Dandaweedman

Sulphur Deficiency
Sulphur is one of the molecular building blocks for a number of proteins, hormones and vitamins, such as vitamin B1.
It appears in many important plant tissues, such as in seeds and in cellular moisture.
In the form of sulphate, sulphur fulfils an important role in the water equilibrium in the plant, as well as in the soil.

In the plant, sulphur is bound with proteins and into organic structures.
This makes it difficult for the plant to transport it to its younger tissues when a shortage occurs.
It would be expected that the earliest symptoms would first appear as a light green colouring in the young leaves.
However, in practice, we’ve repeatedly noticed that the symptoms were the most obvious in the older leaves.

Progression of symptoms:

• Strongly resembles a nitrogen deficiency; light green coloration in one or more large/older leaves.
• Strong purple coloration in the leaf stems (due to the production of anthocyan pigment).
• More leaves change colour, and the light green colour changes in places to deep yellow.
• When the shortage is extreme, the plant has lots of deep yellow leaves with purple stalks and leaf stems.
Additionally, growth and flowering are inhibited.

In potting soil, a sulphur deficiency can occur, just like a phosphorous deficiency when the pH is too high, or too much calcium is present.
As with phosphate, it is easier for the plant to take up sulphate at a lower pH level.
Check the pH of the medium, and lower it if necessary with sulphur, saltpetre, phosphor , commercial Ph down products or citric acid.

When there is a deficiency, the best thing to do is add Sulphur with the use of Epsom salts.

A sulphur deficiency is very rare in crops growing outdoors. Almost all ground- and surface water contains sulphate.

Higher concentrations of sulphur are not specifically harmful to cannabis.
But since they can increase the salt content of the water, they still adversely affect plant growth if the EC level goes beyond allowable limits.
In general, the plant takes up little sulphate from the soil moisture, so sulphur can accumulate there.
An excess of sulphate looks like salt damage; restricted growth and a dark coloured crop.
With higher concentrations (high EC), extra rinsing will be necessary.

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