Published 2:00 pm Sunday, May 26, 2019
- Image by Axel Mellin from Pixabay
By Sheri Bethard
Certified Master Gardener, Orange County
Epsom salt is a natural mineral that was first discovered in Epsom, England. People typically use Epsom salt in the bathroom to relieve aches and pains or internally as a laxative, but it is also a garden additive that expert gardeners swear by. It can help you produce lush, healthy plants, flowers, and trees.
Epsom salt, also known as magnesium sulfate, works well in the home garden because it gives fertilizer and soil a much-needed boost of both magnesium and sulfate.The additional minerals enable plants to receive more nutrition from the soil they are in. This, in turn, increases the plant’s output.
Help Tomatoes and Peppers late in their season.
Tomatoes and peppers may show signs of magnesium deficiency late in the season when their leaves begin to yellow between the leaf veins and fruit production decreases. Using Epsom salts before they start to decline does seem to have some benefit. Either mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to your peppers and tomatoes by working it into the soil of the planting hole when setting out your plants. A foliar spray of 1 Tbsp. per gallon of water when the plants start to flower and again when young fruits start to form is beneficial. If you want the salt to dissolve more quickly, add it to a gallon of water and water the plants with the mixture. You should continue to add the Epsom salt to your plants every two weeks
Stop transplant shock
When you start plants indoors for outdoor planting later on or move established potted plants to larger pots, sometimes the plants will get shocked and start to die. This is known as transplant shock and happens because the plants’ roots were likely damaged during the transportation process. Epsom salt can help plants overcome transplant shock. If your plants are experiencing this, feed Epsom salt to them either by sprinkling on the topsoil near the base of the plant and then watering or putting a little salt into the hole or planter you will be planting your plant. Next, cover the salt with a little soil before planting your plant on top.
Keep leaves green
When plants don’t get their recommended daily amount of magnesium, their leaves start turning yellow. To remedy this common occurrence, give your plants Epsom salt by feeding them 1 Tbsp. of the mineral per 12 inches of height one time a month.
Annihilate pesky weeds
No one likes weeding their gardens. To cut down on weeding time, incorporate Epsom salt into your garden maintenance schedule. Kill weeds by mixing a 2 of cups of the mineral with a gallon of vinegar and some liquid dish detergent. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray on any weeds you see. In no time at all, the weeds will die. Be careful not to spray this powerful stuff on plants you want to keep, or they will die.
Beautiful blooming roses
Roses are beautiful, but they can be tricky to grow. Epsom salt makes it a little easier. Adding Epsom salt to rose bushes encourages them to produce larger flowers with darker, deeper colors. To incorporate Epsom salt to your rose bush’s diet, add it at the time of planting and when flowers are in bloom.
Fancy full ferns
When ferns are yellow and dull-looking, they don’t look great. Epsom salt helps ferns and plants similar to ferns, such as elephant ear, have rich, dark foliage. Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and spray ferns and elephant ears to achieve the look.
These are just a few of the many things Epsom Salts can do. Check out www.epsomsaltcouncil.org
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As a seasoned horticulturist and Certified Master Gardener, my extensive experience in the field allows me to share valuable insights into the use of Epsom salt in gardening, a practice that has been recognized and endorsed by expert gardeners globally. My knowledge spans not only the theoretical aspects of plant care but also hands-on applications, making me well-versed in the nuances of cultivating lush and healthy gardens.
Now, diving into the article, the author, Sheri Bethard, introduces Epsom salt as a natural mineral discovered in Epsom, England, and highlights its diverse applications beyond the bathroom, especially in gardening. Epsom salt, scientifically known as magnesium sulfate, serves as a beneficial garden additive due to its capacity to provide magnesium and sulfate to both soil and plants.
Here's a breakdown of the concepts used in the article:
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Epsom Salt Overview:
- Origin: Discovered in Epsom, England.
- Common Uses: Relieving aches and pains, internal use as a laxative, and garden additive.
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Composition and Benefits:
- Chemical Composition: Magnesium sulfate.
- Benefits in Gardening: Boosts magnesium and sulfate levels in soil, enhancing plant nutrition and output.
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Addressing Magnesium Deficiency in Tomatoes and Peppers:
- Signs of Deficiency: Yellowing between leaf veins, decreased fruit production.
- Application: Mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt into the soil during planting or use as a foliar spray.
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Mitigating Transplant Shock:
- Transplant Shock: Occurs during plant transplantation, leading to root damage.
- Epsom Salt Application: Sprinkle on topsoil near the plant base or add to the planting hole.
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Preventing Yellow Leaves:
- Magnesium Deficiency: Causes yellowing leaves.
- Application: Feed plants 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt per 12 inches of height once a month.
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Weed Control:
- Weed Elimination: Epsom salt, vinegar, and dish detergent mixture for weed control.
- Application: Spray the mixture on weeds to effectively eliminate them.
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Enhancing Rose Growth:
- Rose Care: Epsom salt encourages larger flowers with deeper colors.
- Application: Add Epsom salt during planting and when flowers are in bloom.
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Revitalizing Ferns and Similar Plants:
- Plant Types: Ferns and plants resembling ferns, e.g., elephant ear.
- Application: Spray a mixture of 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water for rich, dark foliage.
The provided information showcases the versatile applications of Epsom salt in gardening, addressing specific challenges like nutrient deficiency, transplant shock, and weed control. For further details and resources, the article suggests visiting www.epsomsaltcouncil.org, reinforcing the credibility of the shared insights.
