Nitrogen Deficiency

Nitrogen is an essential element that plants require to produce chlorophyll. This is absolutely necessary for the plant to photosynthesise. Nitrogen is also part of what constructs the amino acids which are the proteins from which the plants are formed.

If your plant is lacking in nitrogen from its nutrients there are a few potential symptoms although these are similar to what soil disease or stagnant water can cause.

The symptoms to look out for are...

• Older leaves becoming yellow/green from the inside out
  
• Yellowing spreading towards the leaf base and veins as it progresses
  
• Leaves begin to fall off
  
• Purple stems
  

The reason the leaves begin to turn yellow is that without sufficient nitrogen the plant cannot produce enough chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll is what gives the leaves their green colour and is absolutely crucial and essential for the plant to absorb sufficient light. Through the process of photosynthesis this light is converted into glucose which is what provides the energy.

So if the leaves begin to turn yellow then the plant will begin to lack energy.

• Not enough nitrogen in the substrate or soil
  
• Too much zinc, manganese or potassium in the substrate or soil
  
• Too much chloride in the soil
  
• Too high a pH level
  
• Not enough nitrogen in the feed (as it is easily washed away with water)
  

Good nutrients to help prevent a nitrogen deficiency include Alga Grow and Terra Grow from Plagron

Other important areas of importance are a suitable temperature, acidity, moisture levels and light intensity. 

Plants will not usually suffer from this rapidly.

Fertilise with a product that has a high content of nitrogen such as Terra Growwhich is an NPK fertisliser that contains a total of 2.6% nitrogen.