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Abstract
Phoenix roebelenii O’Brian palm seedlings were potted in Metro Mix 500, and 3 groups of 25 plants each were fertilized with 18–2.6–10 (8- to 9-month release), 19–2.6–10 (3- to 4 month release) Osmocote, and 21–2.6–10 (6-month release) Sulfur Kote. Control pots with and without plants were either fertilized or not fertilized. Seedling palms were greenhouse grown for 23 weeks at temperatures ranging from 18° to 41 °C. Fertilizer type had no significant effect on leaf number or length, total dry weight or root dry weight. Plants which received Osmocote formulations showed higher foliage dry weights than plants which received Sulfur Kote. Conductivity of leachate (EC = mmhos/cm2) from pots fertilized with slow-released materials generally increased with no indication that release rate of nutrients had peaked.
Abstract
Young Phoenix roebelenii O’Brian palms (2–3 leaves) and older seedlings (6–9 leaves) were potted in Mott’s amended medium and grown for 42 and 20 weeks, respectively. Three rates of 18N–2.6P–10K Osmocote, 25N–3.9P–14K Peter’s soluble and Osmocote plus Peter’s soluble fertilizer were used as treatments. Controls were potted but not fertilized. All were greenhouse grown at temperatures varying between 18° to 46°C. Fertilizer types or rates had no significant effect on leaf length or dry weight. High rates of Osmocote, and, in some instances, middle to high rates of fertilizer combinations, increased leaf number significantly. Plants receiving all rates of fertilizer appeared larger and produced significantly more leaves than unfertilized plants.