How Often Should I Fertilize My Sago Palm House Plant?

Fertilizing

• Sago palms prefer light feedings of balanced, slow-release or liquid fertilizer diluted before use. Mix together half 18-6-18 fertilizer and half water and apply monthly to indoor sago palm between spring and fall. Use fertilizer at the time of regular watering as this reduces chances of fertilizer burn. When using slow release fertilizer, use only half the recommended amount. The plant indicates excessive use of fertilizer with shriveling and drying foliage.

Fertilizer Sensitivity

• The sago palms growing indoors and outdoors are particularly sensitive to strong fertilizers as these have a damaging effect on the coralloid roots of the plants. Caralloid roots are specialized root structures that attract blue-green algae responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogen for plant use. The use of very strong fertilizers, such as fresh manure, is therefore discouraged in outdoor sago palm as well. Diluted fertilizers are recommended for outdoor plants too.

Soil and Water

• Use a well-draining potting soil as the sago palm is highly prone to rot in wet soil. Keep growing medium moist but not wet. A general rule is to let the top 1 1/2 inches of the growing medium dry before watering. Time fertilizer with watering time. Water from below by pouring water in a shallow dish under the pot and let the plant suck it up gradually. Improve soil drainage by adding perlite to potting soil before planting.

Light

• Sago palm grows well in areas of bright sun. Select a spot in a southern exposure or an eastern or western area that gets direct sun for at least a few hours. Plants placed in insufficient light, grow very slowly and produce spindly, leggy growth. The new growth in low-light areas tends to bend towards the light source, affecting symmetry. All parts of the sago palm are poisonous to humans and pets upon ingestion.