Epsom Salt

[Jessie]

As I was recently soaking my feet I was noticing the Epsom Salt descriptions on the bag and it stated that this salt was great for plant nutrient for vigorous lawns, flowers and trees. But the bag does not say anthing about how much to use and how to use it? Have you ever heard of this before?

[canadian gardener]

Yes! It's terrific for roses. It is a prime (and cheap) source for magnesium which is one of the major plant nutrients.

Martha Stewart puts a light sprinkling of it around her roses once a year I think I read but I am not sure the exact amount.

I use it as a cheap magnesium supplement. 1/4 tsp at bedtime, chase with water. More than that and it's a laxative (dose of salts remember the old saying?) so it's safe for human consumption too.

It isn't salt like table salt, that is more a chemical description, and it is a white crystalline substance that looks a bit like salt.

[forestdale]

Jessie, you can use Epsom Salts on your garden because it helps to develop strong roots and in the uptake of chlorophyll (which keeps plants green). You can use it directly onto your garden at a rate of a tablespoon per plant but I prefer to dissovle it and water it on. You use half a cup for for one gallon of water.

BTW, it's organic so it's perfectly fine to use on an organic vegetable, fruit or ornamental garden

[dz_blonde_girl]

It's magnesium sulfate, MgSO4.