NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

During the spring and summer gardening season plants seem to go through many changes due to the weather, soil pH, nutrient levels and air flow. How to determine the mysteries is mostly by examining the stems and the leaves of your affected plants. Look for veins that turn yellow or reddish/purple, thick leathery growth as will as tip and edge burning or deformed growth. These are all signs of a problem and there is never just one single cure.

Calcium deficiency can cause the tip and edge burns as well as leaves that seem to “cup”. Also on tomatoes you will get blossom end rot. The addition of lime will fix the problem over time, not instantly.

Magnesium deficiency will show leaf veins that turn yellowish. For a great and simple cure, go buy some Epsom salts then simply toss a small hand full around the drip-line of the plants in question and water. This product does work fast and is good for many plants such as tomatoes, geraniums, shrubs, petunias, etc…in fact I cannot think of any plants that wouldn’t benefit from Epsom salts. Never apply more than once per month and if you prefer to water it in, mix 2 Tablespoons per gallon of water then water your plants.

Phosphorous deficiency shows up as purple cast on lower/older leaves with a chlorosis appearing in the center of the leaves. Obviously the addition of Phosphorous will help to rectify this condition.

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Potassium deficiency has leaves cast with a reddish/bronze color and in this case the addition of Potash is the answer.

Nitrogen deficiency is found to produce a “general-all ’round” light yellowing or light greening of the entire plant simply making it look unhealthy. Often outside plants have the nitrogen problem due to too much rain leaching out the soil. Nitrogen is needed and is found in almost all general-purpose fertilizers. In fact, most all of these previously described deficiencies have a real need for fertilizers.

The problem with simply adding fertilizer and not really knowing your problem just might be with some things we haven’t discussed such as over watering, standing water, poor air circulation or most importantly pH out of balance. So why is pH so important? If your soil has a bad pH, the nutrients will not be absorbed by the plants through normal transpiration and therefore will show signs of these deficiencies. In fact, adding tons of nitrogen with a bad pH will simply “finish” you plants off…DEAD!