Difference between over fertilizing and nutrient deficiency?

[jdl]

How do i tell the difference between an over fertilized (sylvester) palm tree and nutrient deficient (sylvester) palm?

[sonoranfans]

nutrient deficiencies are sometimes caused by overfertilization or excessive watering(definitely a problem with sylvestris).  Mg, K, Fe uptake can be inhibited by to much Ca, N, P for example  This is why palm fertilizers are formulated to the proper ratios and even are available for regional soils/weather.   I never had any success at keeping deficiencies at bay with with crappy box store fertilizers.  Too much water can cause deficiencies, so I would plant in very good drainage soil in a place like houston.  

[floridaPalmMan]

The only thing I know about over fertilization is that the issue rapidly appears.

I went fertilizer crazy this past fall and it immediately (within 24-48 hours) killed the tips of many fronds vs the slow killing of frond tips from over/under watering. It killed them so fast it was jarring. The tips turned dry and crispy overnight.

It even killed one of my prized JubeaXButia palms from Moultrie palms. Poor thing died within two weeks of the over fertilization, even after I took drastic measures to remove the fertilizer from the soil and excessively water the palm.

[D Palm]

Grass fertilizer and palms do not mix as a good rule of thumb. Every so often I use my weed wacker and knock all undergrowth (grass/weeds) to the ground…leaving just bare dirt around the palm. Then palm fertilizer. Be careful of grass fertilizer (typically high Nitrogen) runoff into palm root territory. I killed a Ponkan Tangerine years ago due to grass fertilizer runoff. Now I plug my yard to prevent runoff.