What nutrient issue is this?

Infurnoman

Member
So the stems are turning an unhealthy purple on one of my outdoor plants.. The only plant I re used last years soil for, which I can now tell is too drained to be worth using without ammendment.

The stems are turning an unhealthy looking purple, and the plant has become much paler green, the leaves are curling down slightly like they do when overwatered.

A friend who has been growing a long time told me it looks like a Calcium issue, but when doing research online it seems like a Magnesium issue.

Either way I guess I can go buy some Calmag, but I would like to know for certain what causes this and if there is potentially a better solution?

Here are pics.Snapchat-1860100586.jpgSnapchat-1914770740.jpg
 

Infurnoman

Member
Perhaps the purple really is the strain showing colour, but I still think something is wrong, as it went so pale and droopy in the matter of a few days.

I've fed it nitrogen, although it is still yellowing lower leaves, supposing I should add more?
1594217677423523683367.jpg
 

dunphy

Well-Known Member
So the stems are turning an unhealthy purple on one of my outdoor plants.. The only plant I re used last years soil for, which I can now tell is too drained to be worth using without ammendment.

The stems are turning an unhealthy looking purple, and the plant has become much paler green, the leaves are curling down slightly like they do when overwatered.

A friend who has been growing a long time told me it looks like a Calcium issue, but when doing research online it seems like a Magnesium issue.

Either way I guess I can go buy some Calmag, but I would like to know for certain what causes this and if there is potentially a better solution?

Here are pics.View attachment 4617912View attachment 4617914
How much rain have you been getting and whats your watering schedule?

Normally it would be phosphorus, but with p def the bottom leaves would be a darker green and look a lot worse as it progresses to brown, may even look blueish. purple stem on phosphorus def usually will be on the underside of the stems too, yours seem to be the top side, I got a bunch of rain and mine were overwatered because they couldnt dry, which made them look droopy, slowed growth, and look a little pale... even though I know theyve got enough nutes in the pot to last, the extra rain and overwatering will cause other deficiencies like P... If you've already added N I would wait a little longer instead of trying X and not seeing an immediate reaction, so you try something else... If you added that N, then let them go for about a week without adding or trying to fix problems... Especially because purple stems could be genetics showing now, along with a minor N def or something, and could be mistaken for a P def..... Sorry for rambling I doubt that made any sense Not even going to proof read it...

TLDR.. give it a few days and see before adding anything else.
 

Infurnoman

Member
How much rain have you been getting and whats your watering schedule?

Normally it would be phosphorus, but with p def the bottom leaves would be a darker green and look a lot worse as it progresses to brown, may even look blueish. purple stem on phosphorus def usually will be on the underside of the stems too, yours seem to be the top side, I got a bunch of rain and mine were overwatered because they couldnt dry, which made them look droopy, slowed growth, and look a little pale... even though I know theyve got enough nutes in the pot to last, the extra rain and overwatering will cause other deficiencies like P... If you've already added N I would wait a little longer instead of trying X and not seeing an immediate reaction, so you try something else... If you added that N, then let them go for about a week without adding or trying to fix problems... Especially because purple stems could be genetics showing now, along with a minor N def or something, and could be mistaken for a P def..... Sorry for rambling I doubt that made any sense Not even going to proof read it...

TLDR.. give it a few days and see before adding anything else.
It has already been quite a while since the last feeding, and we have had a decent amount of rain and cloudy weather this week
 

dunphy

Well-Known Member
Yeah does look pale green... When did you notice it? Id still wait it out, and see if any of those bottom leaves progress into a splotchy blueish brown/bronze and get very dried out where it crumbles when you roll the leaf between your finger lightly. If that happens Id be convinced its phosphorus def. What are you feeding for nutes and have you calibrated your ph pen or are you even PHing your water? Sorry if you've answered some of these already.. But yeah id still wait it out, check if that N you added helps green things up at all. If they do get worse toward P then add accordingly.
 

Infurnoman

Member
Yeah does look pale green... When did you notice it? Id still wait it out, and see if any of those bottom leaves progress into a splotchy blueish brown/bronze and get very dried out where it crumbles when you roll the leaf between your finger lightly. If that happens Id be convinced its phosphorus def. What are you feeding for nutes and have you calibrated your ph pen or are you even PHing your water? Sorry if you've answered some of these already.. But yeah id still wait it out, check if that N you added helps green things up at all. If they do get worse toward P then add accordingly.
No I have never PHed my water before, I actually just ordered a ph pen earlier today lol!

Blood and bone meal for nutes, my other plants all look fine recieving the same dosages. I think the problem is that the plant with the issue is in soil that I re used from last year, and I have very very soft water at my location. I'm thinking it would make sense for the soil to be starting to get depleted at this point.

Snapchat-1864750978.jpg

Another plant in the same soil mix recieving the same nutes, but this soil is fresh mixed this year
 

dunphy

Well-Known Member
different plants react different, even of the same strain, keep that in mind. Generally speaking they should be similar, but I would discount anything for that reason alone.

Something Ive noticed over the years instead of chasing down problems so quickly just try one thing at a time. I wouldnt be surprised if it was just a high/low PH causing some lock out issues... Before you add anything Id check the PH of your water and runoff. Then go from there. Good luck . :leaf:
 
Top