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GrowFAQ : Fertilizing &
feeding : Nutrient
deficiencies

Plant Abuse Chart and Photos by Nietzsche

Added by:
Nietzsche  Last edited by:
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Contributed by: Nietzsche

PLANT
ABUSE

Heat
Stress :
Look closely below, and you'll
see the brown leaf edges that are indicative of heat
stress. This damage looks alot like nutrient burn,
except it occurs only at the tops of the plants closest
to the lamps. There's only one cure for this...get the
heat away from the plants, either by moving the lamps or
moving the plants.

Figure 1

Nutrient Solution Burn:
There's a
good chance that this leaf was subjected to nutrient
solution burn. These symptoms are seen when the EC
concentration of hydroponic solutions is too high. These
symptoms also appear when strong nutrient solution is
splashed onto the leaves under hot HID lamps, causing
the leaves to burn under the solution.

Figure 2
Many hydroponic
gardeners see this problem. It's the beginning of
nutrient burn. It indicates that the plants have all the
nutrients they can possibly use, and there's a slight
excess. Back off the concentration of the nutrient
solution just a touch, and the problem should disappear.
Note that if the plants never get any worse than this
leaf (figure 3), then the plants are probably just fine.
Figure 4 is definitely an over-fert problem. The high
level of nutrients accumulates in the leaves and causes
them to dry out and burn up as shown here. You must
flush with clear, clean water immediately to allow the
roots to recover, and prevent further damage. Now find
the cause of the high nutrient levels.

Figure 3 (left) and Figure 4
(right)
Over
Watering:
The plants in figure 5 were on
a continous drip system, where nutrient solution is
constantly being pumped into the medium. This tends to
keep the entire root system completely saturated. A
better way would be to periodically feed the plants, say
for 1/2 hour every 2-3 hours. This would give the roots
a chance to get needed air to them, and prevent root rot
and other problems.
Don't be throw off by the fact
that the plants in figure 5 are sitting in still water,
this is actually an H2O2 solution used to try and
correct the problem. Adding an airstone to the tub would
also help add O2 to the solution.

Figure 5
pH
Fluctuation:
Both of these leaves in
figure 6 and figure 7 are from the same plant. It could
be over fertilization, but more likely it is due to the
pH being off. Too high or too low a pH can lock up
nutrients in the form of undisolvable salts and
compounds, some of which are actually toxic to the
plants. What then happens is the grower then tries to
supplement the plants diet by adding more fertilizers,
throwing off the pH even more and locking up even more
nutrients. This type of problem is seen more often in
soil mixes, where inconsistent mixing of the medium's
components leads to "hot" spots.

Figure 6 (left) and Figure 7
(right)
Ozone
Damage:
Ozone damage typically found near
the generator. Although a rare problem, symptoms
generally appear as a Mg deficiency, but the symptoms
are localized to immediately around the generator.

Figure 8
NUTRIENT
PROBLEMS
Root
Stunting:
Root stunting is characteristic
of calcium deficiency, acidity, aluminum toxicity, and
copper toxicity. Some species may also show it when
boron deficient. The shortened roots become thickened,
the laterals become stubby, peg-like, and the whole
system often discolours, brown or grey.
Symptoms
localized at shoot growing points.
New shoots
unopened; young leaves distorted; dead leaf tips; pale
green plant copper deficiency
New shoots withered or
dead; petiole or stem collapse; shoots stunted; green
plant calcium deficiency Young leaves pale green or
yellow; rosetting or dead tip; dieback; dark green plant
boron deficiency

MOBILE
ELEMENTS
Mobile elements are more likely
to exhibit visual deficiencies in the older leaves,
because during demand these elements will be exported to
the new growth.

Nitrogen
(N)
Nitrate - Ammonium is found in both
inorganic and organic forms in the plant, and combines
with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sometimes sulfur to
form amino acids, amino enzymes, nucleic acids,
chlorophyll, alkaloids, and purine bases. Nitrogen rates
high as molecular weight proteins in plant tissue.

