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Spotlight On: Garden Myths
Ever heard a gardening myth and wondered if it was true?
Gardening myths have always been around, and with the arrival of the Internet, have been shared from around the world, making it hard to sift through what works and what doesn’t. Gardeners want what’s best for their plants, which is why we are always trying to find the organic and natural way to lush green foliage, health, longevity, and big, beautiful blooms.
Here at Strange’s, we are ready to crack the myths. This is the first of hopefully many blog entries highlighting a certain myth that you may have wondered (and hoped!) was true.
Today’s Myth: Does Epsom salt help roses and other plants grow?
The claim: Add a few tablespoons of Epsom salt to the soil around your roses, vegetable plants, and houseplants for more blooms, fruit and healthier foliage.
Well, the consensus is….it does! Epsom salt is composed almost exclusively of Magnesium Sulfate, two minerals that are crucial to healthy plant life. The Magnesium is beneficial to plants at the beginning, as the seeds begin to develop. It infuses with the seed, strengthening plant cell walls. Magnesium also assists with the creation of chlorophyll, as well as helps the plant to soak up phosphorus and nitrogen, which serve as vital fertilizer components in the soil. Magnesium is believed to help with increasing the amount of fruit or blooms on your plant.
Sulfate aides in the production of chlorophyll, improving the health and longevity of the plant. It joins with the soil to make nutrients more effective for your plants, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Specifically, how do you use it? It varies from plant to plant, but for roses, for example, before planting, throw in 1 Tb. of Epsom salt into the hole before placing the rose bush. If your roses are already planted, water with 1 Tb. of Epsom salt dissolved into 1 gallon of water. For flowering and green shrubs, work in 1 Tb. of Epsom salt per nine square feet of bush into the soil over the roots. For tomatoes, create the same water and Epsom salt mixture listed above and water every two weeks with said mixture. For potted plants, dissolve 2 Tb. of Epsom salt into 1 gallon of water and water at least once a month.
Epsom salt sounds like a great product that every gardener should have — who knew? I guess we’ll be finding out all sorts of neat gardening secrets, so until next time! Is there a gardening myth you want Strange’s to prove right or wrong? Drop us an email at marketing@stranges.com and it could be our next topic!
