Epsom salts

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Purple Streaks, Mar 5, 2021.

  1. Purple Streaks

    Purple Streaks Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2012
    Messages:
    470
    Location:
    Sconthorpe
    Ratings:
    +699
    My late father-in-law used to swear by Epsom salts for use in the garden for everything .He would use a solution against damping off , have any members used this please and can you give any advice etc ?
     
  2. Victoria

    Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2006
    Messages:
    30,126
    Occupation:
    Lady of Leisure
    Location:
    Messines, Algarve
    Ratings:
    +49,915
    II use it occasionally to give plants a boost.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

      Joined:
      Jan 9, 2005
      Messages:
      47,724
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Mid Kent
      Ratings:
      +84,391
      Not something I use all the time, and without good reason.
      Not heard about it stopping damping off, but then damping off is a disease brought about by growing conditions mostly.

      I was led to believe yellowing of leaves was down to magnesium deficiency, (Epsom salts) , but have since found out that more often than not an iron feed works better.
       
      • Agree Agree x 2
      • noisette47

        noisette47 Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 25, 2013
        Messages:
        5,865
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
        Ratings:
        +13,966
        The main use for it that I'm aware of is to correct magnesium deficiency in fruit trees...it's used to get rid of bitter pit in apples.
         
      • Perki

        Perki Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jun 2, 2017
        Messages:
        2,342
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Lancashire
        Ratings:
        +8,371
        It does help with leaves , quite a few lawn fertilizers have magnesium in them now and it makes a difference. I don't believe it has anything to do with damping off seen as damping of is a fungi organisms. I use epsom salts on the grapevine and the tomato bed both know for magnesium deficiency, also I use it on some plant with poor leaf colouring but it does depend on the plant , I'd use an Iron feed on a rhododendron for example
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

          Joined:
          Jan 9, 2005
          Messages:
          47,724
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          Mid Kent
          Ratings:
          +84,391
          And I thought that was cause by a calcium deficiency:scratch:
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • flounder

            flounder Super Gardener

            Joined:
            Apr 26, 2020
            Messages:
            753
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            RETIRED!!
            Location:
            Brighton
            Ratings:
            +1,545
            I started using it as an old gardener told me he swears by it. It could have been he swears at it as I've not seen any discernible difference.
            One benefit I did see, was put in pots dry as granules, it upsets the local gastropod fraternity, but further trials(all out war) are needed
             
            • Like Like x 3
            • noisette47

              noisette47 Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Jan 25, 2013
              Messages:
              5,865
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
              Ratings:
              +13,966
              You're right! Although I'm sure that someone, somewhere recommended chucking Epsom salts at it :scratch: Probably a 'useful' bit of misinformation from a celebrity gardener :biggrin:
               
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • gks

                gks Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Feb 28, 2021
                Messages:
                1,509
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Production Manager
                Location:
                Cumbria
                Ratings:
                +4,434
                Most people I know that use Epsom salts use it as bath salts. Epsom salts (Pharmaceutical Grade) sells in large volumes, big business.
                 
              • lolimac

                lolimac Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Feb 4, 2019
                Messages:
                1,479
                Gender:
                Female
                Location:
                East Riding of Yorkshire
                Ratings:
                +4,927
                I use it for my Buxus as a foliar feed if it's looking a bit ropey,always does the trick.
                 
                • Informative Informative x 1
                Loading...

                Share This Page

                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                  Dismiss Notice