Plants need lots of N during vegging, but it's easy
to overdo it. Added too much? Flush the soil with plain
water. Soluble nitrogen (especially nitrate) is the form
that's the most quickly available to the roots, while
insoluble N (like urea) first needs to be broken down by
microbes in the soil before the roots can absorb it.
Avoid excessive ammonium nitrogen, which can interfere
with other nutrients.
Too much N delays flowering.
Plants should be allowed to become N-deficient late in
flowering for best flavor.

Nitrogen
Deficiencies:
Plants will exhibit lack of vigor,
slow growth and will be weak and stunted. Quality and
yield will be significantly reduced. Older leaves become
yellow (chlorotic) from lack of chlorophyll. Deficient
plants will exhibit uniform light green to yellow on
older leaves, these leaves may die and drop. Leaf
margins will not curled up noticeably. Chlorosis will
eventually spread throughout the plant. Stems, petioles
and lower leaf surfaces may turn purple.

Figure 9

As seen in figure 10
consumption of nitrogen (N) from the fan leaves during
the final phase of flowing is 100% normal.

Figure 10

Nitrogen
Toxicity:
Leaves are often dark green and in the
early stages abundant with foliage. If excess is severe,
leaves will dry and begin to fall off. Root system will
remain under developed or deteriorate after time. Fruit
and flower set will be inhibited or deformed.
With
breakdown of vascular tissue restricting water uptake.
Stress resistance is drastically diminished.

Phosphorus (P)

Phosphorus is a component of certain enzymes and
proteins, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ribonucleic
acids (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) and phytin.
ATP is involved in various energy transfer reactions,
and RNA and DNA are components of genetic information.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency:
Figure 11
is severe phosphorus (P) deficiency during flowering.
Fan leaves are dark green or red/purple, and may turn
yellow. Leaves may curl under, go brown and die.
Small-formed buds are another main symptom.

Phosphorus deficiencies exhibit slow growing, weak
and stunted plants with dark green or purple
pigmentation in older leaves and stems.
Some
deficiency during flowering is normal, but too much
shouldn't be tolerated. Red petioles and stems are a
normal, genetic characteristic for many varieties, plus
it can also be a co-symptom of N, K, and
Mg-deficiencies, so red stems are not a foolproof sign
of P-deficiency. Too much P can lead to iron deficiency.

Purpling: accumulation of anthocyanin pigments;
causes an overall dark green color with a purple, red,
or blue tint, and is the common sign of phosphate
deficiency. Some plant species and varieties respond to
phosphate deficiency by yellowing instead of purpling.
Purpling is natural to some healthy ornamentals.

Figure 11

Figure 12 shows
Phosphorus (P) deficiency during vegatative growth. Many
people mistaken this for a fungus, but look for the
damage to occur near the end of leave, and leaves the
color dull greyish with a very brittle texture.

Figure 12

Phosphorus
(P) Toxicity:
This condition is rare and usually
buffered by pH limitations. Excess phosphorus can
interfere with the availability and stability of copper
and zinc.

Potassium
(K)
Potassium is involved in maintaining
the water status of the plant and the
tugor pressure
of it's cells and the opening and closing of the
stomata. Potassium is required in the accumulation and
translocation of carbohydrates. Lack of potassium will
reduce yield and quality.
Potassium
deficiency:
Older leaves are initially chlorotic
but soon develop dark necrotic lesions
(dead
tissue). First apparent on the tips and margins of the
leaves. Stem and branches may become weak and easily
broken, the plant may also stretch. The plant will
become susceptible to disease and toxicity. In addition
to appearing to look like iron deficiency, the tips of
the leaves curl and the edges burn and die.

Potassium - Too much sodium (Na) displaces K,
causing a K deficiency. Sources of high salinity are:
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate "pH-up"), too much
manure, and the use of water-softening filters (which
should not be used). If the problem is Na, flush the
soil. K can get locked up from too much Ca or ammonium
nitrogen, and possibly cold weather.

