Hi, about a month ago I posted that my lime tree had it's leaves turning yellow. I'm ashamed to say that I have confused Magnesium and Manganese deficiencies, and have been using Epsom salt to correct what I believe is a Manganese deficiency. Needless to say, my tree hasn't gotten any better. Can someone please tell me what to do about a Manganese deficiency?

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Manganese is available @ most all garden centers- you can get it at lowes or home depot , comes in a small 5# bag.

Manganese is an essential trace element for plants and just about anything else that is alive, palm trees especially. A good quality fertilizer should have a trace element package in it therefore no need to add any extra.

There are other folks here on this forum that are chemical wizzards and can chime in and tell you more than me but if not , this should get you started.

23% TOTAL NITROGEN (N)
11,9% Nitrate nitrogen
11,1% Ammonical nitrogen
6% PHOSPHORUS PENTOXIDE (P2O5)
Soluble in neutral ammonium citrate and in
water, 6% water-soluble
10% POTASSIUM OXIDE (K2O)
10% Water-soluble
2,7% Magnesium oxide (MgO)
9% Sulphur trioxide (SO3)
0,01% Boron (B)
0,01% Copper (Cu) chelated by EDTA
0,06% Iron (Fe) chelated by EDTA
0,04% Manganese (Mn) chelated by EDTA
0,001% Molybdenum (Mo)
0,01% Zinc (Zn) chelated by EDTA

this is the formula of the Universol 4:1:2 formula , and still I have a Four seaon citrus with same simptoms.

Why? Manganese deficiency? The fertilizer and epsom salt are added to the water provided to the trees

Thanks Fred, I'll keep looking. My local Home Depot did not have Manganese, but I did find a fertilizer which included .0125% Manganese. I don't know if that's enough to do any good, but I'll give it a try. I don't know where the nearest Lowes is, but I'll check that out too.

Danero, the Epsom salt didn't have any affect in this case because Epsom salt is Magnesium, not Manganese. I wasn't paying attention when I started treating my tree, I was think Manganese, but I was applying Magnesium. I'm hoping to find the Manganese I need soon, it's really a nice tree and I want it to prosper.

Danero, try to find a fertilizer where the ingredients are not oxides. Oxides are not very water soluble. Normally, magnesium is always supplied in the sulfate forum (MgSO4), and potassium is normally supplied in the sulfate or nitrate forum, which are both soluble. (Millet (842-)

Ok Millet but do you mean that Peter's(Jack's) fertilizer aren't too good or the oxide in it not good?

lotusblos , no harm has been made by the epsom salt

Fred, Lowe's and Home Depot do not carry Manganese in my area. I drove all over the place yesterday (OSH, ACE, and three different nurseries), but couldn't find anything with more than .0125% Manganese. I'd like to know if this amount will be enough to help the tree, or should I keep looking for a more concentrated fertilizer? I'm afraid that using these fertilizers will overdose the tree with the more prevalent elements in the fertilizer.

I've spent a good deal of time online looking for Manganese and found only one company that has a product for Manganese deficiency, and they recommend using it on trees with a three inch diameter or larger. My tree is small, about 1/2 inch diameter. Does anyone know where I can mail order Manganese?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_71894-31102-150091_0__?newSearch=true&catalogId=10051&productId=3083685&Ntt=manganese&N=0&langId=-1&y=5&x=20&storeId=10151&ddkey=http:SearchCatalog

Thanks Fred, this link should help. My zip is 95330 and all five closest Lowe's do not carry it. I'll be checking a little farther out. Thanks again.

If you have any nice privately owned garden centers near by , they should have it-- i am not sure but even a tractor supply might also

Fred, you wouldn't believe the number of places I've called and visited. I reached a master gardener at Lowe's, gave her the stock number of the bag of manganese sulfate listed on Lowe's web site. She looked it up and said it was unavailable. She said she thought it might be illegal here. Today I contacted the University of California master gardeners office and had a great conversation with one of the master gardeners. He couldn't help me with locating manganese and he sounded as if manganese deficiencies were rare out here. He's going to do some research for me. Hopefully he'll find some answers. I'll let you know if anyone comes up with anything. Thanks for your help and interest.

Do you have a Petsmart around? They usually have manganese supplement that people use for their aquarium plants. You can also order online from drsfostersmith.com, I order stuff for my fish tank from them.

Henry.

Thanks Henry, I was able to locate a mail order house that had the Manganese Fred listed. The shipping cost more than the manganese. I've been treating the tree for at least a month and the leaves are slowly turning green again.

Mr. Texas, I also use STEM, and like you, I also had to purchase it in a 25-lb. bag. As you say, 25-lbs. of STEM is a lifetime supply. I purchased my bag several years ago, and I still have probably 24-lbs. left. STEM works extremely well - great product. - Millet (791-)