If you’ve noticed the leaf tips on your plants curling, or turning yellow, tan, gold or brown, it’s likely to be the first stages of nutrient burn.
Nutrient burn most commonly occurs when plants are fed excessive levels of nutrients. Reiziger nutrients can help increase plant growth and yields because these nutrients are easily absorbed by the plant roots. This means that the plant doesn’t have to work to get the nutrients, and it’s possible that it may take in more nutrients than it can use if the levels are too high.
Don’t panic though, it’s not all bad news. Some growers say that a little nutrient burn is a good thing, because it means the plant is getting the highest level of nutrients it can use.
Many growers make the mistake of thinking that nutrients are simply plant ‘food’, and that more food equals more energy, and bigger yields. Instead, think of nutrients like a multivitamin for your plant. You can’t give your plants 10 times the regular dose of nutrients and gain positive results.
Controlling nutrient levels can be frustrating because different plant strains will tolerate different nutrient levels. Two plants can be given the exact same nutrient doses, and one may get nutrient burn while the other plant is actually deficient. This is because different plants absorb nutrients at different rates.
For growers without an EC meter to measure nutrient levels in the water, we recommend starting plants with a smaller nutrient dose and then working up to higher nutrient levels. If lower leaves start to yellow too quickly, this indicates a nitrogen deficiency. However, it’s important to maintain increasing nutrient levels slowly. Losing a few lower leaves from a minor nutrient deficiency is far better than a nutrient burn that can affect the whole plant.
Now, let’s discuss how to remedy these nutrient burns. For hand-watered systems, such as soil or coco coir, flush your system with plain, pH’ed water at the first signs of nutrient burn. If you are not adding extra nutrients, simply wait until the plant uses up excess nutrients. When the nutes have been absorbed, the plant will naturally recover from the burn. Old leaves won’t recover, but new leaves should no longer get brown or burnt tips.
For hydro systems, reduce the nutrient levels in your water reservoir by either adding plain pH’ed water to dilute the water, or mixing up a new set of nutrients (at lower levels) and completely changing the water. Avoid making big changes too fast. It’s best to go relatively slowly in hydro systems. Once you change the water and lower nutrient levels to an appropriate level, the nutrient burn should stop spreading immediately. Old leaves won’t recover, but neither will they get worse.
For more help or information about our products, contact us on 1800 Reiziger.
