Manganese in Hydroponics and What It Does.

What Is Manganese and Why Do Plants Need It?

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient required in small amounts for healthy plant development. Its primary role is in the formation of chloroplasts, which are the structures inside plant cells where photosynthesis takes place.

Without sufficient manganese, plants may struggle to produce energy efficiently. However, manganese deficiencies are quite rare in hydroponics when the pH and nutrients are well-managed.

Manganese Deficiency Symptoms

If a deficiency does occur, symptoms resemble chlorosis (yellowing of leaves), particularly affecting younger tissue. However, in almost all cases, you’ll notice iron deficiency symptoms well before manganese becomes an issue.

Typical signs of deficiency:

• Interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between leaf veins)
• Reduced photosynthesis efficiency
• Stunted growth (in severe cases)

When Does Manganese Become a Problem?

1. High pH Conditions

In hydroponics or soil, manganese becomes unavailable when the growing medium has a high pH. However, in such cases, iron becomes unavailable first, so manganese is rarely the limiting factor.

2. Low-Quality Fertilisers

Some cheap fertilisers use non-chelated forms like manganese sulphate, which can:

• Be less bioavailable at higher pH levels
• Become toxic if overapplied

This is why premium blends like Gold Leaf (Liquid Gold in the UK) include manganese in precisely the right amount and in chelated form, ensuring it’s both safe and effective.

Toxicity: Rare but Real

While rare, manganese toxicity can occur if:

• You use unregulated supplements or poor-quality inputs
• You grow in manganese-rich rock or water (such as certain areas in Greece)

High levels can lead to:

• Leaf spotting
• Brown or gray speckles
• Crinkled or distorted leaves

Again, this is extremely unlikely in hydroponics with a balanced nutrient solution.

The Bottom Line

In well-managed hydroponic systems, manganese is a non-issue. Quality fertilisers already include it in the proper form and quantity.

If you’re using a scientifically formulated product like Liquid Gold, you’ve got all the manganese your plants need—no guesswork required.

Article by Dr Russell Sharp

If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to both our podcasts! Links can be found bellow:

Hydroponics Daily Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/207T7p7fw9sPjINfSjVXW2

Cereal Killers Podcast: https://t.co/eSEbBkTVHl