How to fertilize the iron tree? What fertilizer is best?

Dracaena, also known as Cycas, is an evergreen plant and is more common in southern my country. It prefers plenty of sunlight and warm climate conditions, and requires loose, fertile and slightly acidic sandy soil. The iron tree grows more luxuriantly under suitable soil and climatic conditions. Let’s learn how to fertilize the iron tree. What fertilizer is best?

1. Fertilization time

The time for fertilizing the cycad is generally from spring to autumn. These three seasons are the growing period of the cycad, and the demand for nutrients is higher. Apply basal fertilizer when repotting in spring from April to May, and add fertilizer every month during the vigorous growth in summer.

2. Fertilization frequency

The growth rate of cycads is relatively slow, so the frequency of fertilization should not be too high. Generally speaking, it is sufficient to fertilize once a month, and the frequency of fertilization can be appropriately reduced in winter.

3. Fertilizer selection

The main fertilizers for the cycad are nitrogen and potassium fertilizers. Decomposed cake fertilizer water or liquid fertilizers such as decomposed fish viscera are good choices. In order to make the leaves become dark green, ferrous sulfate can be added to the fertilizer.

4. Fertilization method

During the growth period, liquid fertilizer can be applied every 15-20 days, but be careful not to make the fertilizer too concentrated. In addition, you can mix some base fertilizer into the soil, or use rust iron to supplement iron.

5. Trace elements

The cycad tree also needs some trace elements, especially iron fertilizer. Ferrous sulfate or chelated iron can be used to promote the healthy growth of the cycad tree.

6. Precautions for fertilization

When applying fertilizer, do not spray the fertilizer directly onto the buds of the iron tree to avoid burning the buds by high concentration of fertilizer. At the same time, organic fertilizers need to be composted to avoid damaging the roots of the iron tree when fermenting in the soil.

7. Slow-release fertilizers and water-soluble fertilizers

For daily maintenance, you can prepare slow-release fertilizers and water-soluble fertilizers . Apply slow-release fertilizer once in early spring every year, and water-soluble fertilizer once every 1-2 months during the growing season, and pour it into the soil when watering.

8. Soil improvement

Organic fertilizers such as vermicompost and leaf compost can be used as part of the substrate to help provide a long-lasting fertilizer effect.

9. Repot and change soil

The pot should be repotted every 2-3 years, preferably in spring from March to April. When repotting or changing pots, dead and damaged roots should be cut off and replaced with fertile and loose new soil.

The above is an introduction to the methods of fertilizing the cycads. Although the cycads are evergreen plants with tenacious vitality, their maintenance work cannot be ignored.