Like all other plants, palm trees need regular nutrients to grow and thrive. Consequently, they need to be fertilized. Ready-mixed palm fertilizer from specialist retailers is suitable for this purpose. Alternatively, you can also resort to some typical home remedies that do not require any chemical substances. Fertilizing palm trees with blue grain is basically possible, but it doesn't make much sense.
Palm fertilizer
The simplest, most uncomplicated method of fertilizing palm trees is to use fertilizer from specialist retailers. Special mixtures are available there that contain exactly what these plants need to grow. However, before buying, you should always make sure what the composition of the fertilizer actually looks like. A look at the packaging provides information about the respective mixing ratio. The following composition is ideal:
- Phosphorus: 6%
- Potassium: 12%
- Magnesium: 5%
- Nitrogen: 16%
The fertilizer naturally contains other substances. However, the ones listed above are the most important and should definitely not be missed. You should also make sure that it contains as little chloride as possible. This is often already present in more than sufficient quantities in the plant substrate. If it is given additionally, unwanted over-fertilization can easily occur.
Tip:
Ideally, palm trees are fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer that is applied in spring. This is usually sufficient and prevents the plant from being supplied with too many nutrients.
Cattle dung and horse manure
Fertilizer mixtures usually contain a lot of chemicals. However, if you prefer things more natural and organic, you should use manure as fertilizer. Cattle dung and horse manure are perfect palm fertilizers. However, you should stay away from the remains of other animal species such as chickens or ducks. They are not suitable or only suitable to a very limited extent as fertilizer for palm trees. In a sense, cattle dung and horse manure are like natural fertilizers. You can usually get both for free from a farmer or horse farm. The fertilizer is simply incorporated into the soil or plant substrate. The amount depends primarily on the size of the plant. Basically, you should act cautiously when fertilizing.
Note:
It is in the nature of things that cattle dung and horse manure smell strong. They are therefore not an option for use in the apartment, but they are if the plants are in a winter garden or on the terrace.
Home remedies
No matter whether it is the very widespread hemp palm or any other type of palm tree - you do not always need purchased fertilizer or manure to provide the plants with sufficient nutrients. In practically every household, substances are produced almost every day that are generally suitable as fertilizer for palm trees. Here are the most common ones:
Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are an almost perfect fertilizer that is also suitable as palm fertilizer. Coffee grounds contain a particularly high amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. It can also be mixed very easily into the plant substrate. However, you should always make sure that the set does not get moldy. Before it can be used as fertilizer, it must be dried thoroughly. The best way to do this is to crumble the damp coffee grounds and spread them over a large area.
Vegetable water
When vegetables are cooked, a lot of the nutrients and minerals they contain automatically end up in the cooking water. On the one hand, this is unfortunate because we humans then miss these substances when we eat vegetables. On the other hand, the cooking water becomes a wonderful and completely natural fertilizer. Strictly speaking, it is even a liquid fertilizer that can simply be administered when watering. Of course, it has to cool down first. In order to stock up, it makes sense to store the water in a sealable jar as cool as possible.
Mineral water
Not every bottle of mineral water is always completely emptied. There is often a significant amount left in the bottle, which usually tastes very stale after a day or two. Most people then no longer want to drink it. However, it can then be used as a liquid fertilizer. The name already suggests that mineral water contains countless minerals and s alts that are wonderfully suitable as nutrients for plants and, last but not least, palm trees. However, one must be aware that these substances are only present in very small quantities in most water. If you want to use mineral water as fertilizer, you should water with it and not dilute it with tap water.
Banana peels
Bananas are also full of nutrients and minerals that palm trees, among other things, need for their growth. They are found not only in the fruits themselves, but also in the peel. If the shell rots, a relatively large mass of humus is created. To use it as fertilizer, the peel is simply cut into very small pieces and then mixed into the soil or plant substrate.
It is generally advisable to carefully observe how these home remedies affect the respective palm tree. Since the amount of ingredients naturally fluctuates, it cannot always be assumed that there is an adequate supply. Only careful experimentation helps here. It is ideal to combine several of these agents or to administer them alternately. They are definitely an effective addition to a purchased fertilizer. As a rule, less finished fertilizer is then required. And that in turn hurts your own wallet.
Bluegrain
Blue grain is now considered by many people to be the epitome of fertilizer. They see it as an almost universal fertilizer that can be used anytime and anywhere. However, this assessment is sometimes a fallacy even when used outdoors. However, blue grain is definitely not suitable for plants that are grown in a planter and in the apartment. One reason for this is that this fertilizer can easily lead to dangerous over-s alting in the plant substrate, which in the worst case can lead to the death of the plant. In addition, you should be aware that this is a purely artificial fertilizer that contains nothing natural. It can prove toxic to children and animals. Therefore: Fertilizing your palm trees with blue seed is not a particularly good idea. Home remedies are definitely better.
