Give Mums A Magnesium Fertilizer Boost With A Staple Bathroom Item

When tree leaves begin to change and fall, pumpkins emerge in every corner store, corn mazes become all the rage, and chrysanthemums (mums) take center stage as the bright pop of color for the season. Mums are an inexpensive and hardy plant to add to your landscape and patio, but they require a variety of nutrients to thrive. The primary elements mums need to grow are phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, but there are also secondary nutrients you want to provide as well. One of those is magnesium, which can encourage blooms and even boost the color of your flowers. The easiest way to give them the magnesium they need is to reach for the Epsom salt you likely have sitting in your bathroom.

Epsom salt was reportedly discovered hundreds of years ago in a little town across the pond in England. Not only is it great as a magnesium supplement for your mums, but there are many other smart uses for Epsom salt around the house, from soaking all your troubles away in the tub to using Epsom salt to clean and refresh your bathroom.

Unlike table salt and rock salt, which have the chemical compound of sodium chloride, Epsom salt consists of magnesium sulfate. Those elements — magnesium and sulfur — are two out of the three macronutrients mums consistently need to bloom and grow, with Epsom salt offering a DIY fertilizer boost.

The best way to apply Epsom salt to your mums is to dissolve them in water and spray the solution at the base of your plants. Use 1 tablespoon for every gallon of water and feed them about every four to six weeks, starting when you first notice new growth and continuing throughout their growing season. But be sure to avoid spraying the leaves with the solution. Your goal is to supply the nutrients to the roots to get the most out of your mums.

While this might all sound like good news and a miracle solution to any potential blooming problems, you want to be careful not to overdo it on the Epsom salts because too much of a good thing can actually harm your mums. Supplying too much magnesium sulfate could throw off the balance of your soil's nutrients, dehydrate the plant, or even kill it. To avoid these problems, test your soil periodically throughout the season to ensure you aren't providing too much magnesium and sulfur, and stick to the recommended application dosage and frequency.