Palm Pruning and Potassium

[WestCoastGal]

I saw Ken Johnson's Update comment about the pruning video linked to in the Newsletter. Got the Newsletter in my email this week and we watched it. I think it does a nice job hitting home on some pruning mistakes and reinforces some proper pruning techniques. Nice addition to the newsletter.

In that same light, this article on "Pruning Palms" from the University of Florida does a good job explaining why it's so important to delay pruning fronds that haven't died yet as they result in Potassium loss for the tree. We have an old frond turning orange on one of our mules right now (which just flowered) and I had seen many times the advice given here on the forum to wait until the frond has died before cutting it off. I know it reduces the risk of some infection spreading from the cut to the trunk but don't think I remembered the K connection specifically. So finding this article now was kind of perfect timing.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep443

[akamu]

Very interesting article thanks for sharing

[dalmatiansoap]

x2

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

If the palm has a K deficiency then its better to allow it to suck the K out of older leaves. But for healthy palms it's ok to remove unsightly fronds.

[Sabal Steve]

If the palm has a K deficiency then its better to allow it to suck the K out of older leaves. But for healthy palms it's ok to remove unsightly fronds.

Would you say that there is a good rule of thumb for determinging when all the K has beem drawn out, or is it more situational and/or species dependent? I have a potted R. rivularus that never really reaches its full potential and I am unwilling to devote much time or money to it.

Edited May 19, 2014 by Sabal Steve

[Sabal Steve]

If the palm has a K deficiency then its better to allow it to suck the K out of older leaves. But for healthy palms it's ok to remove unsightly fronds.

Would you say that there is a good rule of thumb for determinging when all the K has beem drawn out, or is it more situational and/or species dependent? I have a potted R. rivularus that never really reaches its full potential and I am unwilling to devote much time or money to it.

nevermind, I think I see what you mean.