Desert soil & Epsom salt
-
Douglas Hunt on Jul 08, 2013Epsom salts works best where there is a magnesium deficiency in the soil. If you don't have that, there's not really any reason to use it.Helpful Reply
-
-
J Kelly on Jul 16, 2013Mr Hunt does not live in the desert, so i would take his advice with a grain of salt. Ms Becky I share your sympathy as i am also dealing with alkalotic soils in New Mexico. To answer you question regarding pH; a chemist friend of mine tried lowering the pH of the soil with pure hydrochloric acid... did not work. Other than total soil replacement, I'm sorry to report that there are no practical alternatives to balancing the pH. Magnesium sulphate works by stabilizing ions/minerals for the plant to use. The magnesium ion is crucial for photosynthesis as it is analagous to the central role that Iron plays in the human hemoglobin molecule. The sulphate ion can stabilize (a.k.a. hold on to) other minerals that a plant can use (ie calcium, magnesium, potassium). Sounds like all the stuff in fertilizer huh. Pre-mix your soil with a cup of epsom salt, and water with a teaspoon of Epsom in 1 gallon of water once per month. Do not overwater as this will leech away the soluble minerals.Helpful Reply
-
-
Becky on Jul 17, 2013Thank you for this info. A Though I have amended ,most of my beds with organic material I think I'll stay away from the Epsom salt. I did share this with friends in Northern CAHelpful Reply
-
Related Discussions
Old desk with hard rubber top needs help
I have a very old desk that is in great condition except for the top. It is that old, hard rubber and it has a lot of dings and gashes (for lack of a better term). I ... See more
Do colors have to coordinate for bedroom and bathroom?
I recently got overzealous and bought a shower curtain, towels and rug for my bathroom in a totally different color than I planned on doing in the actual bedroom. Doe... See more
Should I remove plaster and lathe or can I just remove plaster?
I have an 1882 Balloon construction house that has some pretty extensive plaster falling off of the lath. I know that the lath actually adds to the wall stability, a... See more
How do I remove sand paint from the walls of a small bathroom?
Thought it was clever and a great look until I realized that if you fall against the wall it would scrape worse than a fall on cement. My husband is elderly and the l... See more
Has anyone had any luck removing artillery fungus?
Please provide personal success stories on how to get rid of fungus in mulch... not links because I have googled and watched others and tried. My daughter had a load ... See more
Which do you prefer: distressed wood or natural wood?
When it comes to choosing wood for your home decor, the finish can make all the difference in achieving the look and feel you want. Distressed wood, with its rugged c... See more
Repurpose glass crackle globes
I have several old solar lights with the glass crackle globe on top. The solar part doesn't work anymore. What could I do with the glass globes?