Figure 13

Figure 14

Potassium (K)
Toxicity:
Usually not absorbed excessively by
plants. Excess potassium can aggravate the uptake of
magnesium, manganese, zinc and iron and effect the
availability of calcium.

Magnesium (Mg)
Magnesium is a
component of the chlorophyll molecule and serves as a
cofactor in most enzymes.
Magnesium (Mg)
deficiency:
Magnesium deficiency will exhibit a
yellowing (which may turn brown) and interveinal
chlorosis beginning in the older leaves. The older
leaves will be the first to develop interveinal
chlorosis. Starting at leaf margin or tip and
progressing inward between the veins. Notice how the
veins remain somewhat green though as can be seen in
figure 15.
Notice how in figure 16 and 17 the leaves
curl upwards like they're praying? They're praying for
Mg! The tips may also twist.
This can be quickly
resolved by watering with 1 tablespoon Epsom
salts/gallon of water. Until you can correct nutrient
lockout, try foliar feeding. That way the plants get all
the nitrogen and Mg they need. The plants can be foliar
feed at ½ teaspoon/quart of Epsom salts (first powdered
and dissolved in some hot water). When mixing up soil,
use 2 teaspoon dolomite lime per gallon of soil.
If
the starting water is above 200 ppm, that is pretty hard
water, that will lock out mg with all of the calcium in
the water. Either add a 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of epsom
salts or lime (both will effectively reduce the lockout
or invest into a reverse osmosis water filter.
Mg
can get locked-up by too much Ca, Cl or ammonium
nitrogen. Don't overdo Mg or you'll lock up other
nutrients.

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Magnesium (Mg)
Toxicity:
Magnesium toxicity is rare and not
generally exhibited visibly. Extreme high levels will
antagonize other ions in the nutrient solution.

Zinc (Zn)
Zinc
plays a roll in the same enzyme functions as manganese
and magnesium. More than eighty enzymes contain tightly
bound zinc essential for their function. Zinc
participates in chlorophyll formation and helps prevent
chlorophyll destruction. Carbonic anhydrate has been
found to be specifically activated by zinc.

Zinc Deficiencies:
Deficiencies
appear as chlorosis in the inter-veinal areas of new
leaves producing a banding appearance as seen in figure
18. This may be accompany reduction of leaf size and a
shortening between internodes. Leaf margins are often
distorted or wrinkled. Branch terminals of fruit will
die back in severe cases.
Also gets locked out due
to high pH. Zn, Fe, and Mn deficiencies often occur
together, and are usually from a high pH. Don't overdo
the micro-nutrients, lower the pH if that's the problem
so the nutrients become available. Foliar feed if the
plant looks real bad. Use chelated zinc. Zinc deficiency
produces "little leaf" in many species, especially woody
ones; the younger leaves are distinctly smaller than
normal. Zinc defeciency may also produce "rosetting";
the stem fails to elongate behind the growing tip, so
that the terminal leaves become tightly bunched.

Figure 18

Zinc
Toxicity:
Excess Zinc is extremely toxic and
will cause rapid death. Excess zinc interferes with iron
causing chlorosis from iron deficiency. Excess will
cause sensitive plants to become chlorotic.

IMMOBILE ELEMENTS

Immobile elements will show their first symptoms on
younger leaves and progress to the whole plant.

Sulphur (S)

Sulfate is involved in protein synthesis and is part
of the amino acids, cystine and thiamine, which are the
building blocks of proteins. It is active in the
structure and metabolism in the plant. It is essential
for respiration and the synthesis and breakdown of fatty
acids.

Sulphur (S) deficiency:
The
initial symptoms are the yellowing of the entire leaf
including veins usually starting with the younger
leaves. Leaf tips may yellow and curl downward. Sulfur
deficiencies are light green fruit or younger leaves
with a lack of succulence. Elongated roots and woody
stem. Although it's hard to see in figure 19, the upper
stems of this plant are purple. Although many varieties
of cannabis do get purplish stems, the trait generally
extends the entire length of the plant's stem, and not
just near the top as in this specimen.

