Epsom salt {hydrated magnesium sulfate} is renowned to many for its various home remedy applications but that is not all there is to this wonderful mineral. Unknown to many, Epsom salt has several benefits in organic gardening. Uses for epsom salt in organic gardening and its efficacy has been well documented for decades. This article shares ten of the best ways to start using Epsom salt in the garden.
What is Epsom salt?
Epsom salt is different from traditional salt in that it’s actually a mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate, and is technically known as magnesium sulfate. It’s composed of tiny, colorless crystals that look like table salt, but it’s actually a completely different thing, as table salt is made up of sodium chloride. Magnesium sulfate is a mineral that many of us are lacking in, as levels have been decreasing over the last three to four decades around the world.
Uses For Epsom Salt
Its importance in Gardening has been one of nature’s best-kept secrets and it has long been a favorite for many gardeners as it helps grow sweeter, tastier vegetables, roses with more vibrant flower color.
It is very useful in seed germination and is widely used in home remedies as a saline laxative and pain reliever.
Epsom salts work best on soils that are slightly deficient in magnesium or high in calcium and potassium (soils found in western countries). Before applying Epsom salt, it’s a good idea to have your soil tested to determine the level of magnesium deficiency. You should also be aware that many plants, like beans and leafy vegetables, will happily grow and produce in soils with low levels of magnesium.
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Plants like roses, tomatoes, and peppers, on the other hand, require lots of magnesium, and therefore, are more commonly watered with Epsom salt. When diluted with water, Epsom salt is easily taken up by plants, especially when applied as a foliar spray.
Most plants can be misted with a solution of 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt per gallon of water once a month. For more frequent watering, every other week, cut this back to 1 tablespoon.
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Uses for Epsom Salt in Gardening
Improved Seed Germination
This is one of the most acknowledged of the uses for epsom salt. Epsom salt when used at the planting stage, usually aid seed germination. It acts as a soil amendment before seeding thereby giving your garden a powerful boost right from the start.
Apply 1 – 2 tablespoons into the soil per seed hole or use 1 cup of salt per 100 square feet of tilled soil for the best results.
Increased Nutrient Absorption
Applying Epsom salt to the soil helps facilitate the uptake of organic soil nutrients and the faster absorption of plant nutrients reducing to a minimal level if not eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers.
Beautiful, Bountiful Roses
Epsom salt due to the abundance of magnesium plays a very important role in flower bloom formation. This is of significant importance to rosarians. Horticulturists will agree that application of Epsom salt helps roses to produce larger blossoms in greater numbers in flowers. Epsom salt also increases chlorophyll production meaning faster growth rate for roses.
Counter Transplant Shock
Epsom salt can also play a vital role in the transplants of nursery plants to the field. One of the many uses for Epsom salt is that it assists plants in adapting to their new environment. It also helps injured roots overcome transplanting shock.
Note that it is important that Plant roots do not come in contact with salt when adding a layer of salt around them.
More Plentiful Peppers
Peppers are another popular garden plant with a higher-than-average fruit to plant size ratio. As such, they should also be fed magnesium every two weeks to achieve higher yields of larger fruits. For hot peppers, over-watering can lead to fruit with less heat, thus the soil amendment method may be preferable in this case.
Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt for every foot of height around the drip line of your pepper plants once per week.
Green Up Foliage
Magnesium plays an essential part in the production of foliage due to its importance in chlorophyll production. This is quite evident as plants suffering from this deficiency reflect it by their yellowing leaves. The application of Epsom salt around your plants helps lead to healthier foliage.
Prevent Leaf Curling
Application of a mixture of 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt in a gallon of water directly to the leaves helps to prevent Leaf Curling caused by magnesium-deficiency in plants.
Deter Garden Pests
While Epsom salt is not as effective against pests as much as table salt (sodium chloride), it can still help to deter pests. Epsom Salt crystals are sharp and when sprinkled around plants, they can scratch and irritate the bodies and feet of unwanted pests in much the same way as other preventives.
Grow Sweeter Fruit
The most important stage in the life cycle of any plant is the production of fruits. This comes just after the flowering stage. Application of Epsom salt to the plant using the same methods and quantities stated above will lead to improved chlorophyll levels leading to increased energy which implies more sugar, thus allowing the plant to produce more yields of sweeter and healthier fruits.
Tastier Tomatoes
In a recent experiment, We observed that application of Epsom salt to tomato vines helps to balance the magnesium-deficiency on most tomato farms. It also leads to Tastier Tomatoes. It is a major in the many uses for epsom salt!
