Zinc Related

[keysareme]

Hi.

I have two sources of vermicompost, from my own worm tower, and also from a friends worm bin. One plant was filled with the compost I made, the second with the compost my friend made. The third plant I mixed the two composts. The fourth plant received no top dressing of any compost.

All three of the plants with the compost are now hit with zinc deficiency. The fourth plant is

My compost had been building and cooking 7 months, not sure the pH or its overall nutrient density/contents. I think the composts are causing the Zinc def. Mainly just based on that the three plants with compost are showing this, and the fourth is not.

It is for sure zinc, I have confirmed it from images and documented resources. I put a good flush of filtered water through the three plants, and will see if the extra water helps. The water did return yellowish/gold, and when I put the water in it was clear. From what I see, it extracted something out of the medium.

What I see as a good choice is to observe how the plants respond, and if improvements occur, continue to give them extra water until we are healthy. If not much improvements, remove the top dressings of the vermicompost, and continue to water.

Do you have an experience to share about top dressing a plant with compost and causing a deficiency?

 

[AllenHaze]

We need some pictures. They will help us help you much easier.

 

[keysareme]

We need some pictures. They will help us help you much easier.

In reason, your most often correct. In reality, its Zinc deficiency, confirmed by multiple documented images on various sites/information pages.

People should be able to provide a thoughtful and valuable response to this. It is quite a simple inquiry.

 

[AllenHaze]

You presented mostly rhetoric so any kind of thoughtful or "valuable" response is going to be limited. This mysterious yellow runoff with flushing is not that uncommon. On another note, an excess of P or Cu can antagonize the uptake of Zinc. Best wishes

 

[keysareme]

You presented mostly rhetoric so any kind of thoughtful or "valuable" response is going to be limited. This mysterious yellow runoff with flushing is not that uncommon. On another note, an excess of P or Cu can antagonize the uptake of Zinc. Best wishes

It's the compost. Flooding with water is helping move it all along.

 

[Dr. Who]

1: Why would you flush for a def. Your only removing more nutrition! You need to add something more likely.
2: I'll bet the farm it's NOT a zinc def. Micro nute problems especially in soils are very, very rare! Zinc def can appear like 3 other problems that are way easier to have!

So then, with that said. It would be best if you add some pics and include the whole plant in one.

A few questions too.
What is the base soil?
Did you plant in only compost?
What is in the compost you made? List everything.
What are you feeding or is it only top dressed with the compost.
What was the soil base for plant 4?
What is your water source?

 

[keysareme]

1: Why would you flush for a def. Your only removing more nutrition! You need to add something more likely.
2: I'll bet the farm it's NOT a zinc def. Micro nute problems especially in soils are very, very rare! Zinc def can appear like 3 other problems that are way easier to have!

So then, with that said. It would be best if you add some pics and include the whole plant in one.

A few questions too.
What is the base soil? - Coco Connoisseur
Did you plant in only compost? - No
What is in the compost you made? List everything. - Avocado Skins, Bell Pepper Hearts/Seeds, Broccoli Stalks, Kale Ribs, Leaves from Broccoli/Kale/Spinach/Lettuce Plants that had been nibbled on, Onion Skins, Kiwi Skins (before I started eating them), the Green Leaves from atop Strawberries, Leaves from Celery Stalks, Carrots. All the organic material that I did not consume while preparing food went into the worm composter.
What are you feeding or is it only top dressed with the compost. - I used General Organics BioThrive, for one or two waterings/feedings during veg, mainly for the molybdenum and Zinc it has in addition. All other feedings have been Nectar For the Gods from Harvest Mood Organics in Oregon. I use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar for my pH down, and fed the plants Organic Coconut Sugar Water a few times.
What was the soil base for plant 4? - Same, Coco Connoisseur
What is your water source? - Most of the waterings were Brita Filtered Tap, a good amount earlier on were Reverse Osmosis, and now it's either RO or A New Tap Filter that removes Chlorine/Chloramine and leaves Calcium and Magnesium in the water accessible. I noticed an improvement when using the new Tap Filter, Aquasauna