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Benefits of Using Iron Chelates

Thursday, September 7, 2023 | Troy Buechel

It is not uncommon for growers to experience iron deficiency in crops that prefer lower growing media pH, such as bacopa, calibrachoa, diascia, dianthus, nemesia, pansy, petunia, scaevola, snapdragon, verbena or vinca.

Typical symptoms include interveinal chlorosis of the new leaves (yellow leaves with green veins). These symptoms can also be caused by other cultural problems, micronutrient deficiencies, root diseases, excessive watering, etc. The best way to be sure is to examine the crop for root disease. If the root system is healthy, then send in media and tissue samples for laboratory analysis to confirm the source.

Correcting Iron Deficiency

If iron deficiency is confirmed, there are two possible causes.

1. The growing medium pH is too high (above 6.2). Correct the growing medium pH by injecting acid and/or switch to a higher potential acidity fertilizer. 
2. Iron application is insufficient. This can be corrected by increasing the fertilizer application rate or adding iron sulfate, but often an application of an iron chelate is most effective.

Iron Chelate Forms

Why use a chelated form of iron? As the pH of the growing medium rises above 6.2, iron becomes less available to the plant even though it is still present. Chelates are electrically charged, organic molecules that hold the iron, but release the iron to the plant even if the growing medium pH is high.  Not all chelates work the same. According to the publication, “Understanding pH Management for Container Grown Plants” by William Argo and Paul Fischer, the best chelate for release of iron over the highest pH limit is iron-EDDHA. Here is a comparison:

Applying Iron Chelates

Regardless of whether you use the DTPA or EDDHA, add 5 ounces of either product to each gallon of fertilizer concentrate and inject at a ratio of 1:100. This will apply 37.5 ppm iron and 45 ppm iron, respectively. Use the following tips for iron chelates:

• Apply when the media is dry to maximize absorption of the product. 
• Apply in the morning and then rinse the foliage to prevent staining or burning the foliage. 
• Do not apply to geraniums, New Guinea impatiens, marigolds, pentas, lisianthus or other high-iron sensitive crops.
• One Fe-EDDHA application is effective for one month, depending on growing medium pH and leaching. 
• One Fe-DTPA application does not last as long as Fe-EDDHA, so it may need to be applied more frequently. Fe-DTPA application rates may need to be higher to obtain the same results.
• Store the product and mixed solutions in the dark as sunlight will degrade the chelate.
• If pH of the growing medium is high, apply potentially acidic fertilizers or use acid injection.

Remember, iron chelates are best applied as drenches and work well to correct iron deficiency problems. For help managing growing media pH and nutrition for your crops grown in PRO-MIX®, please feel free to contact your Premier Tech Grower Services Representative:

Ed Bloodnick Horticulture Director South Eastern US, Japan and Overseas	Nathan Wallace-Springer Horticulture Specialist South Eastern US	Lance Lawson Horticulture Specialist Western US and Western Canada	Victor Brantly Horticulture Specialist Central US
Troy Buechel Horticulture Specialist Eastern and North Eastern US	Susan Parent Horticulture Specialist Eastern Canada and North Eastern US	Jose Chen Lopez Horticulture Specialist Mexico and South Western US