NewCal palms and heavy metals

[Palmə häl′ik]

With the ultrabasic soils and high levels of Fe, Mg, Ni. Cr, Co, and Mg, and low NPK, on the islands I've been jackin my NewCal palms with bagged Iron additive and I must say I've noticed some improved response to it all with the rain...

Anyone else pickin up what I'm puttin down?

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

I just supplement with iron sulfate and camelia and rhododendron fertilizer on palms that need the acidity. On some palms I use both dolomite and iron sulfate. I am trying that out on royals to see if they will grow better.

I am curious, though, high rainfall generally accounts for lower pH unless the soil is full of lime rock. How is it that your soil pH is so high?

[Palmə häl′ik]

My sandy, Central FL soil is sugar sand. Brandon was at one point big on citrus industry. Sandy soils. If you understand pH, then you'll know what I mean by 'inert'. Its pretty much inert.

I don't have the limestone makeup underground like SFL... Limestone would prolly alter the pH...

I'm not messin' with the pH BTW.

I'm tryin' to boost the Fe, Mg, & Mn.

New Caledonias soil makeup is very odd. It's very high in toxic minerals. I seen pictures of Kentiipsis pyriformis germinating directly in redish, iron oxide pellets. The bifid leaves were that dark, forest green you think of when you see a healthly palm... unreal.