Epsom Salts, what you need to know

[Ozzello]

Palms need more micro=nutrients than most of the other plants and trees. This includes Magnesium (Epsom Salts).
BUT, palms use the same amount of MANGANESE with the Magnesium, so if you add Epsom salts, you really should add MANGANESE SULFATE in equal amounts, or risk an impending deficiency of manganese.

[kittygilchrist]

As a master gardener trainee, would suggest using UF sources for researched articles...
Epsom quickly washes down after application. UF advises slow release full spectrum applications of fertilizer.
http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu/FFL/documents/Palmbrochureprint.pdf

[jimbo2012]

Kitty you're correct, I use the Lesco product to manage over 30 palms on my property.

The single mistake most home owners & landscapers make is not making the bed as large as the drip line, there is turf over the roots

"Turf fertilizer can induce K and/or Mg deficiencies in the palms. To solve this problem either mulch out to the drip line of the palm"

http://www.tigertreeinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Trees-are-Fed-Out-to-the-Drip-Line-Where-Most-Active-Feeder-Roots-are-Located.png

[Laurie2]

I have been using Howard Palm Fertilizer. The bag says boron in kind of big letters on the front. What's the boron for? (My queen palms still look happy.)

Our palms do not have any yellow on them now. But before I started fertilizing regularly, the queens had a couple of yellow fronds, always at the bottom. I had them cut off because I knew they would not turn green again.

Would you please explain what yellow fronds indicate and what to do about them? Did I do the right thing by cutting them off and now fertilizing on a regular schedule? The trees look fine so I guess I did OK. But I would like to know more about yellow fronds.

Thank you.

[jimbo2012]

It's my understanding that the yellow is caused by rest of the plant drawing nutrients out of those fronds.

You aren't supposed to cut them off till they are brown so the plant can obtain what ever it can.

You bigger issue is having a queen survive thru a cold winter, the UF is strongly advising not to plant them in this zone.

they don't die for 18-24 months after the freeze

Landscapers sell them due to low wholesale cost < $100

[chuckinca]

I have a sprained ankle (another pickleball injury) and was told to soak it in epsom salts - will my foot turn yellow too?

.

[Barefoot]

I have a sprained ankle (another pickleball injury) and was told to soak it in epsom salts - will my foot turn yellow too.

Be careful, your ankle and foot may grow palm fronds.

[Bonanza]

I have been using Howard Palm Fertilizer. The bag says boron in kind of big letters on the front. What's the boron for? (My queen palms still look happy.)

Our palms do not have any yellow on them now. But before I started fertilizing regularly, the queens had a couple of yellow fronds, always at the bottom. I had them cut off because I knew they would not turn green again.

Would you please explain what yellow fronds indicate and what to do about them? Did I do the right thing by cutting them off and now fertilizing on a regular schedule? The trees look fine so I guess I did OK. But I would like to know more about yellow fronds.

Thank you.

A boron deficiency is not uncommon in Queen palms and if left untreated, the palm will die. Symptoms can take on a look of a number of different things. The fronds that show symptoms can never be corrected, but new fronds will grow properly, when the palm is treated. A couple of the common indications are the bending of the top of the tree, crinkled fronds, fronds that do not open, fruit that drops prematurely, etc.

The reason for yellow fronds can be because of a few different reasons. The older fronds will yellow naturally, before dropping. If you have yellow fronds which are higher up than the lowest fronds, it is a deficiency or the tree is dying.

Never trim the fronds of a Queen palm higher than the level comparable to holding your arms straight out at your side or what would be 3:45 on a clock. Trimming higher than that compromises the integrity of the tree and makes the tree vulnerable in high winds.

I guess you see that growing healthy palms is a job in itself! Good luck.

[Ozzello]

If it is the lowest and oldest fronds turning yellow, it is likely nature taking course.

There are several nutrients that if the palm is deficient in, would cause yellowing. The yellowing caused by the nutrient deficiency is distinct to that nutrient as well.

Also, often the nutrient is there for the tree, but it cannot utilize them (the nutrients) due to the pH of the soil being too far from out. Most often in TV, the soil would be too far on the alkaline side.