Salt injury/toxicity

hasshoes · June 8, 2007

If you look at the third sticky in this forum, the third link, and #18 (amonioum toxicity. . . salt injury) that is EXACTLY what some of my plants look like. . .

I did add epsom salt, but just a little and it's mixed way down. . . . though on one of the plants I just stuck in three days ago so there's no way it's getting to the salt down below. . .

I've read that too much fertilizer can do this? I mixed tomatotone into the soil sparingly, and sprinkled a handful on top of my straw. . . we had torrential downpours for days here. . . so probably it washed all the fertilizer off the straw into the plants!

I have many back-up plants. . . should turn over the soil and stick these in instead or is there away I can get read of the salt toxicity?

I swear I'm not being a hypochondriac this time. . . it really is exactly what my plants look like. . .

Thanks (and sigh). . . the rest of my maters are just "going in the ground" as obviously I do more harm than good!

Suze · June 8, 2007

A lot of conditions can make plants look like the picture you're referring to. That's a small picture, and about all I can make out in it is a bit of droopiness.

Also, I think tomatotone is an organic (or mostly organic) fertilizer, which means it would have to be activated/broken down by soil microorganisms to "feed" the soil. At least that's my understanding of the product; I don't use it. So I doubt that's the problem.

Heavy/extended rains can be hard on plants, especially ones that just got planted out.

hasshoes · June 8, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suze

Heavy/extended rains can be hard on plants, especially ones that just got planted out.

Well this is some good news, Suze! But why don't all the plants look that way?

I'm worried that I may have spilled some/or used too much epsom salt on them. . . could that do this?

I took a pic but it's so bright you can't see much. . . will try again later. . . think "super droop" !!!

ps- I checked for bugs or funky leaves and there are none. . .

Suze · June 8, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by hasshoes

But why don't all the plants look that way?

No two plants are the same, and as such can respond a bit differently to environmental conditions, stresses, diseases, etc. Also, soil could be heavier, lighter, lower, etc. in different areas of your garden, which would cause some plants to become more or less waterlogged.

That is, *if* too much water is the problem.

Hard to say about the epsom salts without knowing how much you added.

June 8, 2007	#1
hasshoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MT Posts: 438	Salt or ammonium injury/toxicity If you look at the third sticky in this forum, the third link, and #18 (amonioum toxicity. . . salt injury) that is EXACTLY what some of my plants look like. . . I did add epsom salt, but just a little and it's mixed way down. . . . though on one of the plants I just stuck in three days ago so there's no way it's getting to the salt down below. . . I've read that too much fertilizer can do this? I mixed tomatotone into the soil sparingly, and sprinkled a handful on top of my straw. . . we had torrential downpours for days here. . . so probably it washed all the fertilizer off the straw into the plants! I have many back-up plants. . . should turn over the soil and stick these in instead or is there away I can get read of the salt toxicity? I swear I'm not being a hypochondriac this time. . . it really is exactly what my plants look like. . . Thanks (and sigh). . . the rest of my maters are just "going in the ground" as obviously I do more harm than good! Last edited by hasshoes; June 8, 2007 at 11:09 AM.

June 8, 2007	#2
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	A lot of conditions can make plants look like the picture you're referring to. That's a small picture, and about all I can make out in it is a bit of droopiness. Also, I think tomatotone is an organic (or mostly organic) fertilizer, which means it would have to be activated/broken down by soil microorganisms to "feed" the soil. At least that's my understanding of the product; I don't use it. So I doubt that's the problem. Heavy/extended rains can be hard on plants, especially ones that just got planted out.