Epsom s alt is a very special plant fertilizer. We will show you what is characteristic of Epsom s alt and what it can be used for in the garden.
Some of you will not know Epsom s alts as a fertilizer, but from medicinal uses. On the one hand, we find Epsom s alts in so-called heat packs, which generate therapeutic heat, and on the other hand, Epsom s alts are used as a laxative. However, it can also be used as a fertilizer. You can find out exactly how this works here.
Epsom S alts: What is that?
Behind the name Epsom s alt is actually the substance magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), a colorless and odorless powder that tastes extremely bitter. Hence its name - Epsom s alt. It looks similar to the normal s alt that we know from the kitchen, but Epsom s alt consists of completely different substances.
Composition of Epsom S alts
As mentioned earlier, Epsom s alt is magnesium sulfate, so it's made up of magnesium and sulfate, which, simply put, is sulfur. Now it is also clear for which deficiency symptoms Epsom s alt can be used, namely for magnesium and sulfur deficiencies.
On average, Epsom s alt is made up of 16% magnesium and 13% sulphur. However, these levels can vary from provider to provider or depending on the product used. You can always find the exact content of your Epsom s alt on the packaging.
Use Epsom S alts as Fertilizer
Epsom s alt is used in universal fertilizers as a source of magnesium. It is either added to fertilizers or used as a pure substance to specifically compensate for a magnesium deficiency.
Epsom s alts: what to use and when?
Before we look at how to use Epsom s alts, let's look at the magnesium in the soil. There are a few factors that affect magnesium that we need to be aware of when fertilizing. This includes the pH value, because the solubility of nutrients in the soil always depends on this. Magnesium is most available at a relatively neutral pH (6 to 8) andso also accessible for plants. However, when the soil becomes acidic or overly basic, the magnesium is no longer available. If you now fertilize with Epsom s alt, which consists of magnesium sulphate, you should bear in mind that this lowers the pH value in the soil. If the pH falls below 6, the magnesium solubility is reduced. Then you can in principle fertilize as much as you want - the plant will not receive the substance. For this reason, you should consider a soil test if you have major nutrient supply problems in your garden.
When using magnesium fertilization, you should always keep an eye on another nutrient, namely calcium. If there is a lot of calcium in the soil, this can reduce the availability of other nutrients - for example magnesium, potassium or phosphorus. Therefore, always ensure a balanced nutrient ratio in the soil and avoid one-sided fertilization. Coniferous trees (conifers) in our gardens often suffer from a magnesium deficiency and this is indicated by yellow or brown discolored needles. Other plants also show magnesium deficiency through yellowing of leaves. First the older leaves turn yellow and slowly the yellowing spreads to the younger ones as well. However, the veins of the discolored leaves remain green and the photosynthesis performance decreases, because magnesium is an important part of the leaf green, the chlorophyll.
Unfortunately, you cannot clearly infer a magnesium deficiency in conifers just from the discolouration. A lack of potassium can also cause the needles to become discolored. Most of us probably know such discolouration and the browning of needles from thuja hedges in the garden. You can apply Epsom s alts during the growing season, generally between March and November. Application outside of the growing season is not recommended, as the magnesium sulphate can then simply be washed out and has no effect on our plants.
Since Epsom s alt only fertilizes very one-sidedly, a soil test should be carried out before use. In any case, we recommend not only fertilizing with Epsom s alt, but also using a balanced organic fertilizer, such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer. This contains essential nutrients with which your plants are nourished in a balanced way.
Epsom s alt as fertilizer: how often to use?
For maintenance fertilization with Epsom s alts, it is first important toknow what ground you have. If your soil is rather light, i.e. very sandy, and water seeps away more quickly, then more magnesium will be washed out. For such light soils, two to three applications of 30 g Epsom s alts per square meter are recommended.
If you have heavy soil in your garden that is very loamy and prone to waterlogging, 30 to 50 g Epsom s alt per square meter once a season is sufficient for sufficient magnesium fertilization.
You can use the Epsom s alt fertilizer in several ways:
- Work the Epsom s alts into the soil in solid form and then water the area thoroughly
- Dissolve the Epsom s alts in water and water the plants showing deficiency symptoms
- Epsom s alts can also be foliar applied. Since magnesium is also present in leafy greens, it can easily be supplied in this way. A solution of about 20 ml of liquid Epsom s alts in one liter of water is optimal for foliar fertilization
Buy Epsom S alts
Epsom s alt is available as a solid fertilizer, but also in liquid form. In principle, Epsom s alt is relatively cheap to obtain, sometimes starting at a kilo price of around one euro. Epsom s alt is also added to some universal fertilizers for an extra dose of magnesium.
For general information on the properties and application of magnesium fertilizers, see this article.