Magnesium deficiency

cantharis · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 03:27 PM

I thought I might post a link discussing this common ailment. All green plants produce sugars, which are used to make cellulose, lignin, and other materials, by a process called photosynthesis. Light acts on CO2 and water to produce sugar - a substance vital to this process is chlorophyll, it is chlorophyll which actually makes plants green. Each molecule of chlorophyll contains one atom of magnesium, so magnesium is a vital trace element for plant growth.
Many composts and ferts contain NO magnesium, and magnesium deficiency is a common problem; symptoms are lack of growth and yellowing of leaves (lack of green chlorophyll, OK?). I should state also that there are other causes of leaf yellowing - lack of light and nitrogen deficiency are two - but these are rarer as we routinely make sure we have enough light and give nitrogenous ferts. Pests and viruses can also have similar symptoms.
Fortunately Mg deficiency is easily remedied - about once or twice in the growing season give a little Epsom salts, magnesium sulphate MgSO4. About a teaspoonful in a gallon of water - a little goes a long way.
Epsom salts are so called as they occur naturally in the spring waters of Epsom, England.

stickynugs · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 07:48 PM

so if i go to my local grocery store and buy the carton of epsom salt....all i need to do is pour a teaspoon into a gallon of water and water my plant with it?

how often should i do this? just a one time thing? or what?

knoxis · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantharis

...about once or twice in the growing season give a little Epsom salts, magnesium sulphate MgSO4. About a teaspoonful in a gallon of water - a little goes a long way...

....? its right there...

motorheed · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 04:35 PM

nice post cantharis

just be very carefull when applying epsom salts as too much could kill your plants or have adverse effects on their growth & nutrient uptake.

& as said you should only use it once throughout your whole grow if needed at all.

just a heads up guys ,be carefull using epsoms, its very good but too much could be fatal.

all the best guys

cantharis · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 06:53 PM

Agree with motorheed - a little does go a long way.

stickynugs · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 07:53 PM

thanks all. ima try this out today. hopefullly it helps my plant grow nice. =)

SWITTMAN67@YAHO · #7 (**permalink**) 08-17-2008, 02:40 AM

I have been using epsonn salts with almost every watering for the past 2 weeks. I had yellowing of leaves, especially on the end of leaves that left the veins green to dark green. I had read to use 1/4 tsp per gal. Perhaps that has saved me.

What to do if Mgs. burn? How can I tell?

Harry Balzonya · #8 (**permalink**) 08-17-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWITTMAN67@YAHO

I have been using epsonn salts with almost every watering for the past 2 weeks. I had yellowing of leaves, especially on the end of leaves that left the veins green to dark green. I had read to use 1/4 tsp per gal. Perhaps that has saved me.

What to do if Mgs. burn? How can I tell?

Maybe to much water bro? Give more details indoor/outdoor etc. The plants really like to search for water,they do much better. Dont do anything to them for at least a week and see what happens.You might be pleasantly surprised.
Here is link that will help you maybe,but you have to read it. You prolly didnt hurt them with the Epsons though. http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/nutrients.htm

PS nice info Cantharis

Poppajon · #9 (**permalink**) 12-14-2008, 10:44 PM

may i ask if the epsom mixture should be applied as a spray

wenahaone · #10 (**permalink**) 12-29-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppajon

may i ask if the epsom mixture should be applied as a spray

it is applied as a drip which will fall from a watering device. The drip will penetrate the soil and will be taken up by the roots.

thanks, Can. I was going to make a thread about whether I'd need to add additional nutrients to my horse shit/wood chip bedding compost, which basically turns into worm shit(castings is what you call it, i believe) magnesium appears to be one of them.

great post.

sensi-star · #11 (**permalink**) 01-14-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppajon

may i ask if the epsom mixture should be applied as a spray

he means spraying it on the foliage, from what I understand you can spray it directly on the leaves, I dont know what amount you would use. I'm actually curious if anyone does know the proper ratio.

wenahaone · #12 (**permalink**) 01-14-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sensi-star

he means spraying it on the foliage, from what I understand you can spray it directly on the leaves, I dont know what amount you would use. I'm actually curious if anyone does know the proper ratio.

i remember I saw the show "titus", and the guy's brother was spraying the pot plants with a liquid. When I started smoking weed and started thinking about growing I always thought back to that and wondered if there was any reason for why he was doing that.

ha, dave.

