To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Epsom salts and nitrogen
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 11:34:34 -0400
"if the soil has sufficient magnesium already, adding more (Epsom
Salts) won't
do anything. If your soil lacks sufficient magnesium, then Epsom Salts
will
make a difference. Epsom Salts is a quick release form of magnesium but
Dolomite is more often the recommended source of magnesium because it
is a
slow release form and not as likely to be leeched away. Sandy soils
tend to
need magnesium whereas calcareous tend to have a sufficient amount.
Soils either have magnesium or they don't whereas nitrogen is
replenished regularly. Nitrogen dissolved in rain is converted to a
form of
nitrogen that plants can use through the action of soil bacteria."
Jim,
Thanks for the explanation. I have had great success with Epsom salts on
my gardenias, but I will try dolomite as a longer term solution.