Fertilization recommendations for palms in these situations are also provided. Nutritional disorders in the landscape or production field. Nitrogen deficiency is fairly common in Florida palms, although other elements such as K, Mg and Mn are much more prevalent and serious. It is easily corrected by applying any N fertilizer to the soil. Leaf color quickly dark-ens in response to either soil or foliar fertilization.
Potassium deficiency is perhaps the most widespread and serious of all disorders in Florida palms.
Symptoms occur first on oldest leaves and affects progressively newer leaves as the deficiency becomes more severe. These may or may not be accompanied by necrotic spots. It is also the leaflet tips, rather than the margins, that become necrotic as the deficiency progresses. Potassium is translocated from older to new leaves as required by the palm. In severe deficiencies, the canopy will be greatly reduced in size due to the removal of K from all leaves.