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below average temps how to fertilize?

14 years ago

The long range summer forecast frot the great lakes is that it will not get hot. The past week (and upcoming week) have been beautiful for humans (mid-high 70s, loads of sun and low humidity) but cool for tropical palms. I have two coconuts, two small bottle palms, musa basjoo bananas, two sabal palmettos, 3 sabal minors, 1 butia capita, and two mexican blue palms. They are all growing but much slower than they would in a warmer summer. Will a little extra fertiliaing help or hurt. I know enough not to over fertilize but I'm wondering if a little extra will speed up growth some. It's dropping into the mid 50s here at night.

Comments (7)

xerophyte NYC
14 years ago
I think that the average soil temp is more critical than the actual daytime highs. Lots of growth occurs overnight so warm soil is good. I don't know what the cutoff temp is for tropical species to maintain optimum growth but my guess is a soil temp at least in the 70's. Anything below that, and the additional fertilizer is not being used so I doubt that it would be of much help unless the plants are deficient to begin with.

x
oppalm
14 years ago
given your temps and long term forecast, I would not add any additional or extra fetilizer.
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palmmandan
14 years ago
My Musa basjoo's are much smaller than last year.
andyandy
Original Author
14 years ago
It's hard to say what the soil temps are as they are in Pots. The ground soit temp is 60-65 according to the "green coastline" website. Since these are in pots and the pots get direct sun the soil temp easily gets into the 80s during the day. You can feel how warm it is to the touch when I get home (about 6:00). Conversly they may drop off to the lower end of the 60s at night because it has been falling to the mid-50s at night. They are all pushing up new spears all be it slowly. This weekend is supposed to be sunny and low-mid 70s but after that it gets into the low 80s and falls to the low 60s so things should speed up. It has been VERY comfortable weather so i can't complain too much. Thank you for the input.
jimhardy
14 years ago
I don't see how it would be a prob to fertilize,even if it has been below normal tempswise,our soil temp(at least in my yard)in Iowa is 80ish believe it or not,I think you would be fine to fertilize,IMO.I don't mind not paying $50+ a week for airconditioning this summer at all!It's not worth paying $200 extra a month to see my bananas get an extra leaf or two.(-:
andyandy
Original Author
14 years ago
Jim-
I hear you, the nights have been perfect for sleeping.
jimhardy
14 years ago
Yea,we win either way,if it's hot we get to see our bananas and certain palms go crazy,if it's not you can enjoy the summer all summer,utility bills are cheaper and Trachys and my Butia are happy,I have all the bases covered,although I did lose a few barrel cactus to all the rainy weather but hey,things could be worse!

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