Function

• Calcium helps a plant maintain the structure of its cell walls and helps a plant transport other nutrients from one place to another. Calcium also helps to neutralize acidic or salty conditions within the plant itself.
  
  

Calcium Deficiency

• Plants coping with calcium deficiency may show signs of tip burn in young leaves. Fruits such as cherry and apple may show cracking in ripe fruits. Corn plants cannot develop healthy root tips and new leaves do not develop. In some cases, seeds may not develop or the plant may show stunted growth.
  
  

Solution

• Calcium deficiency occurs more often in acidic soil. Gardeners can increase the calcium content of soil by adding dolomitic lime, gypsum and superphosphate to the soil. Root damage due to disease, nematodes or insects can affect a plant's ability to absorb calcium. This causes plants to exhibit signs of calcium deficiency even though plenty of calcium exists in the soil.