Can I use Epsom salts to fertilize my garden, fruit trees and houseplants?

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Can I use Epsom salts to fertilize my garden, fruit trees and houseplants?

— Rose Wilbanks
Dover, AR

May 15, 2008

You should never use Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), lime or other single-ingredient soil amendments unless you have had your soil tested and the results confirmed that you need to add that particular ingredient. Adding Epsom salts would benefit some soils, but it could be harmful in others. The only way to know which situation you have is to get a soil test.

— Cheryl Long, Editor in Chief

3 Comments

Shelley Rogers 6/3/2008 12:37:17 PM

I have a Big Old Farm House with a Clay Basement. I have
blankets of White Mold. What could I use to kill it without harming
us?
Marty Sage 5/19/2008 8:11:12 AM

Epsom salts( magnesium sulfate) is organic and next to
nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium, magnesium is a very important
element for plant growth and development. The sulfur in epsom salts
could change the Ph of the soil and make it more acidic,but you can
mix 1 tablespoon of epsom salts in a gallon of water and spray the
plants like a foliar feeding. This small amount of sulphate should
not change the Ph. The magnesium will be very beneficial to your
plants. Magnesium is a component of chlorophyll and aids in the
formation of plant fats,oils and starch, sulfur becomes part of
some proteins,oils,and chlorophyll.
m_e_sh50 5/18/2008 9:17:42 AM

When would you want to use epsom salts to fertilize either
plants or garden? Also, I heard adding fish or fish organs to soil
below garden tomatoes will help the plant grow better fruit. Is
this true?

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