Palms should be fertilized at least three times a year. Apply the fertilizer throughout the landscape surrounding the palm, to insure that all the nutrients will be used. The nutrient levels should be around 2 percent nitrogen, 1 percent phosphorus and 3 percent potassium. Using it all is the key for a successful fertilization of the plant. As finding a good inorganic fertilizer that works for you may be too much trouble, you can try making your own.
Compost and Manure
Manures and compost are great sources of nitrogen and can be cultivated at home. The problem with them is they take a great amount of effort to make them ready as a fertilizer. Manure needs to be cured for over six months or the bacteria in it will rot the roots. Meat eating animal feces will tend to have higher amounts of nitrogen levels then those of grass eating animals, like cows.
Compost has the same problem as manure and can take months before the leaves have decomposed enough for use. In the end though if you have the time these are both ideal fertilizers to distribute around a palms, because they will not burn the plant.
Cake Slow Release
For a slow release cake try combining the following in a wheelbarrow: 3-lb. bag of bone meal 0-1-0, 3-lb. bag of cotton meal 6-1-1, 3-lb. bag of blood meal 12-0-0, 4 gallons of fish emulsion 5-1-1, bag of gypsum, one gallon of vitamin B-1. Add 3 cups flour per gallon. Roll the sticky goo in your hand till it is a firm ball. Place out to dry. The cakes are ideal for potted palms as they dissolve slowly when you water the plant.
Dry Formulation
For a dry powder organic fertilizer, combine the following into a wheelbarrow: 3-lb. bag of bone meal, 3-lb. bag of cottonseed meal, and a 3-lb. bag of blood meal. Mix well in the barrel. This mixture will give you low nutrient levels for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. You can use this mixture three times a year for palms and have no worries of burning your plants. Distribute evenly with a hand spreader.
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