A Beginners Guide: Nutrient Deficiency
A Beginners Guide: Nutrient Deficiency
Today, Ethan Walter discusses nutrient deficiencies: what they are, how to identify them, and how to treat them.
A nutrient deficiency occurs when a plant is not getting enough of a nutrient for the normal plant functions. Common deficiencies are N, P, K, (three of the macronutrients), and Ca, Mg, and Fe.
In previous videos like this one (https://youtu.be/jaZ_x-sgLO4), you learned that nutrients are measured in water with a number called EC. EC is a very useful number, but it doesn’t tell you what *ratio* of one nutrient to another is. If you have the wrong ratio of one nutrient to another, you could be reading the EC as sufficient, when a certain nutrient is actually too low.
Deficiencies are identified by their symptoms. Some common deficiencies are chlorosis, necrosis, and stunted growth. The pattern that those symptoms occur in are important. Pay attention to where symptoms occur, whether it’s on new or old growth, and what combinations symptoms occur in.
Plant nutrients are categorized as either mobile or immobile in the plant. Mobile nutrient deficiencies occur first in older growth, and immobile nutrients occur in younger growth.
A plant deficiency key is a useful tool for farmers to identify deficiencies. If you’re still having trouble, consult with your local extension agents. Google is not a great way to ID deficiencies unless it’s from a peer reviewed source
Treat deficiencies by supplementing the nutrient that is lacking. You can supplement through your nutrient reservoir or foliar feeding (but be careful; high concentrations can burn the foliage and ruin a crop). Consider making regular supplements or switching suppliers if the deficiency occurs commonly.
Here are some common deficiencies and diagnosis tips:
Nitrogen is the “green up” nutrient. Nitrogen is mobile, so it will affect older growth first, and will cause total chlorosis starting at the tip of the leaf. You will also see stunted growth.
Phosphorus deficiency rarely displays outward symptoms noticeably or quickly. You may see stunted growth and the leaves will begin to get darker and purplish/bronze. Like nitrogen, these symptoms will begin on the old growth.
Potassium deficiencies is slow to show symptoms similar to phosphorus. Over time, you’ll see chlorosis around the edge of the leaf (the margin). Chlorosis will move from the tip to the back, but will leave the center of the leaf untouched. Like nitrogen, these symptoms will begin on the old growth.
Magnesium is a very common deficiency in hydroponics. It’s mobile, so it starts on old growth first. It looks similar to nitrogen deficiency, but will have inter veinal chlorosis instead of complete chlorosis. It also turns almost completely white (in comparison to the light green of a nitrogen deficiency). When you correct it, the old foliage will stay chlorotic, but new leaves will look healthy.
Calcium is an immobile nutrient, so it affects the the top of the plant (new growth) first. Calcium deficiencies show up as necrosis on the margin on the leaf. It will usually start at the tip of the leaf – which gets confused with tip burn – but be splotchy along the margin unlike tip burn.
*Calcium deficiency happens a lot in indoor systems with poor HVAC systems. The more airflow, the more respiration the plant does, allowing the immobile calcium to be sent to the leaf tip. Another cause is high humidity. Try to keep humidity between 40-60%.
Iron is an immobile nutrient, so it affects the the top of the plant (new growth) first. The example used here is basil, and it’s worth mentioning that basil deal with this a lot. The symptom is inter veinal chlorosis in new growth, similar to calcium.
*Iron deficiencies are especially common in symptoms that use UV filtration. The UV light creates a chemical reaction in the plant-ready iron (chelated iron) and makes it precipitate out of the solution. It sinks to the bottom, and the plants can’t use it. When we add iron, we unplug the UV filter for 24 hours. Iron can also be added through foliar applications.
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Timestamps/What’s Covered:
00:17 What are Nutrient Deficiencies?
00:49 Common Deficiencies
02:19 Identifying Deficiencies
04:23 Treating Deficiencies
07:00 Nitrogen
08:45 Phosphorus
10:09 Potassium
11:58 Magnesium
13:49 Iron
16:21 Calcium
21:48 Recap
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Music by: Scott Gratton
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Good
Very good explanation of the different deficiencies and thanks for showing the examples on the leaves.
Such a good presentation, I feel like I just took a class. Gonna watch it again to make sure I have it locked in. Thanks for taking the time to make a thorough explanation of deficiencies. Two thumbs up!
great knowledge
very clear information , to plant lovers from an obvious plant lover xx
This guy is a poser. he just likes to hear himself talk. Take away the dreds, the beard, and the napkin on his head he would just be a another loser on campus.
Would be better with images
I was about to give wrong nutrient to my plant
this video may have saved one green life xD
Great explanation! With examples no less. Much better than random uneducated people guessing, yet posting videos!
