Iron nutrition in bedding crops

If you grow petunia and primula crops, read our guide to identifying and avoiding common nutrient problems

The causes and symptoms of iron deficiency in petunia and primula and how to avoid it

Petunia and primula are both popular bedding species that are prone to a range of nutritional issues. Plants that don’t take up enough iron, can quickly show distinctive deficiency symptoms which can result in a poor-quality product. Numerous factors can affect iron uptake and these need to be identified to avoid and solve the problem.

On these pages you will find information to help you with this problem, including:

How to recognise the symptoms of iron deficiency in petunia and primula.
What are the common causesof iron deficiency in petunia and primula.
How to help avoid iron deficiency.
How to treat iron deficiency.

The symptoms of iron deficiency in petunia

The symptoms are:

Areas of paler green or yellow between the veins of the leaf (interveinal chlorosis).
The leaves affected are the younger leaves, while older leaves at the base of the plants stay green until the issue becomes severe.
Younger leaves may go completely white/pale yellow.
Plants can have stunted growth.

NIAB

NIAB

The symptoms of iron deficiency in primula

The symptoms are:

Areas of paler green or yellow between the veins of the leaf (interveinal chlorosis).
Chlorosis starts at the edge of the leaf and spreads towards the middle as the symptoms increase.
The leaves affected are the younger leaves, while older leaves at the base of the plants stay green until the issue becomes severe.