Figure 19

Sulphur
Toxicity:
Leaf size will be reduced and overall
growth will be stunted. Leaves yellowing or scorched at
edges. Excess may cause early senescence.

Calcium (Ca)

Calcium plays an important role in maintaining cell
integrity and membrane permeability.

Calcium
Deficiency:
Young leaves are affected first and
become small and distorted or chlorotic with irregular
margins, spotting or necrotic areas. Bud development is
inhibited, blossom end rot and internal decay may also
occur and root may be under developed or die back.
Deficiency will cause leaf tip die-back, leaf tip curl
and marginal necrosis and chlorosis primarily in younger
leaves. Symptoms: young leaves develop chlorosis and
distortion such as crinkling, dwarfing, developing a
strap-like shape, shoots stop growing and thicken.

Calcium Toxicity:
Difficult to
distinguish visually. May precipitate with sulfur in
solution and cause clouding or residue in tank. Excess
calcium may produce deficiencies in magnesium and
potassium.

Iron (Fe)

Iron is an important component of plant enzyme
systems for electron transport to carry electrons during
photosynthesis and terminal respiration. It is a
catalyst for chlorophyll production and is required for
nitrate and sulfate reduction and assimilation.

Iron deficiency:
- Pronounced
interveinal chlorosis similar to that caused by
magnesium deficiency but on the younger leaves.

-Leaves exhibit chlorosis (yellowing) of the
leaves mainly between the veins, starting with the lower
and middle leaves.

Caused by factors that
interfere with iron absorption of roots: over
irrigation, excessive soluble salts, inadequate
drainage, pests, high substrate pH, or nematodes. This
is easily corrected by adding an iron supplement with
the next watering.

Fe is unavailable to plants
when the pH of the water or soil is too high. If
deficient, lower the pH to about 6.5 (for rockwool,
about 5.7), and check that you're not adding too much P,
which can lock up Fe. Use iron that's chelated for
maximum availability. Read your fertilizer's ingredients
- chelated iron might read something like "iron EDTA".
To much Fe without adding enough P can cause a
P-deficiency.

Note : When adding iron to the
solution, it is often necessary to not use fertilizer
for that watering. Iron has a tendency of reacting with
many of the components of fertilizer solutions, and will
cause nutrient lockup to occur. Read the labels of both
the iron supplement and the fertilizer you are using
before you attempt to combine the two.

Figure 20

Iron
Toxicity:
Excess accumulation is rare but could
cause bronzing or tiny brown spots on leaf surface.

Manganese (Mn)
Manganese is
involved in the oxidation reduction process in the
photosynthetic electron transport system. Biochemical
research shows that this element plays a structural role
in the chloroplast membrane system, and also activates
numerous enzymes.
Manganese Deficiency:

Interveinal chlorosis of younger leaves, necrotic
lesions and leaf shredding are typical symptom of this
deficiency. High levels can cause uneven distribution of
chlorophyll resulting in blotchy appearance. Restricted
growth and failure to mature normally can also result.

-Mn gets locked out when the pH is too high,
and when there's too much iron. Use chelated Mn.

Manganese Toxicity:
Toxicity:Chlorosis, or
blotchy leaf tissue due to insufficient chlorophyll
synthesis. Growth rate will slow and vigor will decline.

Chlorine (Cl)
Chloride is involved in
the evolution of oxygen in the photosynthesis process
and is essential for cell division in roots and leaves.
Chlorine raises the cell osmotic pressure and affects
stomata regulation and increases the hydration of plant
tissue. Levels less than 140 ppm are safe for most
plants. Chloride sensitive plants may experience tip or
marginal leaf burn at concentrations above 20 ppm.

