Presents as pale green to yellow (if severe) colouring on the leaves.

Growth is slow or stunted, a generally unthrifty appearance. A weak spray of a liquid fertiliser on the leaves is helpful, as is the addition of slow release fertilisers.

This picture shows iron deficiency, most probably induced by too alkaline a pH in the mix resulting from excess added lime.

Tell tale symptoms are unthrifty growth and inter-veinal yellowing of the leaves or with reddish coloured tints around the edges. Iron chelate can be added, but is expensive and may not help if the pH is such that the iron remains unavailable.

Ammonium sulphate can help by lowering the soil pH, allowing the iron to be taken up by the plants

Phosphorus toxicity

Phosphorus toxicity symptoms are similar, but the seedlings do not respond to the addition of iron chelate or ammonium sulphate.

Phosphorus toxicity symptoms CAN BE similar to IRON DEFICIENCY AND EVEN FROST

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Although not a nutrient deficiency, insufficient light can result in a condition known as 'etoliation', or long straggly growth as the plant searches upward for more light.

The plant is weak under these conditions and much more prone to pest and disease as a result