The notion that Epsom salts - magnesium sulfate - is some sort of magical garden tonic is a persistent gardening myth. There have been no scientific tests or studies to document any of the claims that Epsom salts aids seed germination, increases nutrient uptake, reduces insect or disease issues or enhances growth and overall plant health. In fact, other than a slight lowering of pH, all Epsom salts has ever been proven to do is correct any magnesium deficiency.

https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-puyallup/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/epsom-salts.pdf

https://www.gardenmyths.com/epsom-salt-for-plants/

Jeri, I did look on Amazon for soil testing kits, but none contained a way to measure magnesium sulfate. I guess I'll give them a miss.

I have fast draining sandy soil . Every few months , I scatter around 1/4 cup Epsom salts around the rose over the mulch then water it in . I find that the leaves green up and sometimes new basil breaks will appear .

I have come to the conclusion that there are NO! experts, all endeavors of human existence included. Therefore, Epsom Salts, say at 1/2 cup per mature bush, can have benefits the, 'experts,'don't yet know about. If you apply Epsom Salts, and see a definite expected positive result, your eyes are not likely deceiving you. Believe your eyes.

I plan to apply Epsom Salts at the rate of 1/2 cup per mature bush, for the first time this early spring. Ask me in July if I believe that it made a positive difference.

Moses.

Yeah, Sorry Bart. I guess that, just as all soils (and all waters) are different, the value of different additives varies wildly.

Jeri, there's no need to say sorry, unless you just mean it like "I'm sad you can't get a soil test". I don't have sandy soil-it tends more to clay,which makes one think that it may be pretty well-stocked with minerals. Moses, I'll be anxious to hear the results of your experiment!

Jeri - do you recommend I follow advice from a well regarded rose person in Santa Clarita? I’m in hills of SB, do not the same hot, dry climate…a guy at ACE recommended I look her up.

Well, I don't garden where you do, but I use no epsom salts, no alfalfa tea, no alfalfa pellets, fish emulsion, etc. Nothing that takes time, makes a mess, and stinks up a storm. And somehow, I muddle through. I want to make rose growing a pleasure, not a lesson in stinky chemistry. I had enough of that in college. If it bites and scratches, it's zoology, if it stinks and pops, it's chemistry, and if it doesn't work, it's physics. Yes, it's true. Diane

In our very light sandy soils (and even when amended with quite a lot of organic matter) and 75" of rain annually, in Lakeland Florida, soil tests generally show low levels of Mg, and extremely low levels of sulfur (the other element that Epsom salts supplies). So we use about 1/3-1/2 cup per bush every spring. In a heavier, clay-based soil, I'd agree with others who have commented -- there may be no benefit. But for us, it is an excellent source of two minerals that are generally lacking.

• @Diane Brakefield how do you 'feed' your roses? Or do you just not bother with anything except for water and get those stunning results? If so, maybe I need to move to your neighborhood...

@malcolm_manners: So, would you vote against using it, since I do have mostly heavy clay and can't find a soil test that will let me test for minerals' BTW, Dr. Manners, I LOVE your Fbook posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!- and I'm so glad to get your opinion on this matter, too.

SD Shine, I've repeated my rose regimen several times on the forum, so my apologies for repeating this just one more time. In November, (in my zone 7, SW Idaho, hot and dry in summer, but with winters), I apply NuLife Organic Compost containing mycorrhizae and some chicken manure, around all roses, clematis, and if possible, peonies, hibiscus, and cranesbill. In late February, on goes the Plant Tone around roses and some other plants. In March, on goes Lilly Miller Organic Granular Fertilizer for Acid Loving Plants because my soil is alkaline. That's it for the year, unless I spray on some Miracle Gro in July, which doesn't accomplish anything, but I'm often feeling useless in July. It's blistering hot then, so I do this chore in the evening, if I do it. The compost is a regional product, so most of you probably won't be able to get it. And shipping a gazillion bags of the stuff would be very costly. The Tones are available in the 36-50 pound bags on Amazon. Watch for free shipping and lowest prices. You can get some some real deals on this. Diane

Bart Bart, will your county cooperative extension service run a test for you? If not, they should be able to tell you who would. Or is there a testing lab near you that would do it? They may charge a fee, but it is not outrageous. Otherwise, without knowing the mineral content of your soil, I can't make any recommendation, one way or the other.

Diane, all of the Tones contain alfalfa meal.

That's fine. I knew that, it's not the alfalfa, or anything else they contain. I don't have to monkey with it because it's ready to apply. There are no stinking buckets that are going to be kicked over in my crowded garage. Everything is in bags, ready for use. That was my point. No stinking recipes. Diane

@malcolm_manners I live in Italy; I don't think there's any equivalent of an extension service here. Since Epsom salts are pretty expensive on Amazon, and considering what I've read on this thread, I think it's better that I give them a miss (at least for now), and eventually use the money on , for example, some seaweed fert or something. Thank you all so much for helping me decide!

Bart, do you know the pH of your soil? If not that’s very easy to test. Home tests aren’t massively accurate but will at least give you a general idea.

The reason I ask about pH is that I have heavy, rocky, presumably mineral-rich but highly alkaline clay (and hard well water via calciferous rock) and my roses get chlorosis and veining because they cannot access certain locked up minerals such as iron and magnesium. Aside from my regular organic fertiliser (containing a good range of macro and micronutrients), alfalfa pellets and acidic mulch that I apply in February/March, during the blooming season I use chelated iron and/or tomato feed with added iron and magnesium to green them up again - all soluble and easily taken up directly by the roses. I water all the roses really deeply first, then apply the diluted liquid correctors to ONLY those that appear to be experiencing deficiencies - the leaves tell me if, when and what. some roses cope fine without the additional correctors.

I haven’t done a full soil test as I can’t find anywhere to do one here either, but the above seems to work.

@Diane Brakefield 'no-stinky' is very appealing to me as manure and such attracts wildlife that like to dig. I add alfalfa meal to my plants but that smells like grass, which I love.

I had good results on my roses potted in sand+ potting mix. I think the colors were richer. In my native CA soil, it would be too much (have enough minerals in this alkaline clay).