You say it’s for beginners but you’re not Using the nacular that a beginner will connect to you should be using visual examples of those nutrient deficiencies so that your beginner can understand what it is that you are talking about. This was definitely the wrong title
Thank you for the information.
Seems like your trying to overwhelm people with info, just get to the point and show us what your talking about instead of just talking and talking
Super video
Hi,
Very interesting article, I must say. My pimento is flowering, but the branchs’ tips dying off. What must I do?
Mad Respect!!! Very insightful, thank you!
You know a lot and you explain it good, but I would love to see a ton of clips and pics to visualize what you say. You have heard about podcasts, this is the place where this ‘video’ should be found.
Very nice video. I would like a in depth video about chlorosis, particularly in Salvia, if you please!
thank you very much for the information, do you happen to have a plant diagnostic chart? 🙂
I wish i could like this video twice….😎😎😎
Pretty much most of my lettuces have necrosis at the margins of older leaves, and not at the younger. I suspected Calcium deficiency, so I went ahead with a foilar spray and calcium purchase. Pac Chois grow the absolute best in my system, but the Rubicon Chinese Cabbages are complete insanity when it comes to necrosis at all leaf margins. They grew so flipping fast though.
Just wish I knew why my older leaves have this necrosis and not the younger. It causes a lot of my lettuces to deform and fold. My coastal star romaine and butterheads have this happen badly, but the butterheads will often have this happen to both new and old, but not always. Some butterheads look great and happy, while the next one down the irrigation line will be all necrotic, in and out. So confusing. Hoping this CalOx from Biosafe Systems wasn’t a waste of $.
Great video. I would love to see a more in depth video of the nutrient cycles
thank you.
Nice info.
it would be a better example if the were autoflowers
Smart you are!
Great video. This is the video I saw so far that discuss in detail what the deficiencies are and what they look like. I just realize I have most of the deficiencies mentioned here in my latest harvest.
I have a question. Is thickening of the leaves a sign of a deficiency? I found that my latest aragula feel thicker or tougher to touch than normal.
Four month old, outdoor grown cannabis
WHOA. There’s a big ‘ol bug crawling on your bin to the left at 18:23 to 19:18. I thought it was crawling on my computer screen and it freaked me out haha. Regardless–very informative & useful video!
This Dude was my TA. Dweeb.
You should mention that nutrient deficiencies are not always a lack-of/over-abundance of said nutrient!
Usually the problem is improper ph, or over/under watering. Which will damage your roots, disabling their ability to absorb the proper nutrients you already have in your soil/grow-medium
How often can I foliar spray for mag def it’s severe
Wow! Incredible knowledge resource…he is! Keep up the good work!
Where do you find that grow fence?
Much Respect to you Sir Walter and such as yourself…the kind of information that you are sharing is so precious and much much appreciated. Your explanations are enlightening and very relevant and practical, to this newbie in this gardening thing, you have just answered so many questions wrt to calcium deficiencies etc. May you be blessed as you are sharing knowledge of life sustainability, at no cost but with optimum results. thank you enormously
Great video https://youtube.com/@WELCOMETOTHE420TENT?si=96J7Dx86lN7sdowy
Thanks for an informative video!
My maximum plant leaves are look like burning but they have warm underneath the leaves 😢
Gardening
they all had a lot defects at once, so that I could no longer distinguish, and if i fertilize to help, i over-fertilize immediately, I’m too stupid for that 🙁
does deficiency cause an excessively wobbly head?
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Stop talking and start showing actual examples
Thank you.
Awsome video I teach how to notice deficiencies also on my channel ❤️💯👍
Wow, I learned so much from this video about what I have questioned for so long! Thank you very much for sharing quite useful information!! 😊😊
Thank you! Very good information.
What a FANTASTIC video!!! I’m a seasoned gardener but I learned A LOT!! Thank you SO much for sharing your extensive knowledge.
You just a smart arse mate… "if you were paying attention" & "the surposed " dick.
My cherry tomatoe pods leaves are turning inwards (curling) I’ve changed the water but not sure what to do next 🙁
I’ve seen alot of comments stating that images should have been added. Though that would have been a plus I understood everything. I believe this video was for persons who already have some basic understanding of how the deficiency looks and just wanted to match them to the specific nutrient.
Being a college student, I get overwhelmed with slideshow so the talking was refreshing to me. Creator, please ignore the negative comments.
I have a problem with sprinkled narcosis across my leaves and a few crispy edges. I don’t think it’s a lack of calcium, maybe a lil of potassium based on the symptoms you listed bc it’s mainly on the older leaves but you didn’t mention too much about (sprinkled/ blotchy) narcosis throughout the leaf
Our baby plants look withered & some leaves look eaten or broken. Husband thinks the dogs eat at it but I honestly don’t think they did. This is his 3rd grow & writes nothing down.
What does brown spots mean on new growth, great video 💚