Lack of water holding and cation exchange capacity severely limit fertilizer application methods for new palm tree transplants in sandy soils in S. Florida. Typically, palm trees are fertilized using an 8-2-12 4 granular fertilizer but with little rooting to enhance fertilizer capture and no soil solution to improve nutrient uptake, establishment may be slow. Alternative fertilizers, including palm tree injection, were evaluated to determine the best method to improve palm tree establishment under these conditions. A research trial was conducted using Christmas Palms (Adonidia merrillii) that were established on sandy soils with less than 2% organic matter. After planting, palms were not fertilized for six months. Palm trees were treated with the following fertilizers: 1) 8-2-12 4 (PS), 2) 0-0-22 4(KM) 3) PHOSPHO-jet PALM-jet injection (PJ) 4) PHOSPHO-jet PALM-jet apical meristem drench (AM) and 6) “Gator Grip” (GG) fertilizer pouch directed at the apical meristem. Visual quality and drone imagery were used to assess palm health. Volumetric water content (VWC) was determined at three different depths and root growth was captured using a mini-rhizotron. Six months after the initial treatment application, treatment differences were not visually apparent and VWC was below 10% for the majority of measurements captured at all depths. Rooting data at this stage was minimal. Palm trees may grow very slowly and under these environmental conditions, it may take the palm over a year to replace an entire crown. Therefore, yearly updates will be presented for this three-year trial to best determine which treatment provides the best solution to establish transplanted palms in the landscape and maintain palm health.