For tomatoes, the fruit to plant size ratio of tomato plant makes it susceptible to calcium deficiency (blossom end rot). However, systematic application of Epsom salts to tomatoes worked perfectly and the result was healthy tastier tomato fruits.
Our Findings revealed that tomato vines should have Epsom salt twice as often as other plants.
Application to tomato vines of dissolved Epsom salt – 2 tablespoons per gallon of water, every 2 weeks was the magic.
The most efficient application method for delivering magnesium to these plants is through foliage feeding method.
Further Reading: 29 Magical DIY Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide
Conclusion
It is apparent that Epsom salt is a great addition to any organic Gardener toolkit. It’s almost impossible to use too much of it in your garden, unlike commercial fertilizers.
Epsom Salt is pH neutral and non-harmful to the soil structure. This means that it is safe to apply and works fast to correct a variety of problems. Epsom salt also increases the overall health of your garden.
It also works quickly to prevent and correct a variety of problems and to improve the health of your garden. Epsom salt is cheap and certainly one of the best-kept secrets of the health-conscious, competent gardener. I hope with this post you have learned several uses for Epsom salt to your grow your garden?
Want to try Epsom salt for yourself? You can get the Best type {White Mountain Epsom Salt} Here.
what a wonderful Post, I applied epsom salt as contained in this post to my peppers, tomatoes, and roses. The Results were very positive and am pleasantly surprised.. Thanks for this awesome post !!
thanks for taking the time to test our findings, and dropping a comment to let us know.. Cheers
Hi can i also use epson salt in fruit trees? On top of soil? Thanks
Yes You Can do that..
Can you use epson salt around papaya tree?
Yes you can
The ideas given on Epsom salt for garden use and improvements are good.
It will be useful if you could given the dosage for foliage and flowering plants as well as frequencies of applications. Dosage should be for direct application for each plant and for mixing with water and spraying each plant.
Can these details be given please?
I will update the post soon with more information from my personal experience
Can’t wait to try this in my garden! I have tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, jalapeno’s, anaheim peppers & serrano chilil’s. Also have blueberries & blackberries, strawberries, romaine lettuce and cilantro. Is it safe to use it for all of these?
Hi Lisa, Thanks for commenting, It is safe for tomatoes and peppers in general, I use it all the time in my Garden. For Blueberries, Strawberries etc, I have not tested it on these..
What do you mean by foliage feeding method?
Hi Dianne, Click this Link to learn more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foliar_feeding
I would like to know your results. When I asked my nursery and extension service about this they strongly said NO it burns up plants and kills them from the inside out. Have you had this problem??
Hi Chris, Thanks for reaching out.. The Answer is No, i have never ever
had that kind of problem. That Said, i suggest you
follow the advice of your nursery and extension service. . Let me know
if you need help with anything else.
My extension office said the opposite, it was ok to use. My neighbor helped his mother with her garden for years and always used epsom salts. She had bumper crops year after year. I use it for my vegetable garden and my sister uses it for her flowers. It works very well. If you’re worried about it, try it on a container plant isolated from your regular garden and see what happens. If it works well, use it.
Thanks for that reply tru
Nursery men and women will say no in order to keep on selling the chemical rubbish !!! They really are mostly ignorant of the ways of the old timers !! Sad .
I have a small vegetable and rose garden .thanks for the tips.I will use Epsom Salt to produce better growth of rosesand good yield of tomatoes.
Great Post Thank You for explaining in detail, will Definitely use on my roses, and for sure when I start to plant veggies.
How about my Meyer Lemon Tree, the new growth ( baby leaves) show signs of leaf curl with a worm like pattern in the leaves, what is this & can your curly leaf spray combat this problem?? I also have tiny green lemons on the end branches, this is my prize Meyer Lemon tree- HELP!!!! Thanks, JoAnn
Absolutely thrilled to have you on the blog. As for your Lemon Tree, i most definitely would not recommended epsom salt, i have not done extensive testing myself that leads to the same conclusion as with roses and veggies.
The symptom described looks like magnesium deficiency which adding epsom salt can help with no doubt but then it could very well mean another thing entirely, My advise is to for you to get in touch with a local crop extension service/officer to take a good look at the lemon tree and help you make an informed decision on how to proceed further.
I WANT TO BUY SOME EPSOM SALT FOR MY GARDEN THIS YEAR OK NEED A ADRESS OR WHO SELL IT OK.
