1 Cup Epsom Salts Per Plant - REALLY??

[maf]

Ray, glad you found the link interesting. Yes, Dr Chalker-Scott's article is mostly concerned with in ground planting, I think there was one paragraph where she briefly discussed salt buildup with houseplants. As far as I can see the biggest potential problem is the possibility of excess of one nutrient locking up the availability of another. But that is what experiments are for, I guess.

One thing that struck me was the highly water soluble nature of the Epsom salts, which made me wonder if a "little and often" approach (like your experiment with the "snack") might give better results than the all at once approach? With all the variables involved it almost becomes a "how long is a piece of string?" type question.

I would very much like to read Bingster's original posts that gave you the idea; is it possible to provide a link? Or if that is not considered appropriate at least a hint as to which site I might find it on?



And CeleryTainers I like!

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by maf

I would very much like to read Bingster's original posts that gave you the idea; is it possible to provide a link? Or if that is not considered appropriate at least a hint as to which site I might find it on?

Maf,
Bingster posted here a couple of times when this site was relatively new but he never returned. Do a web search using Google or use your favorite search engine and put in two words, Bingster and tomato. Be sure to use both words in your search.
Dutch

[dice]

One thing to remember is that MgSO4 is highly soluble, so there
is a big difference between using it in a closed system like a SWC
and using it in soil, beyond mere additional chemical inputs already
available in the soil (and extra organic matter and carbon in the
SWC). One vendor that sells epsom salt in 50-lb bags for agricultural
use recommended only top dressing it and letting rain and irrigation
water it in, because when incorporated into the soil by tillage, etc,
epsom salt tends to wash out of the root zone before plants have grown
enough roots to take it up (a lot of waste when it is mixed into soil, and
probably likewise when mixing it into container mix in conventional
containers).

We have 3 years for complete breakdown of dolomite lime. It can be
more like 3 days or less for any MgSO4 added to soil or container mix
to become available. Dolomite is finely milled rock. Epsom salt is a 100%
water soluble chemical that needs no weathering or processing by soil
biota or chemical catalysts in the soil to become available to plant roots.

I was adding about a tablespoon (ad hoc measuring without a measuring
device) when transplanting seedlings, and I did see some magnesium
deficiency symptoms on lower leaves of some plants anyway. I added
about a tablespoon per gallon when foliar feeding (kelp and molasses),
treating iron deficiency with a soluble iron chelate, spraying neem oil
and soap to repel bugs, and so on. (The soil had been treated with
dolomite twice a year for a few years, so there is some magnesium
constantly becoming available in it.)

The epson salt council recommends 1 table spoon per foot of height for tomato plants at the following link http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/garden_usage_tips.htm.

That concentration is probably comparable to two cups per container. It sounds heavy handed to me, but I guess it isn't.

Ted

[RayR]

Originally Posted by tedln

The epson salt council recommends 1 table spoon per foot of height for tomato plants at the following link http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/garden_usage_tips.htm.

That concentration is probably comparable to two cups per container. It sounds heavy handed to me, but I guess it isn't.

Ted

It's certainly not heavy handed if you are the Epsom Salts Council and you are pushing for more sales of Epsom Salts.

[rnewste]

Just a "visual" update without any commentary. Early Girl planted with 2 cups Epsom Salts as 8 inch seedlings on August 1:



Now 76 inches tall, and I began topping them last week.

Second, a pair of Goose Creek planted as 12 inch seedlings on August 29:



I've picked 3 ripe fruit from this pair a few days ago.

I have an additional 3 'Tainers using 1 cup Epsom Salts, for a reference during the Fall Season.

Raybo

Originally Posted by RayR

It's certainly not heavy handed if you are the Epsom Salts Council and you are pushing for more sales of Epsom Salts.

I was surprised that there is an "Epson Salts Council" first. I then was surprised that they have progressed beyond its use as a therapeutic product. While I'm sure they wish to promote the use of their product, I would be surprised if their suggested dosage was harmful to tomato plants. If they get a bad reputation because they over promote their product, they lose the business instead of growing it.

The use of Epsom salts has always been one of those things I want to try in my garden, but haven't. I will try it next spring if I can remember to buy some before I plant my spring garden.

Ted

[Dewayne mater]

Raybo - it just occurred to me that last year when I had all the BER issues (which you, Ami and others helped solve with screens for the base, getting the tainers up off of the concrete driveway...and...) a significant fix was adding liquid fertilizer to the water fill tube. Well, what I added was a product called CalMag. Worked tremendously and made for longer lasting, more productive healthier plants. Now I'm wondering if the benefits I had beyond ending BER was related to the Magnesium component of the product? I mentioned that also because the product I use is readily available in the hydro stores and if anyone were to use it, they could end up really over doing magnesium if they used the product I did plus epsom salts.

That said, having not put epsom salts in this go round, do you have any thoughts as to the quantities of epsom salts to add to the water basin to be in the same range as you are providing your tomatoes? Thanks

Dewayne mater

[rnewste]

Dewayne,

If I were to add Epsom Salts directly into the water reservoir, I would add just a Tablespoon at a time into the Filler tube, perhaps every other week. Hit it will the hose good to mix it in.

Raybo

[Tracydr]

I've had a terrible bout of spider mites in the plants that survived the summer. They are starting to put on new growth and a few blossoms but I wonder if Epsom salts might help them along? I've given them some fish emulsion and a liquid compost supplement, along with some liquid mineral (iron,etc) because sometimes we get iron deficiency in our extreme heat.
I might just try some Epsom salts today, along with another liquid compost boost and some powdered kelp meal since we have flood irrigation tonight, or perhaps tomorrow would be better, when they are wet but so as to not wash all the good soluble stuff away?
My tomatoes are in raised beds so the flood irrigation comes up and soaks the roots but doesn't come all the way up to ground level.

[dice]

If you look at this document, the first photo that you see is of
a magnesium deficient plant:
http://5e.plantphys.net/article.php?ch=5&id=289

If your plant does not look like this, at least the blotchy yellow spots in
between the veins in the lower leaves, it is probably not significantly
magnesium deficient. It might be getting just a little less than it can use
without showing those symptoms, but not enough to require any radical
doses of epsom salt (too much can block uptake of other nutrients and
raise pH).

According to the chart here,
http://www.totalgro.com/concepts.htm
excess magnesium interferes with calcium and potassium uptake,
so too much epsom salt would actually increase the chance of
getting fruit with BER (calcium deficiency symptom) and could limit
the development of fruit by interfering with potassium uptake.

[nancyruhl]

[QUOTE=Dewayne mater;235335]Raybo - it just occurred to me that last year when I had all the BER issues (which you, Ami and others helped solve with screens for the base, getting the tainers up off of the concrete driveway...and...) Can you explain this to me.

[OtterJon]

Very interesting experiment Ray. My wife will be thrilled to see that I have "borrowed" the Epsom salts she uses to soak her feet, for my basement garden

[rnewste]

Jon,

As Dice indicates, I would err on the side of a lower application rate, rather than risk hitting the plants with too much.

Again, my one goal with this experiment was to "validate" what Bingster observed when using Epsom Salts. So far, my trial with the 2 cups seems to be replicating his grow-out - - but I am not recommending everybody should do this.

I have 3 additional EarthTainers going now for my Fall garden with 1 cup Epsom Salts, as well as the 3 CeleryTainers with 1/2, 1, and 2 cups as a further experiment.

Raybo

[Riceloft]

Originally Posted by nancyruhl

Can you explain this to me.

Yes I'm quite interested in this as well. Especially the part about getting if off the concrete.