# Mobile nutrient

> A mobile nutrient is one the plant can move from older leaves to new growth, so its deficiency shows first on lower, older leaves: N, P, K, Mg, Cl, Mo.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/mobile-nutrient.html
- Also written: mobile nutrients, mobile elements, phloem-mobile nutrient
- Glossary category: Nutrients · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

A mobile nutrient is an element that can be withdrawn from existing tissue and moved through the [phloem](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/phloem.md) to where it is needed. When supply runs short, the plant sacrifices old leaves to feed new ones, so symptoms appear on the lower canopy first. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium are the classic mobile nutrients; chlorine and [molybdenum](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/molybdenum.md) are also mobile, and [zinc](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/zinc.md) moderately so.

## In practice

Where a symptom starts is the first clue in diagnosis. Yellowing that begins at the bottom of the plant and works upward points to a mobile nutrient: even yellowing suggests nitrogen, [interveinal yellowing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/interveinal-chlorosis.md) suggests magnesium, and scorched margins suggest potassium. Some lower-leaf yellowing in late flower is normal remobilisation as the plant moves nutrients to the buds.

## Don't confuse with

- **Immobile nutrient**: stays where it is first deposited; symptoms appear in new growth.
- **Available**: whether a nutrient can be taken up from the [root zone](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/root-zone.md) is a separate question, governed mostly by [pH](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ph.md).

## Related terms

[Immobile nutrient](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/immobile-nutrient.md), [Nitrogen](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/nitrogen.md), [Magnesium](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/magnesium.md), [Potassium](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/potassium.md), [Nutrient deficiency](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/nutrient-deficiency.md)

## Read more

- [Mobile vs immobile nutrients: reading old vs new leaves](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/nutrients/mobile-vs-immobile-nutrients.md)
- [Yellowing lower leaves on cannabis: a differential](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/diagnosis/yellowing-lower-leaves.md)

## Sources

1. Marschner P (ed.). 2012. Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 3rd ed. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-63043-9
2. Cockson P, Landis H, Smith T, Hicks K, Whipker BE. 2019. Characterization of nutrient disorders of Cannabis sativa. Applied Sciences 9(20):4432. https://doi.org/10.3390/app9204432