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Genius Epsom Salt Hacks You Should Be Using In Your Home And Garden
By JAHAIRA ARTHUR
Fertilizer
As a pure form of magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt can help magnesium-deficient plants produce chlorophyll, perform respiration, and metabolize minerals like phosphate.
Sprinkle the salt on the surface, applying under 1/2 a teaspoon per square foot or water with it once a month by adding two tablespoons of Epsom salt in a watering can.
Foliar Feed
Epsom salt is a fast-release form of magnesium sulfate, so it's best for foliar feeding — spraying nutrients onto the leaves and stems of plants with deficiencies.
Add a tablespoon of Epsom per gallon of water and spray twice a month. As a water-soluble solution, it offers plants a quick fix in case of nutrient deficiencies.
Greening Up Ferns
Lack of magnesium can result in paling ferns, which Epsom salt can prevent. Simply add a tablespoon of the salt to a gallon of water and apply it once a month.
Banish Slugs
To deter slugs from destroying your garden, create a barricade around vulnerable plants like lettuce, peas, and beans by sprinkling a small ring of Epsom salt.
Epsom salt is an abrasive substance, and the sharp crystals feel uncomfortable on the slug's underbelly, so they'll stay away from it.
Scrub Grout
Epsom salt's abrasive nature can prove handy for lifting dirt from grout lines. Dip a damp scrubber into soap, then into Epsom salts, and work the crystals on the grout.
The crystals are strong enough to scrape at dust particles in hard-to-reach places like grout. The salt also has specific antibacterial actions that ensure thorough cleaning.