Roses are a gardener’s prize for their large, fragrant blooms, and it turns out there’s one natural way to get healthier blooms by using one product likely to be in your bathroom.
Deb, a gardener with over 20 years of experience and founder of Woodbridge Greenhouses, has shared that using Epsom salts on roses can help them succeed in producing larger flowers.
He said: “I have used many home remedies for roses. Banana peels, egg shells, coffee grounds and soapy water can benefit your roses and repel pests and diseases. Thus began a brief study of Epsom salts.
“When used as directed, Epsom salts are said to make plants stronger, produce lusher foliage, larger blooms, and encourage roses to send up new canes (branches) on the low bush.”
What are the Benefits of Feeding Epsom Salts to Roses?
Epsom salts are often used as a bath solution to soothe skin or treat sore feet, but it is also a natural fertilizer for roses because it contains magnesium, which boosts plant growth.
Deb said, “Epsom salts are a naturally occurring mineral known as magnesium sulfate that was first discovered in Epsom, France. Boxes of Epsom salts are often found in drugstores and grocery stores in the same areas as laxatives or sore muscle drinks (hint at their other uses).
Magnesium helps flowers take up nutrients to grow more, which can help produce more abundant blooms so you can have more vibrant roses in their next blooming season.
If your rose leaves are yellowing, they are likely magnesium deficient, so feeding them with Epsom salts can help restore your rose bush, leaving you with a much healthier plant.
Epsom salts can also keep slugs out of your garden because the salt component draws moisture away from their bodies, causing them to die quickly, but it’s not as harsh as regular salt, so it won’t harm your vegetable soil.
How to make a natural fertilizer from Epsom salts
All you need to do is mix one tablespoon of Epsom salts about two inches from the base of your rose bush.
Water the plants deeply after fertilizing to allow the Epsom salts to mix with the soil.
Alternatively, you can mix two tablespoons of Epsom salts in a gallon of water and pour over the roots, but be careful not to water the leaves, as damp leaves can attract fungal diseases this time of year.
It is recommended to feed rose bushes only with Epsom salts twice a year and no more than that, as excessive magnesium causes a nutrient imbalance in the soil.
Deb said, “Epsom salt amounts are for medium to large plants. If your roses are mini or small bushes, use only a quarter to a third of the measurements. If in doubt, it’s recommended to test the soil before fixing.”
When you use Epsom salts on your roses, you’re guaranteed bigger, lusher flowers, and you can use any leftovers for a luxurious bath.
Deb said, “After you’ve treated your roses with the Epsom salt treatment, fill a sink with hot water and a handful of Epsom salts. It’s time to treat your bum.”
Epsom salts can be bought in most supermarkets or pharmacies, but at Tesco they cost £3.50 a kilo.
