing in all of these soil types to some degree. MORE...

 

 

Recommended Reading

 

Boron Deficiency (4.95M PDF)

Chronic B deficiency on Adonidia merrillii (Christmas palm) showing trunk bending. Select to view larger image. Acute B deficiency in Heterospathe elata (sagisi palm) showing small crumpled new leaves. Select to view larger image. Necrotic inflorescence (flower stalk)of Syagrus romanzoffiana (queen palm) caused by B deficiency. Select to view larger image. Mulitple unopened spear leaves on B-deficient Phoenix roebelenii (pygmy date palm). Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: T.K. Broschat

Iron Deficiency (3.09M PDF)
Top leaflets are from the youngest leaf of an Fe-deficient Syagrus romanzoffiana (queen palm). Note diffuse green spots on otherwise chlorotic background. Lower leaflets are from an older leaf on the same palm. Select to view larger image. Iron toxicity on Dypsis lutescens (areca palm) seedling showing necrotic spotting on the foliage. Select to view larger image. Chronic Fe deficiency in Acoelorrhaphe wrightii (paurotis palm) on right caused by deep planting. Select to view larger image. New leaf of Fe-deficient Caryota mitis (clustering fishtail palm) seedling. Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: T.K. Broschat

Magnesiun Deficiency (1.83M PDF)
Magnesium-deficient older leaf of Livistona rotundifolia (round leaf fan palm) showing yellow borders around individual leaflets. Select to view larger image. Magnesium deficiency on Pritchardia sp. Select to view larger image. Magnesium deficiency on Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm). Select to view larger image.
A single old leaf of Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm) showing both K (tip) and Mg (base and middle) deficiency symptoms. Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: T.K. Broschat

Manganese Deficiency (3.9M PDF)
Manganese deficient new leaf of Phoenix roebelenii showing longitudinal necrotic streaking. Manganese deficiency on Phoenix roebelenii. Select to view larger image. Manganese deficiency on Cocos nucifera induced by composted sewage sludge in the backfill. Select to view larger image. Manganese deficiency on Roystonea regia (Cuban royal palm). Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: T.K. Broschat

Nitrogen Deficiency (1.08M PDF)
Nitrogen deficieny on Ptychosperma elegans (solitaire palm) showing uniformly discolored older leaves. Select to view larger image.
 Nitrogen deficient Chamaedorea seifrizii (bamboo palm) seedlings on the right. Select to view larger image.    
Photo Credits: T.K. Broschat

Potassium Deficiency (5.46M PDF)
Potassium deficiency of Phoenix roebelenii. Select to view larger image. Late-stage K deficiency in Cocos nucifera showing small chlorotic and necrotic new leaves and trunk tapering. This palm died shortly after the photo was taken. Select to view larger image. Potassium-deficient older leaf of Washingtonia robusta showing extensive leaflet tip necrosis. Select to view larger image. Potassium-deficient older leaf of Caryota mitis. Select to view larger image.
Photo Credits: T.K. Broschat