How Epsom salt becomes fertilizer for gardens or houseplants – application and effect of magnesium sulfate.

If you are an amateur gardener who wants to make fertilizer from Epsom salt, there are some practical ways to use magnesium sulfate. Its action not only helps plants thrive, but also deters pests. Plus, the stuff makes lawns even lusher and even benefits houseplants. So here are 10 ways to make your own fertilizer for your garden or for the potting soil in your home using Epsom salt. However, before you get familiar with it, there is some useful information about it that is also worth mentioning here.

Good reasons to make garden fertilizer with Epsom salt

You’ve probably heard about the amazing and healing properties of Epsom salt. Did you know that the minerals it contains can also help your garden plants thrive better? Magnesium sulfate is inexpensive, natural and non-toxic when used properly. Known as Epsom salt, the compound MgSO4 is accordingly a great helper for virtually anything you want to grow. Magnesium sulfate, which looks like ordinary table salt, can also help increase nutrient uptake in plants. However, before you use Epsom salt on plants, it’s important to know how to use and store it safely.

Agricultural or technical grade Epsom salt is intended for use in gardens and outdoors. Despite its overall safety, Epsom salt has natural laxative properties, so keep loose salts away from children and pets. Also, since magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, be sure to wear gloves when applying magnesium sulfate to your plants. Finally, it is also wise to test your soil first to learn what minerals are low or missing.

Only use Epsom salt on plants if the soil is low in magnesium. Once you’ve addressed these safety concerns, you’ll find that unlike most types of chemical fertilizers, Epsom salt won’t accumulate in your soil or poison your groundwater. Instead, Epsom salt application promises stronger seedlings, more abundant flowers, tastier fruits, fewer pests and increased plant hardiness.

Support seed growing in the garden with Epsom salt

Magnesium promotes seed germination by strengthening cell walls and providing more energy for growth. Sulfur is easily lost during the germination process, so apply 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt per 4 gallons of water to the soil after sowing. Alternatively, mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt into each hole before planting seeds. For grass seed and wildflowers, sprinkle one cup of Epsom salt per 10 square feet, mix into the soil and water thoroughly. Apply a soaking of Epsom salt to seedlings every month during the growing season.

Promote nutrient uptake by plants with Epsom salt fertilizer.

Scientific tests show that magnesium sulfate can increase cellular uptake of key minerals, including nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. In a recent study, testers from different regions gave pepper plants a standard drink of 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to 4 liters of water twice a month. In the process, the majority of plants treated with it showed thicker foliage and larger vegetables.

How magnesium sulfate helps plants take root

Transplanted roots need tender loving care. To help with this, as well as prevent wilting and leaf discoloration, you can mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt with 1 gallon of water and apply the mixture to the roots of newly potted plants until the soil is saturated. Further, you could also try adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of dry salt directly into the hole before transplanting a bush or flowers. After you have tamped down the soil, water thoroughly with water.

Use Epsom salt against pests

Magnesium sulfate is a natural repellent against pests. Instead of using plain table salt to dehydrate and repel slugs, for example, banish pests with Epsom salt while giving roots and flowers a boost. For general pest control, mix one cup of Epsom salt with 20 gallons of water and use a sprayer to apply it to foliage. To control slugs and such pests in the garden, you can also sprinkle dry Epsom salt on the soil around the base of plants.

Make plants more vibrant with Epsom salt

If you spray the leaves of your plants with magnesium sulfate, it will make them stronger, which will make them more vibrant. A mineral deficiency can interfere with photosynthesis, leaching green color from leaves and impairing nutrient uptake. In fact, when mature leaves turn yellow and curl, it may indicate a magnesium deficiency. So, using a spray bottle, try applying the mixture of one tablespoon of Epsom salt and four cups of water for every 30 inches of plant height. Plants absorb magnesium best when you apply it directly to their leaves.

Use Epsom salt for tomatoes and other vegetables

In addition to the benefits after which you can make fertilizer from Epsom salt, it also works as a perfect flavor enhancer. Every month during the growing season, mix one tablespoon of Epsom salt with every 4 liters of water and apply the solution generously to the roots of fruit and nut trees, vines and beds. Another technique is to apply two tablespoons of dry salt to a 2.70-meter root bed area three times a year. Peppers and tomatoes, accordingly, can benefit equally well if you add some Epsom salt to the garden soil. Add one to two tablespoons of Epsom salt to the soil of each hole before planting seeds. During the growing season, apply a spray of two tablespoons of magnesium sulfate to every 4 gallons of water and apply it to the leaves once a month.

Promote lawn growth with magnesium sulfate.

If your soil tests positive for magnesium deficiency, Epsom salt can help your lawn achieve maximum growth and lushness. Professionals and gardening experts recommend applying 1.5 pounds of Epsom salt per 115 square feet of lawn with a spreader. Sprinkle the salts lightly and then water your lawn with a hose or sprinkler system.

Treat houseplants with Epsom salt fertilizer

Using magnesium sulfate on plants in your home can significantly improve their nutrient uptake. Epsom salt is pH neutral and gentle on houseplants , including potted plants. To increase nutrient uptake, mix two tablespoons of Epsom salt with 4 liters of water and spray it on the leaves, not the roots, for maximum absorption. Alternatively, you can add the salts directly to the soil: 1 teaspoon of salt per 30 cm of plant height. Try adding Epsom salt to your houseplants every month, while also watching for subtle changes in leaf vibrancy and growth.

Easily remove tree stumps with magnesium sulfate

Easily remove tree stumps by first drying them with Epsom salt. A professional stump removal service can be expensive, depending on the size. However, if you are making a stump removal remedy yourself, you can use Epsom salt to first kill the remains of a downed tree. Drill holes around the top of the stump with an electric drill. These holes should be about half as deep as the stump and a few inches apart. Then pour dry Epsom salt into the holes and slowly add water to moisten but not saturate the salts. Cover the stump with a tarp to repel rain and ensure the drying process. The salts will dehydrate the wood over several weeks, and when it dries out, you can cut off most of the stump with an axe and soon dig up and dispose of the root system.

Make roses thrive with Epsom salt

Once you use Epsom salt for roses, you won’t want to use any other fertilizer for them. The magnesium in Epsom salt benefits both new and established rose bushes. It helps supplement a slow-release rose fertilizer that contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salt to the bottom of each hole before planting a new rose bush. For roses that have grown, add one tablespoon of salt per 4 gallons of water and spray the foliage when the plants begin to leaf out in the spring and again during bloom.