Nutrient deficiencies in plants
When our plants are looking unhappy, we immediately suspect they’ve been attacked by a pest or disease. It is, of course, important to rule out such problems but, if leaves are
discoloured or distorted and you can’t see an obvious cause, it’s also possible that the problem is caused by a nutrient deficiency.
What is a nutrient deficiency?
Plants must be able to obtain about a dozen nutrients that are found in the soil. The three they require in the largest amounts are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Calcium, magnesium and sulfur are needed in slightly lesser quantities and the so-called ‘trace elements’ – iron, manganese, copper, zinc, boron, molybdenum – in even smaller amounts. But each nutrient is essential and if just one is lacking the plant will grow poorly.
Why do plants suffer from nutrient deficiencies?
Sometimes the soil is poor to start with. Many Australian soils fall into this category and, while the local natives that have adapted to these conditions will grow happily, as soon as you introduce plants with higher nutrient requirements, you’ll begin to have problems.
Pot plants are dependent on the nutrients in the container and it’s easy for these to dissolve and wash away as the pot drains. This is one reason why slow and controlled release fertilisers (as found in Yates Acticote) work so well in pots. As well, most modern potting mixes are made from composted organic matter. This organic matter can continue to break down in the pot and will use up nitrogen as it does so.
The pH – acidity or alkalinity – of the soil can also be a factor. Sometimes, if the pH is wrong for the plant, it isn’t able to take up nutrients from the soil even if the nutrients are in plentiful supply. For example, it’s quite common for plants to show signs of iron deficiency if the pH is too high. If you don’t know the pH level of your soil, it’s worth having it checked.
What to look for?
Unusual pigmentation and poor growth are classic symptoms of many types of nutrient deficiency. If the plant is lacking nitrogen, the oldest leaves can turn yellow, drop early or develop reddish tones. Magnesium deficiency, which shows up as yellow patches between the veins, also appears on the oldest leaves. Iron deficiency, by contrast, appears on the newest leaves, with the veins standing out as a distinct green.
How to have healthy plants
In most cases, a suitable all purpose fertiliser will supply the required nutrients. Organic fertilisers like Dynamic Lifter are ideal for slower-growing plants, and the fortified variants in the Dynamic Lifter Advanced range are suitable to meet the higher needs of fruit, roses, lawns etc. Fast-growing leafy plants need quick, liquid feeds with something like Thrive All Purpose. Yates Trace Element Mix can also solve some specific problems.
Plant nutrition is a complex, but fascinating, subject that is explained more fully in the Yates Garden Guide or Kevin Handreck’s Gardening Down-Under.
Comments (25)
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Sean
Yates site member
14:37, 06 July 2010
Thanks Judy!
I bought all the Dynamic Lifters and they really made a good difference to my garden!
Kevin
Yates site member
08:32, 07 July 2010
Thanks Judy, I will try the Dynamic Lifter advanced range on my lawns
susan
Yates site member
09:11, 07 July 2010
thanks judy the advice for pruning roses made it so much easier.
Alison
Yates site member
09:36, 07 July 2010
About 2 weeks ago I applied Dynamic Lifter to my citrus (Eureka and Myer lemons and lime trees) and some passionfruit vines which are showing the yellow and dull green leaves of nitrogen def. However, there appears to be no improvement. I’ll give the Thrive All Purpose a whirl but in he meantime any other idess? Also, somethign is eating my citrus leaves – have tried pest oil, white oil, confidor and pyrethrum but the wretches persist. Any ideas?
Jean
Yates site member
09:51, 07 July 2010
Alison,
Perhaps the problem could be snails. I had this some years ago, and an application of Baysol solved it.
Best of luck.
Jean
Phillip
Yates site member
10:58, 07 July 2010
Thank`s Judy,
i am about to start pruning my roses this month ____probably sometime this week____so thos tip`s will be handy.
Just an aside comment, ____i use coffee on my garden for snail`s, and it seem`s to have the desired effect.
Bill
Yates site member
11:20, 07 July 2010
Hi everyone. This is my first post, so be nice :)
I have a HUGE olive tree in my back yard. Its about 4 meters high, and get lots of sun light. I dont know how old it is as it was already there when we bought our house 3 years ago. For some reason, this tree never gives any olvies, it never flowers and constantly has mostly yellow leafs. However, there are constant new smaller branches spurting from the bottom part of the tree, which a rich green in colour, but the rest of the tree is yellow. I water the damn thing, i give it nutrients, plant food. I was told by a local nursery that i should give it lime, which i did. Then i was told to test the ph of the soil, which turned out to be spot on. The i was told to give fertilizer, which i did to no success. I am lost as to what i can do to make this tree work. I was about to chop it down on the weekend but i thoguht i will give this site a try. Anyone have any info which may help or have come across this issue?
