I would like to give my jasmine and gardenia some iron supplement. I am thinking about two possible cheap alternatives instead of spending $10 to buy a soil plant iron food.
First, spending $2 in PetSmart to get an acquatic plant iron supplement. I do not know the specific form of iron in that supplement, but assume it is safe for soil plant also.
Second, using the iron for human consumption, which I have some left and costs $0. It contains vitamine C, B12, folic acid and ferrous bis-glycinate.
Does anyone have some experience/knowledge regarding using these iron on your plants? Please help.
memder, I would make quite sure that the plant was suffering from an iron deficiency; in my experience, iron deficiency shows up because the plant cannot take up the iron in the soil. I would correct the cause or use a product for foliar uptake, whichever is less expensive. My intended use must always be covered in the labelling of the product.
You're from Pa.? Then you are probably growing in containers. Are you atually seeing a chlorosis that makes you want to add iron? If not houseplant fertilizer with miro nutrients should be all you need. Also, if your soil isn't acid enough the plant can't absorb the iron. The iron that I've used in the past was "chelated" but I don't know what that means. Also, if your foliage is pale then it may just be that you need to repot. Anita
I should think an iron deficiency quite rare unless you are growing in a artificial medium i.e. not soil.
As ronalawn82 implied it is more likely an iron availability problem rather than an iron deficiency problem. One way this is corrected is with a "chelate" as suggested.
In any event I cannot imagine how iron supplements for animals like acquarium food or human vitamines would work. These might indeed work fine. I just can't visualise the chemical mechanisms
BTW, what are your symptoms. Are you seeing chlorosis? If so this could be caused by poor drainage, damaged roots, magnesium or zinc deficiencies or other things.
