Can You Put Espon Salt on Tomato Plants?

Chemical Composition

• Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate, a compound that readily dissolves in water. Once dissolved, the individual chemicals are easily absorbed by nearby roots, providing plants with magnesium and sulfur, nutrients that are vital to the health of the plant. Though both of these chemicals occur naturally in the soil, they can be depleted by conditions such as over-cultivation of a site or excessive rainfall. Additionally, the chemicals found in Epsom salt tends to lower the pH of the soil, which improves the growing conditions for acid-loving plants, such as tomatoes.

Magnesium Deficiency

• Diagnosing a specific nutrient deficiency can be difficult without testing the soil or the leaves and stems of the tomato plants. This is because in many cases the symptoms are fairly generic: stunted growth, lack of vitality, yellow leaves, etc. However, a magnesium deficiency produces signs that are relatively easy to identify, as the tomato plants bear thin, brittle leaves that are bronzed or purplish-red in color. The off-color foliage tends to curl inward from the edges, as well, and breaks easily when handled. In many instances, a single application of Epsom salt can alleviate the symptoms of magnesium deficiency and restore plant vigor.

Application

• To apply Epsom salt to tomato plants, simply sprinkle the compound around the base of the plant; use 1 tbsp. for every 12 inches of plant height. Repeat the application every two weeks for the duration of the growing season. Alternatively, dissolve 2 tbsp. of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of water, then use the solution to give tomato seedlings a light, foliar feeding.

Considerations

• While Epsom salt is inexpensive, readily available and easy to apply, it may not be beneficial to all plants. Regular applications of Epsom salt are advantageous for plants that need large doses of all-purpose fertilizer to be fruitful or those that flourish in acidic soils, but it seems to have little to no impact on other types of vegetation. However, Epsom salt does disintegrates quickly when exposed to the elements; it does not accumulate in the soil and is, therefore, safe to use on a wide variety of flowers, fruits, vegetables and houseplants.