magnesium deficiency

Growing under cool white flourescents, have a good organic soil, room temp 65-72, humidity 25-30%.

I am experiencing some small brown rust spots as well as some yellowish receeding back from tips of leaves, it is the worst on the eldest leaves. I tried to remedy this by assuming it was over-fert and did a good flush, that was 2 days ago and the problem seems to be getting no worse.

I began researching deficincies and Magnessium fit in perfectly with what was going on with my plant. Late yesterday I made a 2% epson salt solution in a spray bottle and have been spraying it on my foliage. I am hoping for a second opinion on my diagnosis if anyone is farmiliar with magnessium deficiency. I also read that very hard water will often cause this, and I live in an area with very hard water. If this is the correct deficiency I plan to add Dolomite lime to my next soil mixture, how much of that would i roughley need?
Two other deficiencies i noticed may fit in with what is going on in my plant is calcuim or manganese, or of course my first theory, over-fert. but magnessium still seems much more likely

I'd say it's your PH levels. try to get a meter, or just let your water sit for a couple days before you water your plant if you aren't using nature water to water them.

I don't have a water filter, so you're saying fill up a jug of water, and let it sit for a few days before watering my plant with it? As opposed to going straight from the faucet to the soil?

yea, straight from the faucet has too much chemicals that harm your plant which is what I believe is your problem, not any deficiency....

why are we talking about water filters? use rain or snow water or let your tap water sit, buy a ph meter at a garden store. get your ph at 6.5

Vinegar lowers the ph levels.


I don't use a ph meter at all, but you will be fine once you quit poisoning your plant. let the water sit for a couple days

excellent help thank you very much.
Do you think I should mix some epson salt in the water i let sit? or do you think that magnesium is not my problem?

it's not your problem

alright, i'm going to take your advice and we'll see what happens.
last question how do i give you...
+rep

nvm i figured it out

The star next to journal post right above the reply thread on the left. I'll throw you some back

look into your environment too. I like to keep my humidity at 46%. 30 is a little on the low side. 40-60 is my standard and just like too much heat, higher levels of humidity can accelerate growth but your subject to fungus and disease.

Like taf said, your ph is your best bet. In the city I live in the sewer water spiked from 6.0 to 7.2 off the tap in november and hasnt been the same since. I dont know if the public works adds something to the sewer to prevent freezing but I sold a LOT of ph down that month.

I'm surprised you're making money of PH down, lol. there are many ways to lower PH. but yeah, the humidity would be beneficial, but risk comes, but with great risk comes great reward

I live inland Southern california, i have a humidifier up next to the plant and i still have a hard time getting it to 30% humid. I know i could get it higher with some better equiptment but I'm on a budget.

put hotwater in a bucket and let it sit around...

Hard water is "hard" because of the magnesium, calcium, iron and sulfur in the water. The main two being magnesium and calcium. So hard water won't cause mag def.

Also potassium and calcium go hand in hand. If you over fert with high K and don't give enough cal, you will have a cal def. You could lower your K or up the cal. Think of them as related. So, if you fertilized hard, you may still need more cal.

tafbang said:

yea, straight from the faucet has too much chemicals that harm your plant which is what I believe is your problem, not any deficiency....

why are we talking about water filters? use rain or snow water or let your tap water sit, buy a ph meter at a garden store. get your ph at 6.5

Vinegar lowers the ph levels.


I don't use a ph meter at all, but you will be fine once you quit poisoning your plant. let the water sit for a couple days

Click to expand...

correct me if im wrong but im pretty sure vinegar raises ph and lemon juice drops it.

They both drop the ph levels in water : )

Well I didn't get a ph checker however I repotted my plant today with no fresh unflushed soil, and watered it with drinking water(letting a gallon of water sit for a few days, will use it on next watering). Hopefully ph was the problem and this will be the solution, I'll post on this thread if I see no signs of improvement with new leaves, or if it worsens.
thanks again everybody.

How are things?