How to Treat Nutrient Deficiency in Plants

Your tomato plants are showing some signs of nutrient deficiency and you'd like to know how to treat the problem to keep the plants healthy so they'll bear fruit. Here's how to treat nutrient deficiency in plants so you can bring your tomato and other garden plants back to full health.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Recognize the signs of nutrient deficiency. Knowing what to be watchful of while tending your garden gives your plants a chance of getting what they need. Look for yellowing and falling leaves, waterlogged soil and stunted growth patterns.

2. Feed your plants as necessary. Be careful not to overfeed and be sure to use a fertilizer specifically designed for the type of plant.

3. Mulch with 2 to 4 inches of a good quality mulch, free from pests and disease. Mulching not only helps conserve water, it also helps keep down soil erosion and helps keep the roots moist, all of which help solve nutrient deficiency pitfalls.

4. Water your plants as necessary, especially during lack of rain so your plants can absorb nutrients from the soil properly. Dried out roots cannot pull the minerals they need from the soil and the plants will suffer from nutrient deficiency.

5. Drain the soil if it is waterlogged. Too much moisture is almost as bad as too little and it could lead to nutrient deficiency in plants.

6. Spray with a foliar fertilizer if necessary. This is great for severe cases of nutrient deficiency and should bring your plants back to health rather quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Always follow the directions on the fertilizer package to avoid burning your plants.