Dandaweedman

Magnesium is an indispensable element for plants, humans and animals.
In plants, it represents a building block for chlorophyll. Therefore, it is essential for photosynthesis.
At the same time, magnesium plays an important role in the energy transfer of the plant.

In plants, magnesium is mobile.
When there is a shortage, the leaf-green in the medium-old leaves under the flowering top will be broken up, and the magnesium will be transported into the young parts of the plant.
This breakdown is visible as rusty brown spots and/or vague, cloudy, yellow spots between the veins.
Magnesium is difficult to remove from older leaves.
Apparently, it is bound too tightly within the organic material.
A slight shortage of magnesium hardly affects flowering, although the development of the flowers makes the deficiency symptoms worse.

Magnesium shortages appear relatively more often than other deficiency diseases.
A magnesium shortage can also occur due to other causes, even when the quantity in the root environment is normal or excessive.
This happens because the magnesium uptake is inhibited by all sorts of other causes, such as
- A very wet, cold5) and/or acidic root environment.
- A high quantity of potassium, ammonia and/or calcium (for instance high concentrations of calcium carbonate in drinking water, or clay
soils rich in calcium) in comparison with the quantity of magnesium.
- A limited root system and heavy plant demands.
- A high EC in the growing medium, which hinders evaporation.

As a preventative measure apply fertilizers containing magnesium.
As a curative measure spray with Epsom salts.
Check the temperature, the humidity, the EC and the pH of the growing medium.
A fertiliser with the correct composition will contain the right quantity of magnesium.
When a shortage is diagnosed, the best thing to do is spray with a solution of
1 teaspoon epson per 1 gallon of water.
Same mixture for feeding.
(always dissolve Epsom salts in a bit of hot water before adding to the gallon.)
In soil, when the pH is too low, less than 5 use calcium fertilisers containing magnesium.
In hydro, temporarily apply a nutrient solution with a higher pH, 6.5.
When the EC is too high, rinse and/or temporarily feed with drinking water only.
When growing indoors, keep the root temperature above 19 degrees C, 20-25 F.
A little extra magnesium is not particularly harmful.
Too much magnesium inhibits the uptake of calcium, and the plant displays general symptoms of stunted growth, and dark-coloured vegetation.

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