Potassium

[TerdalFarm]

I bought a bag of 0-0-60 potassium today.
I gather it can help root growth going into winter, without stimulating foliage growth.
Potassium is water soluble, so I figure I may have washed away a lot of potassium over the past month with all the watering I've been doing.
Does anyone have experience using potassium in late Summer to help palms going into Fall?
Thanks,
Erik

[Stevea07]

Potassium does nothing for root growth. Phosphorus is the primary nutrient a palm uses for root production.

[hardyjim]

K is necessary for helping increase cell wall structure(thickness) and strengthen plant "immune system."


I sometimes use it coming out of winter as a first fert application as well.

I mainly use it going into winter as it is SUPPOSED to help my palms with cold hardiness.
It can stimulate growth IME which not necessarily a good thing.

It needs to be used approx 6 weeks before regular freezing weather hits.


I have done my last fertilizing of the season now and will hit my palms with some K in a few weeks
or less.


One thing to consider(I should have wrote this first)there is no proof that K increases hardiness.

It may help plants help themselves as it is beneficial in helping plants resist drought
which has a similar effect on cells to freezing temps.



I don't think there is anything that works better than mother nature,all we can do is help in the process-
all of the damage to my palms last year was from NO period of acclimation.
We did not see anything significantly below freezing here until December, my palms were not hardened off
when the cold hit and were decimated by temps that they easily shrug off in late Jan-Feb.

I dare say my palms could be uncovered in late February and as long as they are not wet would breeze through early spring.

I actually tried this with one of my Waggies,I was kind of trying to kill it!-it was the first to start growing

[TerdalFarm]

Thanks, guys.
I should still have at least a month of active growth as soil temps are in the 80s. Despite a low of 58oF this morning (brrr!), the forecast is for lows of 70 and highs of 90 for a while. So, I may give a little more regular palm fertilizer, with perhaps some extra magnesium and potassium to make up for what I may have washed away the past month with all the watering.
And maybe a little extra Phosphorous to promote root growth in first-year palms?
Jim, when you do your Potassium, let me know how much you use. I'll be a couple weeks behind you, weather-wise.
--Erik

[lucky1]

Jim didn't say anything about Erik's 0-0-60...that strong?

BTW potassium does impart some improved ability to withstand cold damage.
We have some specialized grasses here and our industry recommends one or two fall applications of potassium.
We apply it liberally every October, but that's for grass.

I wouldn't know how much to use on my planted palm, but I am going to pass on the Freeze Pruf this year.
I'll let the palm hut heater do the job, since it sure didn't help the planted Naini Tal last winter (RIP).

This might interest folks:
http://www.peaceforage.bc.ca/forage_fac ... assium.pdf

Barb

[TerdalFarm]

Thanks for the link, Barb. Very interesting.
The 0-0-60 was the only one at the store. It is muriate of potash (K2O), "soluble potash."
I gather magnesium (epsom salts) should be added at the same time.
My plan for now is to wait until Jim does his treatment and get details on K-Mg ratios and amounts, and do the same thing a couple of weeks later.
--Erik

[hardyjim]

I bought the same 0-0-50 off e-bay.

I have applied the last 3 years.

Barb

Just telling you what some studies show,some for some say no diff.


I follow my instincts until I kill something but that usually happens from not following


Erik

I will apply sometime in/after the first week of Sept,the rate is a tablespoon per gallon.

I mix up 5 gallon buckets and haul,haul,haul

[lucky1]

Good to know the mix ratio; will do.
Are epsom salts NECESSARY to make the K2O work better? i.e. if the palm has good color, would you still add epsom salts?

until I kill something

[hardyjim]

Back to instincts again

I usually follow my K treatment in a few weeks with Epsom salts-

not claiming that's the right way or anything-just got lucky



Here's who I order from




http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

[TerdalFarm]

I am a habitual thread jumper. I did it again.
Back to where it belongs.
Here is Jim's kind response to my off-topic post:

[quote]I did it a few weeks ago and then did the Epsom salts a week later-
in coordination with the rainfall.

I use 1 tablespoon per gallon of K in 5g buckets-mixed well.

Epsom I spread on top the soil when soaking rain is forecast,
I would do it soon,like yesterday-you don't want weak/pushed growth going into fall.

I will move my schedule of fertilization up at least a month next year.[/quote]

Given that, I plan to do the K tonight, with 1 Tbsp 0-0-60 / gallon of water.
Q: how much of that solution/palm?

I'll sprinkle epsom salts tomorrow evening, before a good rain Friday.
Q: how much epsom salts do you sprinkle/palm?

Follow up Q: do you do this for anything but palms?

Thanks a ton!

--Erik
P.S. more H202 on the dying Butia. Oh wait, now I'm jumping my own thread!

[hardyjim]

I can't say how much K is right as far as watering,I have little wells around my palms so
it goes directly to the roots and does not run off.

If you look at the pics below,you can see what I mean(2 palms in front) as
far as the wells go,I don't like seeing the water run off and away from my plants-the weeds get to much already!

I push this up against the palms when the colder weather hits,I try to keep at least 4" over them in winter.

Barb,

I believe the K depletes Mag or makes it unavailable(or something like that)that's why you follow up with
Epsom salts-maybe you already knew that I think that's right anyway

Erik

I don't know if you need to wait after the K treatment but I think doing the K deal
and then letting the Friday rain help deliver it deeper is a good plan,then maybe wait a little
while-another 7-10 days and spread the Epsom down the night/day before a big rain.

I am not sure if Epsom and K interfere with each other it just seemed prudent to wait

My little Trithrinax(bottom right)gets at least a1/2 gallon(K) and the S.Louisiana maybe 3/4-1g.

The little guy maybe gets a tablespoon sprinkled/spread out evenly,the S.Louisiana
maybe 2tbls,you could probably use more,just make sure it is spread out well.
<img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10045.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[TerdalFarm]

Jim,
thanks!
That is a big help. I'll do it this evening after work.
I remember with Dr. John's peroxide therapy for the potted Washy I started with a trivial amount until he corrected me.
I was about to make up 5 gallons of Dr. Jim's K solution for all my palms!
I have a lot of the 0-0-60 so I can easily do all of them this afternoon. I'll follow up with the epsom salts as you prescribe!
--Erik

[lucky1]

The explanation is appreciated, Jim.

Still summer at your place...wanna trade?

[hardyjim]

HaHa Barb


Wait until tomorrow when we launch into full fledged fall weather!