How Do You Fertilize a Royal Poinciana Tree?
The royal poinciana tree, also known as a flame tree because of its flamboyant red-orange flowers, needs to be fertilized more often when it is young than when it is mature. You need good quality fertilizer, gloves and water.
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Time fertilizing according to the age of the tree
Royal poinciana trees under 3 years of age should be fertilized 3 to 4 times a year. Fertilize 3 to 6 weeks after planting the young tree. After this, the best fertilizing times are spring, the middle of summer and early fall. Trees between 4 to 5 years old can be fertilized 1 or 2 times a year, in spring and early fall only. Trees over 5 years old do not have to be fertilized unless the soil is particularly poor. Often the lawn fertilizer is sufficient for these trees.
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Choose the right fertilizer
Select a complete organic or slow release fertilizer with a ratio of macro-nutrients of 16-4-8 or 15-5-15.
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Spread and water the fertilizer
Use a gloved hand to scatter the fertilizer all around the area of the tree’s root system, starting about 1 foot from the tree’s trunk and extending to twice the diameter of the canopy of the tree. After applying the fertilizer, water the area thoroughly to allow the nutrients to soak into the root zone.
