Epsom Salt
Pure magnesium sulfate crystals, the same thing your grandmother dissolved in a hot bath and swore by for decades.
What It Is
Epsom salt is not actually a salt you eat. It is a mineral compound, magnesium sulfate, first identified in the spring waters of Epsom, England, in the early 1600s. The crystals dissolve completely in warm water and have been a household staple ever since.
In the garden, it has a second life entirely. Magnesium is a nutrient plants need, and a diluted Epsom salt soak is a long-standing trick for tomatoes, peppers, and roses that look a little tired.
What To Do
For a soak, dissolve two cups in a standard bathtub of warm water and stay in for at least fifteen minutes. Foot baths need only half a cup in a basin. The water should feel soft.
For plants, dissolve one tablespoon per gallon of water and apply to the soil every few weeks during the growing season. Store the crystals somewhere dry, sealed, and away from moisture, and they will keep indefinitely.
