Important!! Calcium Deficiency

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Jayfar

I use Botanicare CAL-MAG Plus, but I also periodically use a pinch of Epsom Salts in my mix to supply a little sulphur, which is lacking in my local water supply. J. R. Peters Lab states that my water has about 9 ppm sulphur and 10-80 ppm is normal range.

One caveat they give about adding Epsom Salts for sulphur: "DO NOT MIX any sulfur-containing compounds with calcium, an insoluble precipitate will form." I don't think that's a problem as long as I add the Epsom Salts to the diluted mix; in other words, don't combine it with undiluted Cal-Mag or you will lock up the calcium in a precipitate.

I've seen this warning regarding using calcium nitrate with any kind of sulfate; at least one brand of Cal-Mag (Brandt) seems to contain soluble calcium and nitrate-nitrogen, though there could be different Cal-Mag formulations. My recollection (which could be a bit fuzzy, and you should verify) is that the precipitate is gypsum (calcium sulfate), which will eventually dissolve again; J.R. Peters may be able to confirm. I think you are probably right about dilute mixes not being a problem.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Ok then I will use the gypsum with Epsom salts. Would you put it in with your regular fert or feed alone? I fed mine alone and need to do the rest. I do not have a scientific mind so much of what you guy's say's goes over my head.

Trying, trying. I am thinking some of mine might need this as well. I have been using rain water all summer and still am but have started to add a little bit of my well water to it.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

Ok then I will use the gypsum with Epsom salts. Would you put it in with your regular fert or feed alone? I fed mine alone and need to do the rest. I do not have a scientific mind so much of what you guy's say's goes over my head.

Trying, trying. I am thinking some of mine might need this as well. I have been using rain water all summer and still am but have started to add a little bit of my well water to it.

I've used the gypsum-Epsom solution (1 tsp each/gal), added a few ounces of this solution either with or without fertilizer per gallon of water. I'm not really scientific about the amount, but my plants outdoors last summer (which was incredibly wet) showed no signs of bacterial or fungal problems. Either the gypsum-Epsom was working, or I got really, really lucky.

I have some vandaceous plants in vase culture that get a small amount of the Ca+Mg and a small pinch of fertilizer with nearly every watering. Other plants growing with roots in medium get Ca+Mg a few times a month, with or without dilute fertilizer.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Thanks I just watered the rest of what I think I didn't water last time with it. I used it just itself.