Chlorine Deficiency:
Wilted chlorotic leaves
become bronze in color. Roots become stunted and
thickened near tips. Plants with chlorine deficiencies
will be pale and suffer wilting.
Chlorine Toxicity:

Burning of leaf tip or margins. Bronzing, yellowing
and leaf splitting. Reduced leaf size and lower growth
rate.

Boron (B)
Boron biochemical
functions are yet uncertain, but evidence suggests it is
involved in the synthesis of one of the bases for
nucleic acid (RNA uracil) formation. It may also be
involved in some cellular activities such as division,
differentiation, maturation and respiration. It is
associated with pollen germination.
Boron
Deficiency:
Plants deficient in boron exhibit
brittle abnormal growth at shoot tips and one of the
earliest symptoms is failure of root tips to elongate
normally. Stem and root apical meristems often die. Root
tips often become swollen and discolored. Internal
tissues may rot and become host to fungal disease.
Leaves show various symptoms which include drying,
thickening, distorting, wilting, and chlorotic or
necrotic spotting.
Boron Toxicity:
Yellowing of
leaf tip followed by necrosis of the leaves beginning at
tips or margins and progressing inward before leaves die
and prematurely fall off. Some plants are especially
sensitive to boron accumulation.

Copper
(Cu)
Copper is a constituent of many enzymes and
proteins. Assists in carbohydrate metabolism, nitrogen
fixation and in the process of oxygen reduction.

Copper Deficiency:
Symptoms of deficiency are a
reduced or stunted growth with a distortion of the
younger leaves and growth tip die-back. Young leaves
often become dark green and twisted. They may die back
or just exhibit necrotic spots. Growth and yield will be
deficient as well.
Copper Toxicity:
Copper is
required in very small amounts and readily becomes toxic
in solution culture if not carefully controlled. Excess
values will induce iron deficiency. Root growth will be
suppressed followed by symptoms of iron chlorosis,
stunting, reduced branching, abnormal darkening and
thickening of roots.

Molybdenum (Mo)

Molybdenum is a component of two major enzyme
systems involved in the nitrate reeducates, this is the
process of conversion of nitrate to ammonium.

Molybdenum Deficiencies:
Often interveinal
chlorosis which occurs first on older leaves, then
progressing to the entire plant. Developing severely
twisted younger leaves which eventually die. Molybdenum
deficiencies frequently resemble nitrogen, with older
leaves chlorotic with rolled margins and stunted growth.

Molybdenum Toxicity:
Excess may cause
discoloration of leaves depending on plant species. This
condition is rare but could occur from accumulation by
continuous application. Used by the plant in very small
quantities. Excess mostly usually does not effect the
plant, however the consumption of high levels by grazing
animals can pose problems so she might not be too good
to smoke.

Sodium (Na)
Sodium seems to
encourage crop yields and in specific cases it acts as
an antidoting agent against various toxic salts. It may
act as a partial substitute for potassium deficiencies.
Excess may cause plant toxicity or induce deficiencies
of other elements. If sodium predominates in the
solution calcium and magnesium may be affected.

Silicon (Si)
Silicon usually exists
in solution as silicic acid and is absorbed in this
form. It accumulates as hydrated amorphous silica most
abundantly in walls of epidermal cells, but also in
primary and secondary walls of other cells. It is
largely available in soils and is found in water as
well. Inadequate amounts of silicon can reduce tomato
yields as much as 50%, cause new leaves to be deformed
and inhibit fruit set. At this time toxicity symptoms
are undetermined.

Cobalt (Co)
Cobalt is essential to many
beneficial bacteria that are involved in nitrogen
fixation of legumes. It is a component of vitamin B12
which is essential to most animals and possibly in
plants. Reports suggest that it may be involved with
enzymes needed to form aromatic compounds. Otherwise, it
is not understood fully as to its benefit to plant
growth, but it is considered essential to some animal
health issues.

Last modified: 16:27 - Nov 18,
2000

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