EMAIL ME BACK [email protected] ROBERT HENDERSON JR
JAN 21 2016
You can buy it anywhere…..Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens……anywhere. You can also put it in warm water and soak your sore feet after a busy day!
can you use epsom salts on indoor plants to green them up and make them grow faster?
For indoor plants, I don’t think so, I have not tried that before but you can use it safely on nearly all your garden plants especially veggies and flowers
I have a rose bush that has never bloomed. How do I use the Epsom salt on it to see if it will start blooming. It came from my boyfriends grandfather and he couldn’t get it to bloom neither.
If the instructions ii the post is fully applied, epsom salt will no doubt help with that particular plant(rosebush)! Good luck
Would it be wise to add Epson to the compost pile?
nope
I have miniature garden rose bushes that bloom all summer. When placing Epson salts..do I put it around the perimeter of each bush with being careful not to touch branches..for mine are low bearing. Also, do we water it after we put the Epson salts down, or just let nature do it’s thing? I plan to cut the bushes back in a few weeks, for they have become out of control. Just making sure this won’t hurt the plants after pruning. Thank you for all your tips.
Excellent Questions
1. Place the epsom salts around the perimeter just as you described!
2. Yes of-course, you can water your garden as usual without any problem
3. There is no harm to the plant before and after pruning, please apply the epsom salt with confidence as it’s helped a lot of our readers!
I have found that Epsom salts is a flower booster. I have a problem with my weeping willow. Should I try the Epsom salts?
Pamela
Hi Pamela, thanks or commenting, epsom salt indeed helps lots of flowers and other plants as well! you can give it a trial
Yes you can
My husband and I want to grow tomato and carrots from seeds and I have never had any luck growing things from seeds. In your post you said that Epsom salt will help in seed germination. Do you mix in with the soil first before putting seed in dirt. Not sure how to do this.
thanks for your help
Epsom salt has been used for 3 generations in my family for vegetable garden. Especially good to put a teaspoon in the hole prior to planting tomatoes. This will prevent the “rot” that takes place on the bottom of the tomatoes. I buy it right off shelf at grocery store or wal-mart health and beauty area. May also just broadcast it across garden and rain will soak it into plant roots.
Do you have a print friendly version of this post? Excellent info .
Thank H
not right now, but i will def work on it, been getting lots of requests for that! thanks for commenting!
how does it on lawns
I have not tried it with lawns before. only crops!
My mother (80 years old) has always told me to add Epsom salt to my garden and plants just like in the article. Mom always told me to put the salt in a circle around the plant but not completely around, need to leave an “open space”. I don’t know if this advice is an old wives tale or not, but it works for me!
How about hydrangeas??
Is it harmful to my dogs and ducks?
i wouldn’t want my pets playing around epsom salt or other chemicals generally but it absorbs fast after application hence i dont see any problem here
I saw above someone asking about using on indoor plants… I have a few Peace plants and recently divided and re potted them,,they are all doing well except for a small one,,the leaves have curled length wise,, 2 leaves are normal but the rest look as though someone has twisted them into this shape I have never had this to happen and I wanted to see if you may know a cause and have any advice to offer…If possible please respond to me by email as I may miss your comment…Thank you in advance..
About the color of the Epsom salts. I have lavender salts can I use that? I planted a rose plant about a month ago,will it be safe for my roses?
Please use epsom salt, its proven to be very effective for roses!
Can you use Epson salt w/ scent eucalyptus.
Hi Angie, i am not so sure you can but it won’t hurt to try. right??
I have always used Epsom salts with my plants especially when planting in pots or establishing a new bed. I mix it with the soil, compost, and bone meal to establish a good root system and better absorption of nutrients. I can honestly say my plants always look healthy!
Epsom salt has so many health benefits. I didn’t know it’s for the health if the plants too, that’s awesome! I will try this for sure. Thanks for the tips. Blog is great!
I have an azalea in a container & one in the ground. Neither have ever flowered..how do I use epsom salt for them? I also just bought a hydrangea & am wanting to put in a pot. Plz help??
Wow, so use for epsom salt. I didn’t know it includes protection for our garden plants. Amazing! Thanks for this.
Hi can you give me the recipe for the foliage feeding.? also how much epson salt do i put around my vegetable plants?
Try sprinkling Epsom salt around your plants to achieve healthier foliage. About 1 tablespoon per 12 inches of height once a month will benefit the plants in your vegetable garden, as well as any trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses you want to green up.
