AquaZilla

Macronutrients

Calcium (Ca)

* Symptoms: New leaves are distorted or hook shaped. The growing tip may die. Contributes to blossom end rot in tomatoes, tip burn of cabbage and brown/black heart of escarole & celery.
* Sources: Any compound containing the word 'calcium'. Also gypsum.
* Notes: Not often a deficiency problem and too much will inhibit other nutrients.

Nitrogen (N)

* Symptoms: Older leaves, generally at the bottom of the plant, will yellow. Remaining foliage is often light green. Stems may also yellow and may become spindly. Growth slows.
* Sources: Any compound containing the words: 'nitrate', 'ammonium' or 'urea'. Also manure.
* Notes: Many forms of nitrogen are water soluble and wash away.

Magnesium (Mg)

* Symptoms: Slow growth and leaves turn pale yellow, sometimes just on the outer edges. New growth may be yellow with dark spots.
* Sources: Compounds containing the word 'magnesium', such as Epson Salts.

Phosphorus (P)

* Symptoms: Small leaves that may take on a reddish-purple tint. Leaf tips can look burnt and older leaves become almost black. Reduced flowers or seed production.
* Sources: Compounds containing the words 'phosphate' or 'bone'. Also greensand.
* Notes: Very dependent on pH range.

Potassium (K)

* Symptoms: Older leaves may look scorched around the edges and/or wilted. Interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between the leaf veins) develops.
* Sources: Compounds containing the words 'potassium' or 'potash'.

Sulfur (S)

* Symptoms: New growth turns pale yellow, older growth stays green. Stunts growth.
* Sources: Compounds containing the word 'sulfate'.

Micronutrients

Boron (B)

* Symptoms: Poor stem and root growth. Terminal (end) buds may die. Witches brooms sometimes form.
* Sources: Compounds containing the words 'borax' or 'borate'.

Copper (Cu)

* Symptoms: Stunted growth. Leaves can become limp, curl, or drop. Seed stalks also become limp and bend over.
* Sources: Compounds containing the words 'copper', 'cupric' or 'cuprous'.

Manganese (Mn)

* Symptoms: Growth slows. Younger leaves turn pale yellow, often starting between veins. May develop dark or dead spots. Leaves and shoots diminished in size. Failure to bloom.
* Sources: Compounds containing the words 'manganese' or 'manganous'.

Molybdenum (Mo)

* Symptoms: Older leaves yellow, remaining foliage turns light green. Leaves can become narrow and distorted.
* Sources: Compounds containing the words 'molybdate' or 'molybdic'.
* Notes: Sometimes confused with nitrogen deficiency.

Zinc (Zn)

* Symptoms: Yellowing between veins of new growth. Terminal (end) leaves may form a rosette.
* Sources: Compounds containing the word 'zinc'.
* Notes: Can become limited in higher pH.

By:Jason C.
Penang, Malaysia

chillplants

Here's something else to consider. Plants take up nutrients through the soil based on pH. Too high or too low can also affect the nutrient intake.

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125 gal

75 gal eel tank

chillplants

I'm not 100% sure, I'll have to look into that.

edit: My Nursery Mgmt class had a lecture/discussion about this subject today, even had the same chart I posted above. High pH affects the solubility of chemicals and fertilizers in solution. Plants in tanks with a higher pH will have a harder time absorbing the nutrients. I would think that higher pH would also affect TDS since this issue relates to solubility.

__________________
125 gal

75 gal eel tank

CL

This is a super thread! I've always struggled in this area! Wow! Thanks for all the info for sure!!
It's still beats me why I can't get my red plants to go red. I've tried everything, starving of NO3, high light, more water changes, more Fe, haven't tried the chelated Fe though..

AquaZilla

Also, does this scale apply to all plants aquatic and non aquatic alike?

ukamikazu

Just a note on the P deficiency: The leaves also tend to turn purple or even bluish on the edges, I've noticed and an N deficiency can also look very similar, but without the purpling.

AquaZilla

If anybody has some good high res. photos of plant deficiencies that would be great. Feel free to post them or email them to me and we can work up the photo for you

oldpunk

i actually need help. lol, why is my anubias is doing this.

AquaZilla

Can we see the entire plant?

oldpunk

sure