Signs of a Deficiency in Essential Nutrients
Are you observing a plant and wondering whether it is missing something? If your herbs do not look healthy, they may be suffering from a nutritional deficiency, and it is therefore high time to give them an extra dose of one of the key elements through a suitable product.
Today’s article will teach you how to recognise deficiencies of individual elements in plant nutrition, and we will also recommend top products for their effective supplementation. In section “A” we will focus on basic nutrients (N-P-K), and in section “B” we will go through minerals and other most important elements that play an irreplaceable role in a wide range of plant biochemical processes.
One piece of advice to begin with. First of all measure pH. Before you start finding out which element your plants are lacking, if they clearly are not doing well, first of all measure the exact pH value of the substrate:
- When growing in soil, values from 6.5 to 7.0 are desirable.
- In hydroponics you need to measure lower pH values between 5.5 and 6.5.
If the measured pH values fall outside the ranges above, try adjusting the pH first and wait a while to see whether the plants begin to do better. The pH value can affect the presence of some basic nutrients or trace elements. Now let us explain how to recognise their deficiency and how to address it effectively.
Deficiency of basic nutrients N-P-K
NITROGEN deficiency (N)
- Without a sufficient supply of this biogenic element, plants simply do not grow; at best, they will be small and weak. Nitrogen is, after all, the most important component of nutrition during the vegetative phase (i.e. growth) of every plant.
- Another typical symptom that can be observed with the naked eye is overall yellowing, sometimes even reddening of the leaves, followed by their subsequent drop.
- Among the strongest fertilisers for replenishing nitrogen levels is Canna N 17%. With this product you can reliably eliminate a possible nitrogen deficiency in your plants, but do not forget to dose it carefully in view of its high concentration.
PHOSPHORUS deficiency (P)
- Phosphorus is essential for the development of a healthy, strong root system, and if you read our articles regularly, you certainly know that the condition of the root system determines the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients contained in fertilisers effectively.
- In the case of phosphorus, it is a key component of nutrition during the flowering phase. In the period when plants concentrate their energy on producing abundant flowers and fruits, it is hardly ever the case that they have an excess of phosphorus.
- You will most often recognise phosphorus deficiency in plants by the premature dropping of older leaves. Also pay attention if you notice growth stalling, chlorosis of older leaves from the top down, dark grey spots and sometimes even purple-coloured patches on the leaves.
- Phosphorus is most often supplemented together with potassium in the form of PK additive fertilisers, such as Canna PK 13/14. You can also use the same product in the case of potassium (K) deficiency, see below.
POTASSIUM deficiency (K)
- Potassium completes the trio of basic nutrients. It is extremely important for the overall stability and vitality of the plant, helping it manage water and energy in the form of carbohydrates.
- A deficiency of this element can often be mistaken for burn damage, as older leaves yellow and the leaf edges turn brown in the same way as with scorching. Dots may also appear on the leaves.
- A classic symptom of low potassium levels in plants is stunted growth.
Deficiency of other nutrients
A deficiency of calcium and magnesium, which we mention a little further below, is effectively addressed by CALMAG-type products, such as Canna Calmag Agent.
CALCIUM deficiency (Ca)
- Calcium has a fundamental effect on the overall development and stabilisation of plants.
- Its deficiency is manifested mainly on plant leaves, namely by typical spots - small yellow-brown spots with a distinct brown edge.
- Other symptoms include short roots and curled or even “crumpled” leaves.
MAGNESIUM deficiency (Mg)
- The building block of chlorophyll must not be missing if plants are to remain photosynthetically active.
- Magnesium deficiency in plants is most often indicated by rusty brown spots and yellow spots between the veins on the leaves.
- A lack of magnesium prevents iron absorption, which is also associated with leaf distortion.
If you need to address a deficiency of any of the microelements listed below (iron, manganese, boron, zinc or molybdenum), use balanced MicroMix for easy replenishment of their levels and also as a prevention against deficiencies.
IRON deficiency (Fe)
- Iron is among the very unstable elements, so it likes to react with other nutrients, which is of course not desirable in plant nutrition, and therefore its deficiency is a fairly common matter.
- A low iron level in plants is manifested by yellowing leaves, or yellow patches on the leaves, while the leaf veins remain green. Leaf glassiness appears.
- Iron deficiency is often confused in cultivation practice with magnesium deficiency (see below). The difference is that iron deficiency affects only young leaves.
MANGANESE deficiency (Mn)
- Manganese deficiency in plants is most evident in hydroponics.
- The most common symptoms include dead yellowish tissue between the leaf veins, while the veins themselves remain green.
BORON deficiency (Bo)
- Abnormally slow growth? Your plants may be missing precisely this trace element, which supports the accumulation of phosphorus in the leaves and whose deficiency is in fact the most widespread nutrient uptake disorder in the world.
- You can recognise boron deficiency by small stems or curled leaves. It is also indicated by the dying off of older leaves and growth tips.
ZINC deficiency (Zn)
- Zinc deficiency, whose level is very low in plants of all kinds, is most often recognised by a yellowish area between the veins starting at the tips and edges of the leaves. The leaves may be striped.
- Sometimes vertical growth stops.
MOLYBDENUM deficiency (Mo)
- Molybdenum is part of important enzymatic processes related to nitrogen assimilation. The initial symptoms of its deficiency may also resemble nitrogen deficiency.
- Molybdenum deficiency later manifests as yellow spots between the leaf veins, followed by a browning area along the edges. Simply put, the leaves may be blotchy and mottled.
- A typical symptom of Mo deficiency is also inhibited flowering.
COPPER deficiency (Cu)
- Copper deficiency is most often indicated by the dying off of leaf edges and tips.
- The cause is usually stress and poor pH of the soil.
- In the case of hydroponics changing the water usually helps as well.
SULPHUR deficiency (S)
- The deficiency of this trace element also resembles nitrogen deficiency in the external appearance of the plants. We see signs of chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves) and usually also notice a significant stalling of growth.
- Crops with higher demands for copper will appreciate the use of blue vitriol
CARBON deficiency (C)
- We have left carbon for the end - the basic building block of the living world and an absolutely essential element for photosynthesis.
- Plants grown outdoors receive enough of it from the air, but if you are engaged in indoor cultivation of plants in a grow box, we recommend supplementing it with carbon dioxide. For example, No Mercy tablets are very popular, as they support your plants in development even if they do not show the signs of carbon deficiency listed below.
- Symptoms of carbon deficiency: White deposits appear on the underside of the leaves and the plant stops growing overall.
If you need advice on supplementing your plants’ nutrition, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help. We look forward to your questions at the well-known address info@higarden.eu.
We recommend these products:
- Canna Calmag Agent (from 369 Kč)
- Canna PK 13/14 (from 149 Kč)
- BioNova MicroMix (mikroprvky) (from 279 Kč)
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