Fertilizer and Drip Irrigation for greenhouse palms

[Guest Dave L]

Hello.  A new member here looking for a bit of advice.  I recently built a temperature controlled greenhouse just west of Pittsburgh, planning to grow palms and tropical plants.  I am using drip irrigation and my question is about fertilization.  My palms were only planted 8 weeks ago using worm casting and worm compost tea for fertilization.  While this may provide some very good nutrients, my plants need a more balanced approach that provides the NPK and micro nutrients specific to palms.  So my plan is to introduce BGI's Palmgain as the primary fertilizer. I would appreciate any comments about this fertilizer.

So I have 2 questions:  

1.  Is there a benefit to continuing a program of worm compost tea (perhaps quarterly), along with a 3-4 month application of Palmgain?  

2.  I am using drip irrigation.  When I apply the fertilizer and overhead watering to get the fertilizer started, will the drip irrigation be enough to allow the slow release fertilizer to do its work?  Or will I need to do more overhead watering?  

I may be overly concerned, but I would appreciate input from someone experienced with drip irrigation.

Many thanks

Dave

 

 

[PalmX]

4 hours ago, Dave L said:

Hello.  A new member here looking for a bit of advice.  I recently built a temperature controlled greenhouse just west of Pittsburgh, planning to grow palms and tropical plants.  I am using drip irrigation and my question is about fertilization.  My palms were only planted 8 weeks ago using worm casting and worm compost tea for fertilization.  While this may provide some very good nutrients, my plants need a more balanced approach that provides the NPK and micro nutrients specific to palms.  So my plan is to introduce BGI's Palmgain as the primary fertilizer. I would appreciate any comments about this fertilizer.

So I have 2 questions:  

1.  Is there a benefit to continuing a program of worm compost tea (perhaps quarterly), along with a 3-4 month application of Palmgain?  

2.  I am using drip irrigation.  When I apply the fertilizer and overhead watering to get the fertilizer started, will the drip irrigation be enough to allow the slow release fertilizer to do its work?  Or will I need to do more overhead watering?  

I may be overly concerned, but I would appreciate input from someone experienced with drip irrigation.

Many thanks

Dave

 

 

Not sure about some of your questions, but I believe palm gain is applied once a month?

[PalmatierMeg]

I'm not familiar with Palm Gain. Is it a slow release fertilizer with all major and minor nutrients? Slow release is what you should use. I would not apply a granular fertilizer more than every 3-4 months. As you are growing palms in pots you have to be aware that fertilizer salts can build up and damage them. Worm casting tea is beneficial and I am not aware of any problems if you use it judiciously. I assume you won't be placing your palms outdoors in nature to benefit from rain. A few times a year you should flush your pots with clean, fresh water to remove any fertilizer salt buildup.

If you have drip irrigation I suggest you stick with it. For reasons I don't fully understand, many palms dislike overhead watering and can develop bacterial and fungal infections. I know in nature rain does the same thing but something about human induced artificial watering really bothers them.

Welcome to PalmTalk

[Guest Dave L]

Meg.  Many thanks for the input.  FYI, my palms are not in pots.  My greenhouse has grow beds 36" wide & 36" deep, around the inside perimiter of the Ghouse....so I guess I am in between pots and open ground.  If this influences your comments please let me know.  A follow-up.....since I have an abundance of worm castings I would like to get some benefit from them.  Do you have any input about using compost tea as well as the Palmgain fertilizer?  I would follow Palmgain's instructions of 3-4 times/year and use the tea on the months in between.  Any concerns that you know of?

Thanks again and best regards, 

Dave (also a Beatles fan)

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

No concern.  Keep the drip irrigation.  We mix our own fertigation solution and dont buy canned solutions so I cant comment.  To be honest You'll be better off/easier top dressing the grow beds with osmacote.