Epsom Salt on Plants

Are epsom salts good for plants?

There is a bit of uncertainty concerning using epsom salts on your plants.  Research shows little effects, but gardeners have been using epsom salts on their rose bushes, tomatoes & peppers with obvious positive effect.

Use:
The general guideline for application is 1-2 tablespoons diluted in 1 gallon of water.  Applied as much as every other week.

Benefit:
Epsom salts include sulfur and magnesium, both of which are necessary minerals for plants.

Concerns:
Soil salinity - build up of excess salt (of varying types) in growing beds.  More than just epsom salt, many commercial fertizers are mineral based, and often times excess minerals that aren't used by the plants can build up in the soil.  As these excess minerals build up, it make it much harder for the plant to absorb water and nutrients.  Furthermore, salty soil diminishes moisture in the plant by sucking water out of plants in an effort to neutralize salinity.

Read more: Saline Water's Effect on Plant Growth | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_12140281_saline-waters-effect-plant-growth.html#ixzz23j6lqckv

More on epsom salts for plants on youtube.  FriedasGarden

So the short answer is yes, you can use epsom salts on your plants. Just make sure it's not too much or too often.