Martina Unbehauen / Shutterstock
Chances are , you might have heard of the life - alter magic of Epsom saltiness in horticulture . But remember , Epsom salt is nothing like your typical table Strategic Arms Limitation Talks since it ’s in reality Mg sulfate . So , here ’s the enceinte question for the works enthusiasts out there : Is Epsom salt in force for houseplants ? Although there has n’t been too much inquiry about its benefit , manyexperienced home gardenersswear by Epsom salt for plants .
It ’s been a go - to for plant enthusiasts for long time , so it ’s worth kick in a dead reckoning when you want to trouble-shoot specific foliage event for both your indoor and out-of-door plant life . Keep reading to learn all about the many uses of Epsom salt for potted plants and garden bed — you might just find yourself sprinkling it on your crop !
Martina Unbehauen / Shutterstock
Where to buy Epsom salt
Epsom salt is widely usable and relatively affordable , so you wo n’t need to go to specialty stores to find it . manoeuver to your local drugstore or grocery store and you ’ll probably incur Epsom salt in the bath incision since masses use it to sop yearn muscles and soften hide .
But if you ’re running works errands anyway , you will likely find Epsom common salt at your local garden center since it ’s splendid for all variety of plants , including Grass , blossom , veggie , and more . If you plan to expend the salt on your skin , make certain it has a United States Pharmacopeia ( USP ) label , which indicates that it ’s safe for human usage .
What you need to know
Epsom salt turn back sulfur and Mg , which are both beneficial minerals for grunge . But while sulfur can help with plant protein constitution , it’sseldom deficient in soilbecause of acidulous rain andsynthetic works fertilizers . Magnesium , on the other hand , can become scarce due to erosion or depletion of topsoil . It specifically helps plants build up cell walls and absorb nutrients .
When a flora does n’t have enough magnesium , its folio curl and its growth is stunted . Magnesium is also utilitarian for chlorophyll production , which is a critical part of photosynthesis . Many gardeners employ diluted Epsom salinity , which they irrigate directly into the ground or use as a foliage spray . So , how can you expend Epsom salt in gardening ? Here are a few ideas for incorporating it into your houseplant care routine .
1. Treating a magnesium deficiency in indoor plants
Magnesium sulphate is aristocratical , so it works well withindoor potted industrial plant . When a houseplant has a atomic number 12 deficiency , it usually has green venous blood vessel with pallid leaves . To remedy this , dilute one tablespoon of Epsom salt in a gallon of pee for houseplant usage .
irrigate your plants with this solution once a month , or use it as a spray to mist over the foliation . Keep in mind , however , that pale folio may also be indicatory of theme hogwash . find out your plants for signs of disease ( including rotting roots ) before you use Epsom salt .
2. Helping plants produce flowers and fruits
atomic number 12 helps with fruit andflower evolution and yield . Roses , Lycopersicon esculentum , and pepper are deterrent example of plants that can benefit from Epsom Strategic Arms Limitation Talks . For tomatoes and peppers , mix two tablespoons of Epsom salinity with one gal of weewee to spray onto foliage when the plant begins bloom and fruit .
For roses , sprinkle half a cup of Epsom salt in the land in the dusk and spring . you could also dilute one tablespoonful of Epsom salt in one Imperial gallon of water and apply the result as a monthly atomiser . Many rose nurseryman swear that magnesium sulfate helps bring on more profuse foliage as well as more flush and cane . And yes , it can work forindoor rose plant , too — for robust blooms , add thin out Epsom salt to miniature roses that you keep as houseplant . Other heyday that may profit from Epsom salt include geraniums , pansies , and azaleas .
3. Preventing root shock
When you transplant indoor plants from one pot to another , you need to take care of the radical so that the plant ’s parting do n’t wilt or become discolored , which are augury of tooth root stupor . Using Epsom salt in the unconscious process helps preclude root electric shock . When transplant , mix one tablespoon of Epsom salt for every gallon of water and utilise this to the root of your new potted works until saturated .
4. Deterring pests
Magnesium sulfate can bebeneficial as a pest deterrent , so you’re able to keep all your plants intact and free from irritating critters . scatter ironic Epsom salt at the base of your garden plant to repel slugs . you’re able to also add a small amount of it to seedlings you start indoors to protect them from pests . seedling may also get superfluous sulphur and magnesium as an add together welfare .
What to consider before you use Epsom salt on plants
Epsom salt can be handy in the garden , but you should keep some things in thinker before using it . For example , you do n’t want to employ Epsom salt in place of plant food . While it can help with Mg and S deficiency , you ’ll still need to add on your plant with other nutrient . It ’s also good to use Epsom salt betimes during the growing season when it ’s not too hot . You should deflect spraying your plants with Epsom salt solution on hot day since this can cause leaf scorch .
Which plants should you not use Epsom salt on?
There are flora out there that simply wo n’t gain from Epsom common salt . broadly speaking , these are plant that do n’t really get magnesium deficiencies . They include tropic palms , coniferous tree , and carnivorous ( or dirt ball - eating ) plant life .
A pinch of Epsom salt can go a long way , so that ’s why so many gardeners keep a levelheaded provision of it on helping hand . If you want wide , greenish leaves , reckon Epsom salt for your flora to help them produce . Not only can it help with a magnesium want , but it can also assist with bloom output and pestilence intimidation . try on adding diluted Epsom saltiness into your dirt or using it as a foliage nebuliser to reap all of its potential benefit . With care , attending , and perhaps a bit of Epsom common salt , your houseplants will be prosper before you recognise it .