S.F. Sage · #13 (**permalink**) 02-02-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wenahaone

i remember I saw the show "titus", and the guy's brother was spraying the pot plants with a liquid. When I started smoking weed and started thinking about growing I always thought back to that and wondered if there was any reason for why he was doing that.

ha, dave.

prolly sprayed seltzer water on em to give CO2

..jtc.. · #14 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 01:48 PM

Can magnesium deficiency be resolved by crushing magnesium supplement tablets and dissolving the powder in water?

cantharis · #15 (**permalink**) 05-10-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ..jtc..

Can magnesium deficiency be resolved by crushing magnesium supplement tablets and dissolving the powder in water?

No idea, but why mess about when Epsom salts are pennies a packet?

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#1 (permalink) 07-02-2008, 03:27 PM
cantharis Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Costa Blanca, Spain Posts: 6,491	Magnesium deficiency I thought I might post a link discussing this common ailment. All green plants produce sugars, which are used to make cellulose, lignin, and other materials, by a process called photosynthesis. Light acts on CO2 and water to produce sugar - a substance vital to this process is chlorophyll, it is chlorophyll which actually makes plants green. Each molecule of chlorophyll contains one atom of magnesium, so magnesium is a vital trace element for plant growth. Many composts and ferts contain NO magnesium, and magnesium deficiency is a common problem; symptoms are lack of growth and yellowing of leaves (lack of green chlorophyll, OK?). I should state also that there are other causes of leaf yellowing - lack of light and nitrogen deficiency are two - but these are rarer as we routinely make sure we have enough light and give nitrogenous ferts. Pests and viruses can also have similar symptoms. Fortunately Mg deficiency is easily remedied - about once or twice in the growing season give a little Epsom salts, magnesium sulphate MgSO4. About a teaspoonful in a gallon of water - a little goes a long way. Epsom salts are so called as they occur naturally in the spring waters of Epsom, England. Last edited by cantharis; 07-02-2008 at 04:09 PM.

#2 (permalink) 07-08-2008, 07:48 PM
stickynugs Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 407	so if i go to my local grocery store and buy the carton of epsom salt....all i need to do is pour a teaspoon into a gallon of water and water my plant with it? how often should i do this? just a one time thing? or what?

#4 (permalink) 07-09-2008, 04:35 PM
motorheed Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: uk Posts: 1,077	nice post cantharis just be very carefull when applying epsom salts as too much could kill your plants or have adverse effects on their growth & nutrient uptake. & as said you should only use it once throughout your whole grow if needed at all. just a heads up guys ,be carefull using epsoms, its very good but too much could be fatal. all the best guys

#5 (permalink) 07-09-2008, 06:53 PM
cantharis Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Costa Blanca, Spain Posts: 6,491	Agree with motorheed - a little does go a long way.

#6 (permalink) 07-09-2008, 07:53 PM
stickynugs Banned Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 407	thanks all. ima try this out today. hopefullly it helps my plant grow nice. =)

#7 (permalink) 08-17-2008, 02:40 AM
SWITTMAN67@YAHO whatworks Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ozarks Posts: 5	Re: Magnesium deficiency I have been using epsonn salts with almost every watering for the past 2 weeks. I had yellowing of leaves, especially on the end of leaves that left the veins green to dark green. I had read to use 1/4 tsp per gal. Perhaps that has saved me. What to do if Mgs. burn? How can I tell?

#9 (permalink) 12-14-2008, 10:44 PM
Poppajon luckydeog Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: central USA Posts: 1	Re: Magnesium deficiency may i ask if the epsom mixture should be applied as a spray

#14 (permalink) 05-10-2009, 01:48 PM
..jtc.. Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 28	Re: Magnesium deficiency Can magnesium deficiency be resolved by crushing magnesium supplement tablets and dissolving the powder in water?

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