Is Epsom salt good for orchids?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Ray

Epsom Salts is magnesium sulfate septahydrate (MgSO4.7H2O).

Magnesium (Mg) is a critical structural component of the chlorophyll molecule and is necessary for functioning of plant enzymes to produce carbohydrates, sugars and fats. Magnesium-deficient plants show yellowing between veins of older leaves, and they may appear limp.

Sulfur (S) is a structural component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins and enzymes and is essential to produce chlorophyll, so a deficiency usually shows up as light green leaves.

As was stated, magnesium is in most municipal and private well water supplies, and most fertilizers contain sufficient sulfur. If you have a complete fertilizer, it is unlikely that you'll ever see deficiencies in either, and if you want to add it, do so in small quantities as a supplement to your fertilizer, not as a replacement.

The GreenCare MSU RO formula - probably the most complete fertilizer on the market - contains 2% Mg and about 0.1% S by weight, while Epsom Salts is 10% Mg and 13% S. That would suggest to me that if I wanted to add it, I should probably not bother using more than about 1/5 of the amount of fertilizer I use.

I have added more as experiments - one time I went as high as two tablespoons per gallon - and I ended up with the strangest "zebra-striped" plants.

One thing that is nice about Epsom Salts is that adding it does not affect the pH of your nutrient solution.

Thanks, Ray. Right on the target as usual

[Charles]

I'll have to start using it then.
Thanks.

[charmbutterfly]

Originally Posted by Ray

Epsom Salts is magnesium sulfate septahydrate (MgSO4.7H2O).

Magnesium (Mg) is a critical structural component of the chlorophyll molecule and is necessary for functioning of plant enzymes to produce carbohydrates, sugars and fats. Magnesium-deficient plants show yellowing between veins of older leaves, and they may appear limp.

Sulfur (S) is a structural component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins and enzymes and is essential to produce chlorophyll, so a deficiency usually shows up as light green leaves.

As was stated, magnesium is in most municipal and private well water supplies, and most fertilizers contain sufficient sulfur. If you have a complete fertilizer, it is unlikely that you'll ever see deficiencies in either, and if you want to add it, do so in small quantities as a supplement to your fertilizer, not as a replacement.

The GreenCare MSU RO formula - probably the most complete fertilizer on the market - contains 2% Mg and about 0.1% S by weight, while Epsom Salts is 10% Mg and 13% S. That would suggest to me that if I wanted to add it, I should probably not bother using more than about 1/5 of the amount of fertilizer I use.

I have added more as experiments - one time I went as high as two tablespoons per gallon - and I ended up with the strangest "zebra-striped" plants.

One thing that is nice about Epsom Salts is that adding it does not affect the pH of your nutrient solution.

Hey Ray how often do you add epsom salts to your orchids?

[GreggC]

once my peppers started blooming, I would spray my plants about every ten days in order to continue the blooming. Seemed to work okay.

[Ray]

I don't at all, Charm.

Back when I used a fertilizer that was deficient in Mg, I blended it with the fertilizer powder in a 10:1 ratio, and used it all of the time. Now that I use the MSU RO stuff, which already has it, I don't bother.

Personally, I think it's smarter to use a complete fertilizer, than try to reformulate what you've got, as the only calculation necessary is that of the total dosage. If you get the addition wrong, it can adversely affect the plants.

Fortunately, Epsom Salts is a relatively innocuous chemical, but I'd still be wary.

[AHAB]

Hey Ray,
What would happen if you added MSU RO formula to tap water?
Any negatives?
Would you get precipitation?
Thanks,
Jim

[Des]

Thanks for that Ray , you hit the nail on the head ! I use it in my fertilizing program and find it very beneficial for all the genera in my collection, but most of all for my Cymbids ,as I use rain water

[Ray]

Jim,

I doubt that there would be any issues if mixed to usage strength, but if making up a concentrate, I guess the precipitation issue is dependent upon just how high the level of dissolved solids in the water supply.