I am so glad I have found this forum! I love my paphs. but am a novice so this is wonderful. Just wanted to ask - I have been using Epsom Salts on the paphs. and they seem to be doing well. I have no idea if the Epsom Salts are really doing anything or not. Do others use it?

I am so glad I have found this forum! I love my paphs. but am a novice so this is wonderful. Just wanted to ask - I have been using Epsom Salts on the paphs. and they seem to be doing well. I have no idea if the Epsom Salts are really doing anything or not. Do others use it?

Hi, Sally!

Welcome to the Slipper Forum! I have been growing slippers for many years now and I don't ever use Epsom salts and they are doing just fine.

I think Epsom salts would be handy only if your fertilizer is lacking the necessay magnesium for proper growth.

I've heard of someone using a small amount of Epsom salts in water they use for leachig salts, but this doesn't make sense to me. Any comments?

I think Epsom salts would be handy only if your fertilizer is lacking the necessay magnesium for proper growth.

I've heard of someone using a small amount of Epsom salts in water they use for leachig salts, but this doesn't make sense to me. Any comments?

I don't understand why you'd put a salt in water you were trying to leach salts from. :confused: I agree, that makes no sense at all!

Sally - I don't use them either. I did buy some for my African Violet, but it was since neglected and tossed. The slippers forced it out. :evil:

Epsom salts can be a great source of magnesium if your fertilizer and water source are deficient in them. Magnesium is the core atom in the chlorophyl molecule (kinda like the iron in the center of the hemoglobin molecule in animals). Boosting Mg can green up plants when they are in heavy growth.

I don't often use epsom salt (Mag. sulfate) by itself since the fertilizer I use (the MSU formula for RO water) already has Mg in it. There is also Mg available in the oystershell I add to the potting mix for my calcereous paphs. I do add some Mag. hydroxide to my fertilizer mix primarily for my roths, which come from high pH areas of "serpentine" geology.

Serpentine is Mg silicate hydroxides. Calcium poor, but Magnesium rich.

I think that in the first place, the "salts" that are detrimental to plants are mostly the chlorides, while others, such as sulfates, nitrates, phosphates, molybdates, etc. are quite common in fertilizers and being water soluble, are easily flushed with fresh water.

Where Epsom Salts come into the picture is for the removal of carbonates - the white or gray buildup that often appears on media and pots. When allowed to stay in contact with magnesium sulfate solutions, the calcium and magnesium carbonates tend to resolublize to some degree, so are more easily removed.

Hi, I have never used epsom salt in my orchids but on my rose bushes it really gives them a good boost for the season. It is a great pick me up for alot of plants. Outside plants and inside plants can benefit from it greatly.

I don't think orchids really need it but once in a while I know it will not hurt them if you think they really need it.

Good luck.... :D