The Queensland Gardening Pages

Information & resources about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld

Plant nutrition and nutrient deficiencies

This subject is, of course, covered extensively on many gardening and farming sites. Here, the emphasis will be on information pertaining to Qld or to subtropical and tropical plants.

This page is mostly a collection of links about plant nutrition in general. You may find more about nutrition or nutrient deficiency symptoms of particular plant species if you go to the page on this site devoted to that group. See Plants for a list

Please note:

* Fertiliser ratios you see on international websites (notably U.S. sites) may be calculated differently from the way they are in Australia. Therefore, NPK ratios given in fertiliser recommendations may not correspond directly with those seen on local fertiliser packets.

* Like other chemicals, fertiliser use may be subject to different regulations in different regions, so check with local authorities if in doubt. And be sure to follow directions on the label!

* Additives that are mainly used to adjust soil structure, pH or microbial activity are covered here: Soils

On other pages:

Soils

Mulches

Potting Mixes

More Links

The following are for general information. Commercial products, regulations, plants and soil types, etc. vary from place to place (see notes above).

Queensland

Fertilising native plants Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland (PDF)

Australia

Fertilizer Industry Federation of Australia includes information sheets and conference papers

Potassium in Agriculture Canpotex Potassium Development program in Australia & New Zealand

Nutrient deficiency symptoms of plants Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Citrus nutrition State of New South Wales, Department of Primary Industries (descriptions of ferilisers)

Phosphorus and Iron Nutrition in Australian Native Plants Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Phosphorus Needs of Some Australian Plants Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants

Phosphorus toxicity in native and proteaceous plants Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Mycorrhizas Australian National Botanic Gardens

International

Nutrient News Good overview of the important plant nutrients. University of Missouri

Nutrients California Polytechnic State University

How to Stimulate Root Growth of Garden & Landscape Plants Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

Organic Fertilizers Work Well in Warm Weather Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona

When and How to Use Foliar Fertilizers Yard and Garden News, University of Minnesota

The Myth of Foliar Feeding Washington State University (PDF)

Mycorrhiza Information Exchange

Fertilizers for Trees and Shrubs University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA

Fertilizing Woody Ornamentals Extension Horticulture Information Resource Texas A&M University

Look for more nutrition information pertaining to particular species on the relevant plant page. See Plants for a list. More links on particular minerals below:

Nitrogen

Nitrogen Form Affects Foliage Plant Growth University of Florida, USA

Phosphorus

Potash & Phosphate Institute / Potash & Phosphate Institute of Canada North Anmerica

The Myth of Phosphate Fertilizer Washington State University (PDF)

The Myth of Phosphate, Part II Washington State University (PDF)

Potassium

Potash & Phosphate Institute / Potash & Phosphate Institute of Canada North Anmerica

Removing Potassium-deficient Leaves Accelerates Rate of Decline in Pygmy Date Palms (Phoenix roebelenii) TropicLine, University of Florida, USA

The Myth of Mineral Magic Washington State University (PDF)

Iron

Iron Chlorosis of Trees and Shrubs NebGuide from University of Nebraska, USA

Iron Chlorosis Symptoms and Solutions University of Illinois

Keep Your Plants Pumping Iron Yard and Garden News, University of Minnesota

Magnesium

Magnesium Deficiency Becoming More Common This article is about grapevines in California, but has some interesting information about magnesium deficiencies, causes and remedies

Magnesium deficiency Royal Horticultural Society, UK

Epsom Salts Washington State University (PDF)

The Myth of Mineral Magic Washington State University (PDF)

Manganese

Effect of Manganese Source on Manganese Uptake by Pygmy Date Palms (Phoenix roebelenii) TropicLine, University of Florida, USA

You could find more about the nutrition of particular plants if you go to the page devoted to that group. Lokk here: Plants.

Manufacturers and distributors of fertlisers available in Qld are invited to advertise on this page. For example: Organic fertilisers, inorganic (chemical) fertilisers, trace elements, foliar fetilisers, slow release fertilisers, soluble fertilisers. More information about advertising

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Looking for suppliers? If you can't find a suitable Qld supplier on these pages yet, the webmaster might be able to help if you get in touch. (Sorry, personal gardening advice can't be given.) For questions about products or services already advertised above, contact the business concerned.

seqgardening@calyx.com.au phone number

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