What pH does magnesium sulfate have when it comes to Epsom salt?

On Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Sulfate is often considered acidic and can drop the pH of a growing medium.Consider magnesium sulfate, which is also known as Epsom salt.When magnesium and sulfate are low in thefertilizer solution, Epsom salt is used to provide them.

Many growers use Epsom salt since magnesium and sulfate are low in most water sources and many fertilizers contain insufficient levels of both elements.Is there a cause for the growing medium's pH to drop?

Sea salt is readily dissolved in water.It's a great source of magnesium and sulfate for plants.The website is www.aquaseasalt.com.

The plant has an impact on changing the pH of the growing medium.Individual elements are disassociated from the growing medium solution.In the case of Epsom salt, magnesium and sulfate are separated.When the plant absorbs an element through its roots, it must maintain an electrical balance so that it releases an equal amount of charge back into the growing medium.The only elements the plant can exchange are hydrogen and acid, which is acidic and increases the pH of the growing medium.

For every magnesium ion taken up by the roots, it gives off two hydrogen atoms, which can decrease the growing medium's pH around the root.Every sulfate ion raises the pH of the growing medium around the root.What does this mean?The net result is that there is no change in the pH of the growing medium around the plant root.In almost all cases, the growing medium's pH is unaffected by the amount of salt in it.

If a plant acquires the same amount of magnesium as sulfate, there is no net change in the growing medium's pH.There are a few exceptions when it comes to soilless growing media.In cases where a soilless medium is contaminated with soil, soil-bornebacteria are introduced into the growing medium that can convert sulfur into oxidized forms producing sulfuric acid.When crops are placed on a soil floor and muddy water gets into the growing medium through the drainage holes, this can happen.The higher the population ofbacteria, the more sulfates can be converted into acid.The amount of sulfate coming from Epsom salt is much lower than gypsum.

In conclusion, there is no influence on the pH of the growing media.It is applied as a supplement to provide magnesium and sulfate missing from the water.

To find out more about plant nutrition and the PRO-MIX product for your growing needs, please contact your Premier Tech Grower Services Representative.

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