Nutrient Deficiency Chart

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To use the table just match up the plants symptoms with those on the table. Nutrients that are shaded Red are the problem. Find that nutrient in the text below the table for the remedy. Don't forget that your problem may not necessarily be a lack of any particular nutrient, the issue is often availability. High pH can prevent plants from absorbing vital nutrients. Extreme humidity may cause leaves to remain tissue paper thin. Take small steps in your attempts to balance your nutrient solution. It is better to under-feed your plants than to overdose them. Try adding about half of a recommended concentration as you experiment. You can always add more later.

SYMPTOMS	N	P	K	Ca	S	Mg	Fe	Mn	B	Mb	Zn	Cu	Over Fert.
Yellow Upper Leaves	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Yellow Middle Leaves	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Yellow Lower Leaves	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Old Leaves Drop	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Leaves Curl Under	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Leaves Curl Over	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Red Stems	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Necrosis	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Spots	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Growing Shoots Die	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
White Leaf Tips	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Stunted Growth	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Deformed New Growth	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Yellow Tips	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Young Tips Burn	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Older Tips Burn	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Dark/Purple Color	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Pale Color	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Mottling	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Spindly	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Soft Stems	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Hard/Brittle Stems	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Bad Roots	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Wilting	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Twisted Growth	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No

NITROGEN (N): Pale plants, red stems, smaller growth. Rapid yellowing of lower leaves progressing up the plant. Add any chemical fertilizer containing N. Treated plants recover in about a week.
PHOSPHORUS (P): Slow or stunted growth, red stems. Smaller leaves that are dark green. Lower leaves yellow and die. Add chemical fertilizer containing P. Affected leaves will not show recovery but new growth will apear normal.
POTASSIUM (K): Affected plants are usually tallest and appear to be most vigorous. Necrotic spots form on lower leaves. Red stems. Leaves appear pale or yellow. Add chemical fertilizer containing K.
CALCIUM (Ca): Lack of calcium in the soil results in the soil becoming too acid. This leads to Mg or Fe deficiency or very slow stunted growth. Treat by foliar feeding with one teaspoon of dolomatic lime per quart of water until condition improves.
SULFER (S): Plants suffering from S definciencies exhibit yellowing of new growth. Mix one tablespoon of Epsom salts per gallon of water until condition improves.
MAGNESIUM (Mg): Lower leaves yellow and may even turn white while veins remain dark green. Blades die and curl upward.
IRON (Fe): Leaves on growing shoots turn pale and veins remain dark green. pH imbalances make iron insoluble. Foliar feed with chemical fertilizer containing Fe or rusty water.
MANGANESE (Mn): Necrotic and yellow spots form on top leaves. Mn deficiency occurs when large amounts of Mg are present in the soil. Foliar feed with any chemical fertilizer containing Mn.
BORON (B): Growing shoots turn grey or die. Growing shoots appear burnt. Treat with one teaspoon of Boric acid (sold as eyewash) per gallon of water.
MOLYBDENUM (Mb): Yellowing of middle leaves. Foliar feed with chemical fertilizer containing Mb.
ZINC (Zn): White areas form at leaf tips and between veins. Occurs in alkaline soils. Zn deficiency can be treated by burying galvanized nails in the soil. Chemical fertilizer containing Zn can also be used.
OVER FERTILIZATION: Causes leaf tips to appear yellow or burnt. To correct soil should be flushed with three gallons of water per one gallon of soil.

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Last updated: 11/26/09.