Can someone tell me why my Saga palm is turning yellow?

Question

I put Osmocote in the plant & since I did that it has started to turn yellow. So, I took out every piece I could find in the plant, hoping this would stop the yellowing. This is what is in the Osmocote: N-19%, Ammoniacal Nitrogen-10%, Phosphate-6%, and Soluble Potash-12%. Would this be the reason for the yellowing & will the yellow ever turn back green? Is this a very strong fertilizer? I should tell you all that after the yellowing started I added Epsom salt. I also, have a grow light over the plant to give it the extra light it needs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. By the way, Happy Halloween fellow Yahooers.

Answer 1

You may be over watering or it may not be in enough sun light. I had to move mine last fall. I cut all of the foliage off and moved it somewhere else. It came back looking great this past Spring. I don't ever mess with mine. I never water it...and I literally mean never. I don't pay any attention to it whatsoever and it's doing great.

Answer 2

You didn't mention water-- they seem to like water after getting pretty dry. Another thing-- I bought mine in Florida where the ground is pretty much sand-- when I put it in a larger pot I used loose potting soil.
In the summer here in zone 7-- the temp was getting over 100 deg for like 30 days-- I didn't water enough and got the yellowing-- after I watered every 3 days-- it started being happy and put out a lot of new growth. Since I brought it inside, I have some yellowing on tips of branches-- the bottom ones seem most affected. I think the tree isn't getting enough light-- only morning-- but if the weather warms some- I'll stick it where it'll get 10 hours or so.
Check with google or wiki and learn the three fertilizer numbers--each one does something for the plant-- nitrogen increases leaf/palm branches, the potash increases root growth and I forgot what the phosphate does-- remember this is a primitive plant-- one of the few that survived the dinosaur time-- I haven't added fertilizer other what was in the potting soil.
One other thing-- plants usually increase roots then increase foliage, unless you repot-- then they go back to growing roots.
good luck

Answer 3

You don't say how long you've had the plant for. The yellowing could be from over watering and they enjoy a full sun position. I don't know your climate either. I have them, and when they show signs of yellowing, I fertilize them with an organic fertilizer. I don't use slow release. I don't buy plants from supermarkets either as they are in air conditioning and don't handle it very well when put straight into the garden. It is too much of a shock for them. I hope it recovers.