Epsom Salts

[senseijames]

Hi all, how many of us use epsom salts as a plant starter nutrient, and what are your findings???
James

[Loretta]

I've never used it on bonsais but I've used it in the garden on different shrubs and Maidenhair fern. Is is potassium thats in it, anyway, it's used when your leaves start going yellow and the potassium addresses that problem. Works brilliantly on maidhair after it's had a cut back.

Loretta

[Nereus]

i have been wondering the same thing - i even bought some the other week to give it a test

[senseijames]

I've never used it on bonsais but I've used it in the garden on different shrubs and Maidenhair fern. Is is potassium thats in it, anyway, it's used when your leaves start going yellow and the potassium addresses that problem. Works brilliantly on maidhair after it's had a cut back.

Loretta

Thanks for the info Loretta
James

[Orion]

I use it for my aquarium

[Bretts]

Just did a quick look into it and it sounds like magnesium and sulfur.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62825998.tip.html

Question:
How does epsom salt affect plant growth?
Hardiness Zone: 1

Young City from Augusta, GA

Answer:
Young City,
This is a great question, because although Epsom salt can be beneficial to plants, it isn't always in the way that gardeners think. Usually Epsom salts are sold as a fertilizer component or used as a tool to change soil pH.

Here's how it really affects plants:

Epsom salts contain two elements important for plant growth-magnesium and sulfur. Magnesium helps form chlorophyll in plants and is essential for photosynthesis. Magnesium is present naturally in the soil and is also found in organic fertilizers. Sulfur helps activate many plant proteins and enzymes needed for growth. It helps plants resist the cold, assists in root production and seed growth. Sulfur is often delivered to plants in the form of rainwater.

The claim is often made (at least by the folks selling it) that plants are usually deficient in these two elements. Not so. Some plants, like chrysanthemums and gardenias for example, do sometimes carry high levels of magnesium in their leaves, and can benefit from having high levels of magnesium in their soil. In the case of most plants, however, soil usually contains enough of these elements that adding Epsom salt is unnecessary.

Soils that lack magnesium tend to be acidic. Epsom salt is actually considered a neutral salt, meaning it has very little effect on a soil's pH. In cases where a soil is acidic, it's better to add dolomitic lime if you want to increase the pH. IF it turns out that the soil is deficient in magnesium but the pH is fine, THEN it's better to add Epsom salt to increase the magnesium levels because adding it will not alter the pH.

Epsom salts are a good way to deliver sulfur and magnesium to plants. If your plant is low in either of these nutrients, adding Epsom salt can be beneficial. In most cases, however, low magnesium goes hand in hand with soil acidity. In these cases dolomitic lime is more appropriate than Epsom salts as a way to add magnesium, while raising soil pH.

It's best to test your soil before adding Epsom salts or you may end up wasting your time, or even making things worse.

Ellen

About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert.

[Gareth]

I've never used it on bonsais but I've used it in the garden on different shrubs and Maidenhair fern. Is is potassium thats in it, anyway, it's used when your leaves start going yellow and the potassium addresses that problem. Works brilliantly on maidhair after it's had a cut back.

Loretta

epsom salts is as Bretts says, magnesium sulphate, not potassium.

but overall a good cheap source of magnesium and sulphate, sulphate willa lso lower the pH of your soil, to a certain extent anyway, depending of course on how alkaline it is and how much carbonate/bicarbonate is in the soil.

gareth

[Taffy]

I've never used it in a potting mix, but I DO use it when I dunk trees after I've re-potted trees. I was told a long time ago that it was good for reducing the stress of roots being cut and the re-potting.

I can't say whether it really works or not - I mean, the trees don't suddenly burst into masses of foliage or jump out of the pot with all the new roots etc, but it makes me feel good!

I don't buy it as Epsom Salts - I get it from the local Rural Supplier in a 25Kg bag as Magnesium Sulphate (check the Epsom Salts box - it's exactly the same, not even any other additives). What's Epsom Salts worth - $4.75 for a 375 gram box? a 25kg bag from the Rural Supplier cost me around $25.00.

Hmm - not a bad idea. put 500gms in plastic bag, mark it as Epsom Salts - and at $5.00 per bag, I could make a profit of $225.00 per 25kg bag!!!!!!!!!!

[Jamie]

of the use of trees, but i beleive epsom salts are really good to minimise swelling and fluid retention in the body, joints and bumps/bruises, it actually draws it out, dont do it two nights in a row though, i cant remember the reason why not to do it 2 nights in a row but i clearly remember it as it had a side effect.

jamie

[shibui]

Good advice Jamie,
Epsom Salts was used extensively in the past as a laxative! so put most of it on the trees rather than in you.

[kachmica]

My old Gran always used it on constipated or egg bound chooks.
She mixed it in a bowl of water and put it out for the chooks to drink.
At the end of the day any left over was tipped on the strawberry patch.
Best strawberrys ever.