Gardening experts disagree on the benefits of using magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, known as Epsom salt, to aid plant and flower growth. Epsom salt is claimed to produce “more colorful and healthier flowers”, while opponents dismiss this as a dangerous myth and warn that relying on Epsom salt risks ruining your garden are doing.
What is Epsom salt?
Epsom salt is named after the English town where it was first discovered in soil and spring water in the 16th century. Epsom salt is a natural mineral containing magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.
What is Epsom salt commonly used for?
Epsom salt is commonly used at home as a bath salt and is said to help relieve stress and soothe muscle pain when bathed. However, as with gardening, these reported benefits are questionable. Heidi Borst of Forbes magazine quotes sports medicine physician Dr. George Eldely as writing: […] before such benefits are scientifically confirmed.”
There appears to be strong evidence that soaking in Epsom salt water can help heal minor injuries. However, foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Bruce Pinker warns Forbes that it should not be used to treat deep or infected wounds.
On the other hand, some claim that drinking a solution of Epsom salt in water can have detoxifying effects. However, Lana Balm of Today's Medical News points out that there is “no reliable evidence” to support this. “the only [confirmed] “The benefit of drinking Epsom salt is that it acts as a laxative when you become constipated,” says Balm.
Therefore, it seems clear that Epsom salt is a mineral whose benefits are not widely accepted. And this is brought into particular sharp relief by the conflicting advice given to green Americans trying to maximize the potential of their gardens.
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Could this amazing ingredient lead to healthier, more colorful plants and flowers?Martina Umbehauen/Getty Images
Is Epsom salt useful for gardening?
“It helps plants absorb these nutrients more efficiently.”
In an article published in the home improvement magazine The Spruce, professional gardener Les Angeles cites Epsom salt as a substance that helps “improve soil quality and promote plant growth.” is recommended.
“This easy-to-use natural option contains essential nutrients magnesium and sulfur. […]” he added. “When Epsom salts are dissolved in water and applied to the soil, plants can absorb these nutrients more efficiently, resulting in vibrant flowers and better plant health.”
Engels recommends diluting 1 to 2 tablespoons of minerals in a gallon of water before pouring them into the soil around vegetables, tomatoes, roses, etc. In some cases, it is also suggested to spray the solution on the leaves of the plant.
“None of these recipes are based on science.”
Writing in the Old Farmer's Almanac, a 200-year-old publication specializing in gardening, cooking, weather, and the phases of the moon, horticulture expert Robin Sweeser refutes Engels' advice. .
Plants need enough magnesium in the soil so they can produce the chlorophyll they need for photosynthesis, but they also need enough sulfur “to form vitamins and plant proteins,” Sweeser explains. However, she cites her academic research showing that Epsom salt is ineffective in improving plant growth in soils deficient in magnesium and sulfur.
Sweeser also points out that North American gardens rarely suffer from sulfur deficiency. “Excess sulfur builds up in the soil, making it difficult for plants to utilize other nutrients they need,” she says. If your soil is low in sulfur, Sweeser recommends using fertilizer instead of Epsom salts.
Magnesium deficiency is also unlikely to be a problem, according to a 2018 paper by Washington State University horticulturists Linda Chalker Scott and Rich Guggenheim. “Urban soils, including home gardens and landscapes, are rarely deficient in this substance,” Chalker-Scott and Guggenheim assert.
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“Adding Epsom salt to soil that is already magnesium-rich can harm plants and contaminate the soil,” warns Swieser.
Chalker-Scott and Guggenheim agree that Epsom salt use “can cause nutrient imbalances in the soil and cause significant damage to plants,” concluding:Prevention of butt rot and transplant shock […]. None of these recipes are based in science. ”
