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Old 08-01-2009, 10:54 PM   #9 (permalink)
adrift
 
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Default Re: Epsom Salt--Yay or Nay?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simply Bananas View Post
Not sure if there is a Mg. def, how would I know?
Symptoms are yellowing between veins beginning on the older leaves at the tips, then edges, then moving in towards the petiole, getting worse and worse moving to the younger leaves as the deficiency progresses. (Note: It is a bright yellow.) The yellow parts start to sunburn, turning brown then papery / dry.

It is more common on sandy, well flushed soils (like here in Florida) than on soils that don't rinse out so fast. Besides the non-native palms, we toss Mg on the gardenias and a few other plants. I believe there is some sort of competition between Mg and K, so the high potassium ferts we use on the bananas could cause or contribute to a Mg deficiency.

I think -- but I'm not positive -- that the yellowing is permanent, unlike, say nitrogen deficiency which is reversable. If a leaf forms without enough Mg, or it gives up its Mg to a newer leaf, it stays that way. You can only stop the progression to the new leaves.

Come to Lakeland or Winter Haven, FL and look at the Canary Island Dates that the city / county paid multiple $K for in the road medians for a textbook example of Mg deficiency.
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