The Use of Epsom Salts

[brush]

Can anyone tell me what the benefit is of using epsom salts and water for your orchids . I have heard of this given to roses . Does it do the same for your orchids ? When should you start giving it to them ? If anyone knows , I would like to hear.

[Phalguy]

Epsom salt ( magnesium sulfate ) is suppose to stimulate the plant to bloom ! I have tried it but didn`t notice any benefit!

Claude

[mehitabel]

I've used it from time to time when I get a new phal whose leaves seem too pale or flimsy to me. Sometimes vio hybrids have thin, pathetic leaves (not wilty, just not robust). I hate that, so I give it a dose, sometimes two.

It doesn't affect the old leaves that much visibly, but new leaves come in greener and tougher.

It is said to increase the color and size of a blooming, given a few months before blooming. But I haven't done that.

[brush]

Thanks for the info on the epsom salts . I will have to give this a try with my orchids to see if this works or not.

[Sandy4453]

I'm not sure exactly why it's used except that Baldans Orchids suggests 1 tspn every month and if you've ever seen their orchids......

I've been using epsom and keeping the Phals fertilized more regularly this past year and I've had better results this year than ever before. Don't know if it's the epsom, fertlizer or combo., but I'm not changing anything!

[camille1585]

From what I know, magnesium is very important chlorophyll synthesis and also activates many plant enzymes involved in growth and blooming.
If you look at the labels of most fertilizers, there is all the elements, except magnesium. I've read that is because the soil contains enough of it anyways, and that there is some in tapwater.
The problem is that orchids don't grow in soil, and I know that my tap water is very soft, so not much calcium and magnesium in it. If I could find epsom salts here, I would use it.

[playtime8978]

This is very interesting, Epsom salts are readily available here in pharmacies. How much would you use in a litre of water ? I saw that a teaspoon was mentioned above but not sure how much water that is in relation to.

[camille1585]

I asked at the pharmacy, I asked at the 'droguerie' (drugstore I think). Since no one knows what epsom salts are, I tried asking them for magnesium sulfate. Still no luck. I didn't try to look for some in NL, I have no clue what they call it in dutch!

[BikerDoc5968]

If you use the Better~Gro line of fertilizer or the MSU products, as well as some others, they will have trace amounts of Mg already in the mix. Many people add egg shells or small amounts of limestone to the tops of some of their paphs that are typically lithophytes...then again many add nothing but the food and have great results. I'm no expert, far from it, but IMHO, as long as you provide the basics and you aren't trying to grow some specific exotic chid, you'll do just fine with a good, well-rounded, food.

[susiep]

I know in south Fla we use MgSO4 to prevent reddening of the leaves from the sun. 1 tsp per gal. It is sold in the grocery store or pharmacy in the laxative section and comes in various sized bags. Here is what Martin Motes wrote in his January newsletter.

"Late November and early December 2008 have been cooler than average but without the dramatic drops in temperature that typically occur with fast moving cold fronts in late Fall. These large slow moving masses of cold air have also produced less rain.. This prolonged and consistent coolness and dryness has put additional stress on most orchids. Trace element nutrition, particularly additional magnesium is essential to prevent reddening of foliage and loss of leaves under cold and drought stress. If additional minor elements and magnesium have not been applied, it's not too late. A good trace element mixture (at the rate recommended for ornamentals) in combination with addition Epsom salts and potassium nitrate is highly desireable."

Hope that helps!