Anyone use Epsom Salt??

It is Epsom or Epson? Either way I am sure you know what I am talking about. Does anyone use this for their shrubs and perennials? I thought I would give it a try. I heard good things about it. Just wondering what your ideas are on it.

I know Pirl mentioned that she did. You might try d-mailing her if she doesn't see this post

Dawn, I put a tablespoon or two by each rose bush. Its supposed to be a big help. I also heard tomatoes love them but haven't tried it yet.

Dave

I'm here....finally. Yes, I use it as Dave does. Just mix it into a gallon of water and use it to water your plants, as usual. It's not much more than extra minerals (magnesium and sulphur).

Just Google "Fertilize plants with Epsom Salts" and you'll find out the whole story.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/fertilizeepsomsalts

That's it.

thanks for the link, pirl

My pleasure. Our neighbor owned a greenhouse, now run by his sons, and they use it as part of their watering system for all plants.

Hmmm I just rubbed some into the dirt around the plants and watered. I am guessing that is okay too???

I haven't used it by itself, but it's one of the three ingredients in "alfalfa tea" which I used for the first time this year. We have a holly twig that's been barely clinging to life for years and it just exploded with new growth after a couple of drinks of the stuff.

Dawn - It will work just fine. Just water it in - about a quart and let Mother Nature take it from there.

McCool - I've had the alfalfa since March and I'm annoyed with myself for not using it.

What is alfalfa tea?

Well now from hearing the great stories I am so glad I did it. Thanks a lot!!

Hehehe I like the sound of alfalpha LOL

Anita - it's used for roses and other plants - equal to a minor miracle. You can buy it through a feed store, like Agway, but call first to be sure they have it. If I find the instructions I'll send them.

Thanks Arlene

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/486459/ in case anyone else is interested. Quite welcome, Anita.

Hi all -
No watering needed here now, as it seems the winter rains have started (73" last winter!). Would the salts be good to add now, anyway?

I don't know, 4paws. I've only read about using it in the spring to summer. But I'm no expert. Maybe someone else will stop by who knows for sure. (I couldn't leave someone visiting all the way from CA w/o a reply on 2 threads!)

:-) Thanks, Dave47.

The "core" of my family and solid friends are in NY and VT. I was in Broome and Tioga Counties for the first two decades or so of my life, and I've lived in a number of regions, so have connections to more places than where I live currently. I've only been here for a little over three years, and I know it's not my last stop. :-)

I don't know the answer either 4 Paws but I do think spring is a better time. Epsom salt helps plants with more basal break (more branches) so that spells growth to me and that's why I'd hesitate to do it now.

Epsom salts are Magnesium Sulfate. Magnesium is an important trace element in the plant growing world but it is a trace element and not usually missing in most soils. It is available in nearly all fertilizers, especially the blue liquid types. I still use it on my peppers and in small quantitities in pots and raised beds. Might not be "necessary" but its cheap and seems to help...besides if you sprain something while gardening it makes a great warm water soak!

lol
Always good to accomplish more than one goal with one effort...
thanks!

We buy it in bulk from Sam's Club then use it on our Japanese Boxwoods...which are said to be the slowest growing shrub in the world but as is we've had them in for less than a year...the tiny small planting pots for $3.99 and they are almost as large now as the $11 ones in the gallon pots. =)

Still...these shrubs have occassionally been known to have a whole stem turn golden brown and we have to cut it off. It's happened 3 times...please post if you have any ideas as to why, perhaps I need more epsom?

we used an epsom salt solution for the peppers and tomatoes and eggplant this year. Mixed it with water and sprayed it on when the blossoms formed- and again 2 weeks later. That was the only thing we did different, and we had a big jump in fruit set. Its going to be a regular part of the care and feeding of those crops from now on.

I have a large box of Epsoms and am determined to use it next year! Thanks for the link Pirl. It's bookmarked.

Don't be stingy with the Epsom Salts. Its formula is MgSO4 - 7 (H20). It is mostly water. Rose growers in eastern North America give each plant a cup [USA] every spring to. It is better for loosening clay soil than Gypsum.
1 cup [US] = 1.040 cup [Canada]
1 cup [US] = 0.946 cup [metric]
Larry

Really, I didn't know that about the water. Thanks!

Thanks UU! I'm always timid about saying how much I use.

Why, Pirl?

xxx, Carrie

Because people will either think I use too much or made a typo if I said I use a cup per rose.......more for the big ones.

Oh. Hey, if it works for you, it works!

xxx, Carrie

Big greenhouses use it as part of their everyday irrigation system. It has to be beneficial to them, so why not?

I have learned so many great things here.....I will be sure to use it next spring. I am guessing that if the salt is good for roses it must be good for clematis too???

Sure but make sure it's Epsom Salt and not table salt! I dump half a 40 pound bag of manure over the clematis roots after I put some Epsom Salt and about 1/2 cup of 5-10-5 down (but I don't scratch it into the soil or I'd disturb the roots). I don't do it every year but even just the Epsom Salts will benefit the plant.

Got it pirl - thanks.

:-) Quite welcome. We've planted over 75 clematis over the years but less than half survive the first year.

Here's Tateshina - bought for $2.99 in fall. I never expected it to even survive no less thrive as it has.

Pirl, Tateshina looks huge and healthy. Very pretty!!!

I think I measured it at 9" - puts on quite a show and then repeats. I've tried to get pieces to root without success.

Wow! Guess she's just your girl.

:-) :-)

common sense should dictate this is not the time to use any type of fertilizer. folks plants will soon go into dormancy, if they haven't in certain areas. if u fertilize now, u will only be putting the plant into stress. when u give plants fertilizer this time of the year, u are forcing the plant to grow, which is not right. similar to people, when a person get stressed, they get sick [winter is not the time for plants to get sick or they will eventually die]. fertilizer is activated during spring and warmer weather. so! actually u are defeating ur own purpose. http://www.emilycompost.com/epsom_salts.htm

plants need to go into dormancy for them to perform better next growing season. allow me to site an example in comparing a bear with plants, when bears hibernate in the winter [they sleep and not eat], but when they wake up in spring they are hungry. plants are the same, come spring plants wake up from dormancy, they are hungry --- the best time to apply fertilizer/s.

personally i only use Alfalfa pellets and Epsom salt to fertilize my plants. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/433894/ as i do more research i learned Miracle Grow do damage to our environment. read and learn for urself http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/441806/ http://www.angelfire.com/hi/AdeniumsofHawaii/miracle.html this is my personal opinion, it is ur plant/s, u do what u feel is best, as i do for my babies.