To many people, roses are some of the most beautiful flowers a gardener can grow. The diversity of roses' shapes, sizes and colors is astounding. One common additive for rosebush soil is Epsom salt. Depending on your soil type, Epsom salt can help your roses thrive if you apply it between twice a year and once a month. A weekly spray with Epsom salt solution can keep damaging insects away from your plants.
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Epsom salt is an inexpensive household product that gardeners sometimes use for the magnesium sulfate it contains. Magnesium, which accounts for about 10 percent of the content of Epsom salt, is helpful in seed germination and chlorophyll production. It also helps plants use phosphorous and nitrogen better and can help strengthen cell walls. Sulfur is a key element in plant growth, and helps in the production of vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes.
Using Epsom Salt on Roses
- Since sulfur is rarely deficient in North American garden soils, most rose growers use Epsom salt to add magnesium to the soil. According to the National Gardening Association, rosebushes use a lot of magnesium, and therefore Epsom salt can be a necessary addition to the soil.According to the Epsom Salt Council, soaking transplanted or new rosebushes in 1/2 cup of Epsom salt per gallon of water can help roots recover. It's also a good idea to add 1 tbsp. of Epsom salt to the planting hole.For established rosebushes, apply up to 1/2 cup of Epsom salt around each plant in early spring and again in early fall. After leaves appear and the roses bloom, dissolve 1 tbsp. of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of water to use as a spray. Spraying rosebush leaves and stems with this solution every week can help keep pests at bay.
Amount of Epsom Salt to Use
- Depending on the magnesium content of your garden's soil, you may need to add less or more Epsom salt. The only real way to know how much magnesium is present is to have your soil tested. Otherwise, trial and error is the best approach. Common magnesium deficiency symptoms include yellowing of the leaves between the veins, leaf curling and stunted growth. If your plants show these signs, your soil likely needs more magnesium. You may want to try spreading some Epsom salt around your rosebushes once a month before watering.
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