Generally, young leaves Initially, in a plant that has with an IRON COPPER DEFICIENCY, NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY DEFICIENCY, develop the young and maturing interveinal chlorosis, from leaves appear stunted. In SYMPTOMS OF GERANIUM the base, but in some some species a tinge of species from the tip. Over bluish-green appears, Dharma Pitchay, Jonathan Frantz, James Locke, Charles Krause time, interveinal chlorosis especially over the veins. intensifies and the pattern This is followed by This guide is designed to assist growers in diagnosing nutrient becomes less interveinal. impaired flower deficiencies during geranium production. For more information, Even the stems appear development that includes contact your state extension office or the organizations listed in chlorotic. At this point, the reduced size, premature this guide. chlorotic symptoms are abscission, or abortion. irreversible even if Sudden death of tissue, correctional measures are with symptoms similar to taken. Eventually, yellow gives way to white. The bioavailability of localized tissue dehydration, develops on recently mature leaves Fe is pH dependent; the lower the pH, the higher the solubility and as a result of poor xylem tissue development. Chlorosis is hence the availability of iron to plants. generally not a distinguishing feature. Substrate with high pH or alkaline water may contribute to Cu deficiency. Symptoms The young and recently appear initially at the base of the leaf and spread toward the matured leaves develop margins. chlorosis followed by stippling of necrosis on recently matured leaves. Drastic reduction of shoot USDA-ARS and root growth is Greenhouse Production common. Flowering is Research Group strongly inhibited. 2801 W. Bancroft MS 604 Environmental factors such Toledo, OH 43606 as sunny summer months, greenhouses built close to traffic areas and ozonated BORON DEFICIENCY water used in irrigation / University of Toledo disorders develop on the fertigation may contribute to MANGANESE DEFICIENCY. Office of Research shoot and root meristem,

Toledo, OH 43606 and on young leaves. The Young and recently symptoms develop on the matured leaves develop roots 3 to 4 days earlier puckering, veinal chlorosis, MSUE – Southeast Region than the shoot. Overall, the and necrosis. Some plants 28115 Meadowbrook Rd roots are thick and short may develop purple Novi, MI 48377 while primary roots pigmentation. Shoot and develop thick swollen root root growth is reduced. A tips with numerous short

high level of P in the secondary roots developing close to the tip giving a “witch’s OSU Extension ABE Center substrate induces ZINC broom” symptom. Meanwhile, foliage becomes darker and glossy. Floriculture Program Manager DEFICIENCY. Zinc Young and recently matured leaves become thick, leathery and 440 E. Poe Rd. Suite 201 availability is reduced by Bowling Green, OH 43402 brittle with severe distortions. Loss of apical dominance is a high pH and bicarbonates common symptom in the root and shoots. At this point, it is too - (HCO3 ). late to take any correctional measures.

NITROGEN DEFICIENCY Unlike other nutrients, a slows down the growth CALCIUM DEFICIENCY and development of generally affects the plants. The plants appear growing points and young stunted with light green leaves of the plants. The lower leaves, while the young leaves are often upper leaves remain twisted or wrinkled. The green. With prolonged N growth is reduced with deficiency, yellowing tiny black spots appearing (chlorosis) of older or around the mid-leaf area lower leaves occurs. This of young leaves and on is followed by leaf tip the tips of very young death and leaf margins leaves. In some cases, developing a brown these black spots appear discoloration (necrosis). In some instances the leaves fall off. The Initially, plants appear darker green with reduced growth on the growing points. Abortion of flowers or flower buds is plant stems become woody. affecting the leaf size and stem thickness. As the PHOSPHOROUS common if calcium is unavailable during flowering. During DEFICIENCY continues, the older, lower leaves develop irregular fruiting, lack of calcium can result in fruit cracking, water soaked Normally, MAGNESIUM spots of brown to dark brown dead tissue. In some plants, tissues or blossom end rot (tomato). DEFICIENCY symptoms reddish to purple pigmentation may appear on the under or appear in lower, older upper surface of leaf margins, lower leaves, and stems. leaves with chlorosis of Eventually, leaf death of older leaves may occur. In most cases, greenish yellow to lack of phosphorus delays flowering in plants.

yellowish green developing along the leaf margins and NEW LEAF OLD LEAF tips, which progresses MIN AVERAGE MAX MIN AVERAGE MAX inward between the leaf * veins. As the deficiency N (%) 3.29 4.05 4.8 3.29 4.05 4.8 prolongs, necrosis P (%)** 0.66 0.77 0.93 0.40 0.52 0.62 develops between the K (%) 3.58 4.07 4.93 3.88 4.31 5.26 veins and the leaves curl Ca (%) 0.93 1.21 1.48 2.54 3.19 3.84 downwards. Eventually, leaf and plant death may occur if the magnesium deficiency Mg (%) 0.31 0.36 0.41 0.42 0.52 0.65 continues. S (%) 0.24 0.27 0.32 0.19 0.24 0.28

Initially, uniform chlorosis Fe mg/kg 78.5 94.8 120.2 84.3 120.5 169.5 of light greenish yellow Mn mg/kg 61.6 107.5 171.2 155.4 183.3 230.8 pigmentation develops anywhere between the Cu mg/kg 6.0 8.0 11.4 4.4 5.4 7.6 young and mature leaves, Zn mg/kg 21.7 31.9 47.7 18.4 24.5 41.0 but rarely on lower, older The leaves of plants with a POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY are small and B mg/kg 29.8 39.7 52.7 54.9 90.1 151.9 leaves. As the symptoms dark green. The plants have short internodes resulting in compact Mo mg/kg ND 4.5 10.6 ND 1.0 6.0 of SULFUR DEFICIENCY plant appearance. These symptoms are followed by a sudden advance, uniform Ni mg/kg ND 0.9 2.0 ND 1.2 2.3 development of irregular necrotic tissues along the leaf margins chlorosis spreads to the and tips of lower, older leaves and eventually covering whole rest of the leaf area. * Nitrogen data taken from Mills, H.A. and J.B. Jones. 1996. Plant Analysis leaves, making the leaves appear scorched. Also, leaves curl Handbook. Micro-Macro Publishing, Inc., Athens, GA.

downwards. ** Data for all other elements obtained from Pitchay, D.S., J.M. Frantz, J.C. Locke, and C.R. Krause. 2005. Unpublished.