How Much Epsom Salt to Use for Houseplants?

Epsom salt isn't new to cupboards, garages and medicine cabinets, but few people are aware of the immense benefit Epsom salt provides to plants. A simple concoction of Epsom salt and water will help your house plants thrive.

What Is Epsom Salt?

Most Americans already have Epsom salt in the home; we just don't know exactly what it is. Rich in magnesium and sulfur, this salt provides essential minerals to all forms of life, both human and plants. While the most common use of Epsom salt is in foot baths, its virtues to the home gardener cannot be underestimated. Organic gardeners and natural farmers extol its virtues and swear by its results, so it makes sense that everyone could benefit from knowing how to employ these readily available minerals around the house.

What Will Epsom Salt Do For My Plants?

A houseplant can add vibrance and life to the home during any season, even winter. Conversely, a dying house plant can cast a dismal pall over any room in any season. Keeping these plants happy, healthy and productive can be a challenge. According to the Epsom Salt Council, magnesium and sulfate are minerals essential to several key phases of plant life, from seed germination to chlorophyll production. In addition, the presence of these minerals aids plants in using phosphorous and nitrogen, which are also vital to plants as fertilizers. Epsom salt, then, doesn't keep your plants alive. It keep your plants living well.

How Do I Use Epsom Salt?

Of course, nothing will prove the merits of these salts quite like actual results. Chances are instructions will be on the package, but the Epsom Salt Council recommends dissolving two tablespoons of Epsom salt in one gallon of water for houseplants. Remember that a great many plants can benefit from an Epsom salt distillation, and the Epsom Salt Council's website, epsomsaltcouncil.com, has recommendations for varieties such as tomatoes, roses, trees, shrubs and even lawns. One warning, though: Sage is among the few plants that actually responds poorly to the presence of these salts, so do not apply to that particular plant.

Using Epsom Salt is simple, and the results will probably surprise you. Furthermore, it provides a natural, organic alternative to the fertilizers on the market today. A healthy, vibrant green plant will be well worth the easy effort of stirring these vital minerals in right before watering your plants, and after you treat your plants to a mineral-rich drink you can soak in your own bath of Epsom salts to share in the benefits.

References

• Epsom Salt Council