Interesting post but be aware that magnesium also suppresses iron uptake which can cause yellowing of plants that looks like magnesium deficency particularly in citrus. I’ve always found a good balanced fertiliser or pre mixed tonic from your garden centre more reliable than using epsom salts willy nilly. To prevent blossom end root in your tomatos try putting a tbspoon of skim milk powder under each plant at panting time.
Thanks for such an enlightening comment!
I haven’t seen anything about using Epson salts on cucumbers. I have mine in pots this year and they need help. If using would I use the same instructions that you have for tomatoes. Thanks so much!
Yes, it will work the same!
Is Epson salts good for cucumbers in pots. Mine are turning yellow.
replied above!!
How often do you apply Epsom salt. I just did it a couple days ago.
It is almost impossible to use too much Epsom salt in your garden. Magnesium sulfate is pH neutral, so it won’t harm your soil. The crystals break down into water, magnesium, and sulfur – three components which are beneficial in some way to most plants. Epsom salt is safe, easy to apply, and works fast to correct a variety of problems and increase the overall health of your garden.
How about using it on potted petunias and fuchsias? I love big petunia pots but they seem to get tired and spindly early on, even when I use miracle grow.
Please give it a trial on just one pot and Let me know how it turns out, the disclaimer is that i have never use epsom salts on these before!
I’d only find citrus sented epson salt… Will it work well too ??
J’ai seulement pu trouvé du sel d’epson parfumé au citron, est-ce que ça va marcher également ??
Yes, it will work fine!
I planted an Avacado seed two years ago, that is about 10 feet tall. I’m not sure what I need to do for the plant to start producing fruit. What do you suggest, will Epsom salt help.
Yes, it can help and it’s won’t hurt to try.
This is a great post. Vry helpful and useful as wel.
I will try the Epsom salts next spring on my container garden. A tip for roses is to cut a banana peel and mix in the soil, the bushes grow huge. Thank you for your information
Can I use regular epsom salt? Or a certain brand? Thanks
The recommended brand in the article is best!
How to use epsom salt in a rose pot.? It is already planted.. Thanks
Yes you can
My husband plant aubergine can he use epsom salt on around the root?
Yes I think it should work fine though I have not tried it with aubergine before.
You state not to let the plant roots come into contact with the salt, but then in another portion state to put 1-2 tablespoons into seed holes to aid germination – wouldn’t that be bad for when the seed sprouts? I’m confused….
Hi Jeannette, thanks for reaching out. There is no need to be confused. the article clearly states that It acts as a soil amendment before seeding thereby giving your garden a powerful boost right from the start. From practical experience, the best way is to apply Epsom salt to the soil before seeding for at least 5 -7 days! if planting has already occurred, though, you can drill a separate hole beside the planting spot and apply accordingly.
I planted all my seeds in my greenhouse 2 days ago. Although it is too late to mix In epsom salt with my soIL, can I at least sprinkle ES on top of the soil?
I’ve used it on my tomato plants before and had WOW yields!!!
TIA
Hi Helen, thanks for commenting, you can apply it,
Great post. Thank you. This is my first year using epsom salt in my garden. Used it on everything. Tomatoes, peppers, egg plant, limes, mandarins, plums, herbs, roses, orquids and palm trees all my flowers and in some yellow patches on the lawm. Worked great on everything. My veggies are the best I have grown to date! The tomatoes are like candy and so many. First year I can really share with my neighbors. I fid the sprinkling the epsom salt on the soil method once a month on everything. I also added some to the hole when I planted. I have a container garden. Pest have been minimal this year. Will try the foliage spraying. See how that works. Thank you and take care.
Hi Lunalove, thanks for commenting, So glad, epsom salt have been so useful for your garden!
Hi can I sprinkle on ground cover and sedums.
I have not tried it with ground cover and sedums before. only crops! but I guess it should work just fine. Give it a trial, apply to a small area as an experiment and let us know your findings.
Can it also be applied on guava plant
Yes you can, but please make sure, there is a deficiency in the soil that Epsom salt want to address.
Is it safe to use epson salts as a dererrant where
unwanted cats and foxes visit and foul the garden
No.it is not safe
Unfortunately, I do not have a green thumb;) so I need every help I can get. These seem to be great tips and I will follow them for sure. Thanks!
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I HAVE found this column to be very informative enjoying all the information offered My question is, can Epsom salts or Baking soda be helpful for my MANGO TREE??
Thank you.
I am sure about baking soda but am certain epsom salt will aid your mango tree