Thank you.
Jon
Yates Garden Expert
12:39, 07 July 2010
Hi Bill, without a great deal more detail eg location, soil type, fertilisers used etc, I can only suggest poor drainage and/or root rot is the problem. For answers to specific questions, why not try our Ask an Expert service?
Louise
Yates site member
11:52, 07 July 2010
we have a camellia hedge and some very lack luster lilli pillis in our yard that need a good feed, however I thought I should hold off until spring? we have huge gum trees that seem to steal all the nutrients, should I feed everything now?
kylie
Yates site member
12:06, 07 July 2010
Alison. For citrus trees I use the citrus fertiliser as it is formulated specially. I have a Eureka lemon and it is going wonderfully. Yet the last one i had i did not take care of properly and it died. I did not use citrus fertiliser with it.
Also, with your pest thing, have you thought about using natural products? I have used a spray of soap flakes, garlic and chilli to good results, this was on roses. You do have to reapply after rain or watering though. ON the positive you do not poison yourself.
dennis
Yates site member
16:26, 07 July 2010
ihave used dynamic lifter before and find the results very good. wil use again
Nicci
Yates site member
20:39, 07 July 2010
Thanks Judy,
all your tips are valued by all your readers so keep them coming…
carol
Yates site member
23:51, 07 July 2010
thankyou for advice. My new mandarin tree looks like the leaves at the top look like they are windswept but the lower ones look normal. Can anyone help please?
Stacey
Yates site member
21:13, 08 July 2010
I have an old lemon tree that is abundant with fruit. I’ve noticed that a lot of the lemons are covered with reddish/brown dots. I’ve tried dynamic lifter, and while the condition of the tree improved, the spots continue. Any ideas ?
Location: Geelong, Victoria.
Position of tree: Protected
maureen
Yates site member
10:12, 09 July 2010
After reading the various comments I realise that my garden needs a lot tender loving and care. I now know that I need to fertilise more often for my plants to survive. Thanks guys
Heather
Yates site member
18:51, 09 July 2010
I planted a young mandarin in a half wine barrel last year and was doing very well until winter. Now the leaves are looking very droopy and yellowish. The only thing I have used is Yates Acticote Instant booster. Should I have waited until Spring?
Lisa
Yates site member
08:02, 10 July 2010
hi this is my first time on this site. looks like i may get some great tips.
I am a kindergarten teacher and my children and I are making a garden at the centre. so far we have plant a few seedlings, carrots and silver beet. the children are very excited and check the progress daily. I have used old milk bottles as planters as well as 15lt water containers. we are short on space. so far we have not lost a seedling and the children have 1 each. any tips on what types of plants we could have we would great.
Lorraine
Yates site member
06:22, 11 July 2010
thanks judy for the help with this information, will get some dynamic lifter, love to all at yates
Ahmed
Yates site member
21:59, 11 July 2010
A fab article Judy, I used to use dynamic lifter many years ago and have been too busy in the past few years, but, now its time to go back there. I want my plants looking how they did before. Thanx for the re-enlightenment!
Jennifer
Yates site member
20:54, 13 July 2010
Have been using dynamic lifter for years and would never change it for another product as it is some thing that covers all plants. My lemon tree seems to be lacking in something any advice.
rita
Yates site member
15:45, 18 July 2010
I have a meyer lemon which is growing in a container I had to repot it due to grubs being in the soil and it does not seem to be picking up most of the leaves have dropped off and whats left have yellow in them what would be the best thing to do
Michelle
Yates site member
14:21, 19 July 2010
I have a compact lime in a pot, second season and it drops it’s leaves. New flowers and leaves are out now, how do I save them? Gets citrus fertiliser as per instructions in spring/ summer and the odd doese of seaweed emulsion. Any thoughts?
Felicity
Yates site member
08:16, 20 July 2010
Stacey, your lemons are being attacked by scale insects, little sap suckers. I think white oil is the recommended control
jan
Yates site member
14:12, 21 July 2010
hi judy having trouble with my sweet peas although healthy and lush green they have not flowered just gave them some pot ash hope you can help
irene
Yates site member
18:58, 27 July 2010
I love gardening, talking about gardening and sharing my seedlings and stuff I’ve grown from cuttings. I have a loquat tree that the bats and birds always get to before I can taste the delicious ripe fruit. Suggestions for protecting the fruit for human consumption would be very much appreciated.
jenny
Yates site member
11:29, 31 July 2010
I use dynamic lifter all the time even on my potplants I think it is great. I spend as much time in my garden as I can
Stacey
Yates site member
18:51, 12 August 2010
Thank-you Felicity. Your perfectly correct.
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