CALCIUM:
There is a lightening of the newest leaves at the margins. The leaf tips can "hook" and the margins may cup upwards. Leaves may become red and the tips will eventually blacken and die. The side shoots or branches may become floppy or take on an uncharacteristic weeping habit. More severely affected are the roots. Root growth is reduced and stunted Root diseases is also a possibility.
Calcium is critical for cell division. It is a component of the cell walls.

IRON:
Iron deficiencies are quite common in our lime rich soils, therefore the term ?lime induced chlorosis'. This deficiency is conspicuous by the yellowing of the leaves (chlorosis), stunted growth small fruit and flowers.
Applications of iron can help. For Iron chlorosis in plants use Iron Chelates.
There have been successes when using sulphate of iron by placing the fertiliser under individual drippers where there is a drip irrigation system in place.

MAGNESIUM:
Symptoms occur mainly in fully matured leaves. Inter-veinal yellowing (giving a mottled look) eventually leading to dead or necrotic tissue. These areas expand until the whole leaf dies.
At the centre of each chlorophyll molecule there is a Magnesium atom. Without Magnesium the leaves would not be green. Magnesium is essential for photosynthesis.

SULPHUR:
Overall lightening of the young leaves. The leaf size may be smaller than usual with their edges rolled downwards.
All plant proteins contain Sulphur. Proteins contain amino acids of which Sulphur is a part

MINERAL FOODS

There are many chemical elements needed to keep plant growth healthy and alive. Trace elements such as:- Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Cobalt, Boron and Molybdenum are required only in minute measure. Of all the necessary nutritive materials, Nitrogen is of the first importance. Nitrogen can be supplied to the soil by Sulphate of Ammonia, Blood and Bone and many mixed mineral fertilisers.
NITROGEN is concerned with plant growth and the effects of Nitrogen deficiency are very noticeable. The plants develop a stunted, starved appearance and the green parts become yellow or reddish green.
PHOSPHATE promotes root growth, without it roots do not develop properly and the leaves and stems will become stunted. Phosphate also plays a part in the ripening of seeds.
POTASH is concerned with the capacity of leaves to manufacture plant sugars. A deficiency of potash interferes with plant health. Unhealthy plants are always more likely to become diseased than healthy ones.
Neither Potash or Nitrogen has full beneficial effect without a sufficiency of the other.
Never play around with fertilisers unless you are sure you know what you are doing!
Take a plant specimen in a plastic bag to your Plant Nursery Consultant for a correct diagnosis of your problem.
SULPHATE OF POTASH (also called Potassium Sulphate) is a rich source of potassium, a major plant nutrient that motivates flowering and fruiting and also improves disease resistance in plants.
Late summer would have to be one of the worst high-risk times of the year for fungal problems. More diseases flourish when the weather's warm and humid, so this is a particularly beneficial time for treating plants with Sulphate of Potash at this time of year.
Sulphate of Potash can be applied in two ways:-
either by sprinkling ten grams of dry powder over each square metre of garden bed (must be watered well into the soil),
or by dissolving twenty grams of the powder into nine litres of water in a watering can and applying over two square metres.
This should be repeated every four weeks during the growing season (usually spring, summer and autumn). Apply product as close as possible to plants so that the nutrient liquid will travel into their root systems.