Nutrient Deficiency Checker

Answer two questions about where and how the problem shows up. We’ll narrow it to the most likely nutrient — clearly labeled likely, not certain.

The only certain answer is a soil test. Your state Extension office does them cheap, and it tells you exactly what’s low. This tool just narrows the suspects.
How it’s figured

Plants move some nutrients from old leaves to new growth (mobile nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium), so deficiencies of those show up on older leaves first. Immobile nutrients (iron, calcium) can’t move, so their symptoms start on new growth. The pattern mapping follows standard plant-physiology references — but symptoms overlap, pH can lock nutrients out of even good soil, and overwatering mimics several deficiencies. So this narrows the suspects; a soil test confirms.