The visual symptoms of some mineral deficiencies on chrysanthemums

Some observations of potassium deficiency in chrysanthemum

“…A critical level of 2.75% K in upper leaves 15 required for maximal growth and under normal cultural practices leaf concentrations of 5-7% K are common ' . Of the numerous K nutritional studies on chrysanthemum 1 ' 4 ' 9 ' 11 ' 13 ' 14 ' 15 ' 16 ' 24 in which K deficiency symptoms were described and K tissue levels measured the work has been almost exclusively performed on cutflower chrysanthemums and not on pot-grown chrysanthemums. The descriptions of deficiency symptoms caused by lack of K vary somewhat among investigators, but most of the studies report that K deficiency occurs first on the older, lower leaves and progresses up the stem as the deficiency becomes severe.…”

Visual Symptoms of Some Mineral Deficiencies on Pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum Cinerariaefolium)

“…By comparison with nutrients found optimum for decorative Chrysanthemum species in sand culture (Woltz, 1956(Woltz, , 1957, potassium was low, and calcium and phosphorus high, in the solutions used in these experiments. However, preliminary trials had indicated that best flower yield of pyrethrum resulted from the use of solutions in which the calcium concentration was twice that of potassium, and indeed Messing and Owen (1954) raised the calcium level in their solutions from 14 ppm initially to 57 ppm in later experiments.…”

“…Growth in this type of experiment depends to a large extent on the reserves in the original planting material of the element that is subsequently lacking. Messing and Owen (1954) stated that chrysanthemums did not appear to be extremely susceptible to nitrogen deficiency, and survived to maturity better than other plants, only the younger leaves being reduced in size at the first indications of deficiency. In pyrethrum all the leaves produced were small and plants completely deprived of nitrogen died.…”

“…The general effects of deficiencies on the growth and flowering of pyrethrum have not been described previously, although visual symptoms of deficiency of several mineral elements have been described for a number of varieties of decorative chrysanthemums (Hill et al, 1934;Ferguson and Wright, 1940;Laurie and Wagner, 1940;Laurie and Kiplinger, 1948;Messing and Owen, 1954). However, as Messing and Owen pointed out, the nutrient requirements and reactions to acute mineral deficiencies of different varieties of Chrysanthemum coronarium, C. indicum and C. morifolium differ considerably.…”