What fertiliser for Heliconias and Cascade palms?

[NamedUser]

I will be planting 6 Heliconias and 6 Cascade palms (from Bunnings 😉) next weekend and I am looking for advice on what fertiliser / feed to use when planting. 

The plants are going into 2 large planters that are filled with premium potting mix. The potting mix apparently is slow release, with up to 6 months of feed (https://rocknsoil.com.au/products/premium-potting-mix). 

So will I need to add anything else in when planting - like a dynamic soil lifter or a liquid powerfeed?

Thanks, 

[EricL]

Hello @NamedUser 

That sounds like a beautiful planting combination for your planters. Since you are starting with premium potting mix that already contains slow-release fertiliser for up to six months, your Heliconias and Cascade palms will not require any extra feeding at the moment of planting. The slow-release granules will provide a steady supply of nutrients as they establish their root systems.
 

What you can do to give them the best start is focus on soil preparation and aftercare. Because the mix is already enriched, adding something like Dynamic Lifter or extra granular fertiliser at planting time is unnecessary and can actually risk nutrient burn in fresh roots. Instead, concentrate on planting them firmly, ensuring good contact between roots and soil, and watering them in thoroughly.
 

In the weeks after planting, you may consider supplementing with a gentle liquid feed every three to four weeks during the active growing season. A liquid product like PowerFeed, Seasol, or similar will not overload the soil but will boost root development and general plant health. These tonics and liquids act more like a pick-me-up rather than replacing the slow-release fertiliser.
 

Heliconias, being tropical plants, appreciate regular moisture and a nutrient-rich base. Cascade palms also enjoy consistent feeding but are not as heavy feeders as Heliconias. After about five to six months, you can top up with a controlled-release fertiliser formulated for tropical plants or palms to carry them through the next growing phase.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[NamedUser]

Thanks @EricL 

I bought 6 cascade palms from Bunnings yesterday. Are you able to tell me if the potting mix / soil they are in already has fertiliser in it? I will be planting them into my planter box in about 2 weeks and just want to know if I need to feed them while I wait to transfer? 

Thanks

[EricL]

Hello @NamedUser 

It is very likely that the potting mix they are currently in has fertilizer in it. However, I can't determine how much is left in the existing pot. I suggest just using Seasol and not adding any extra fertilizer to the current mix to prevent accidentally burning the roots with too many nutrients.

Eric

[NamedUser]

Thanks @EricL 

In the worst case scenario the potting mix they are current in has limited fertiliser left, will they be okay for two weeks until I transfer them?

Thanks 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @NamedUser,

They'll be fine, no need to worry. If you hadn't bought them, they might have been at our store for even longer than two weeks and we wouldn't have been fertilising them. It's great to ensure plants have adequate fertiliser, but they don't just die or decline in health immediately if it runs out.

Mitchell