Hello Everyone!!! Here is a post that Al posted on the Plumeria forum for some of us... I use Foliage Pro and it has the Ca and Mg that the trees need. I thought you all would like to read since it was mentioned up thread... Enjoy!!! Laura Posted by tapla z5b-6a mid-MI (My Page) on Fri, Dec 27, 13 at 15:55 Rox - Epsom salts are indeed a salt. While it's true that plants take up all nutrients (from soil) in the form of salts, too much total salt or too much of any one salt is not good for a plant. The measure of everything dissolved in the soil solution = the water's TDS (total dissolved solids). As the TDS increases, the plant's ability to absorb both water and nutrients decreases. If you have a very high level of TDS in the soil solution, water can actually be pulled out of cells, causing the cells to collapse and plasma to be pulled from cell walls (plasmolysis/ fertilizer burn). This is especially true if the salts are applied in granular form. Epsom salts are rich in Mg, and Mg is an important nutrient to the plant, no question, but an excess of Mg can not only be limiting in terms of TDS, it can also make it more difficult for the plant to take up potassium, phosphorous, and calcium, but particularly calcium - IOW, it can cause antagonistic deficiencies of other important nutrients when applied in excess. The bottom line is, an excess of magnesium (Epsom salts), iron, or manganese can have the effect of making your plant nice and green, but the nice green color doesn't necessarily mean your plant is as healthy as it should be. Your plant will grow best when the soil solution contains all the essential nutrients plants take from the soil, in the same ratio at which the plant actually uses those nutrients, and at a concentration high enough to ensure no deficiencies yet low enough that the plant isn't inhibited in its ability take up water and nutrients. In most cases, when you start second guessing what your plants need and start adding elements or compounds that are designed to supply only 1 or 2 nutrients (like Epsom salts - [magnesium and sulfur]), the potential to limit your plant is much greater than the potential to benefit it. Choosing a fertilizer that has all the essential elements in a favorable ratio and sticking with that program is much easier and far less likely to result in unexpected complications. Al Thank you!!! Laura

I have about 15 orchids,, but I have never used Epsom Salts. Most of mine are inside in my double paned bay windows. I have used different fertizers in the past, but recently changed to Dynamite for Orchids, and bromeliads 10-10-17. One of the orchid books I read suggested it. The beauty of it is that it lasts 9 months. I put it in on and forget it. My kind of fertilizer. Sorry, I am of no help. Why do you think it would help the orchids? I am curious. Jennifer

You may be under-thinking things. Why are you applying Epsom salts? Do you have reason to suspect a deficiency of Mg (magnesium)? If Mg is NOT deficient, adding Epsom salts cannot help and carries the potential to be a limiting factor for 2 reasons. One is, if Mg isn't deficient in the soil, it will add unnecessarily to the EC/TDS (salt levels) of the soil, which makes it more difficult for your plants to take up water and therefore all the nutrients dissolved in the soil solution. The second is, adding Mg to your soil w/o adding Ca(lcium) can make it more difficult, or in extreme cases impossible for your plant to take up Ca (called an antagonistic deficiency). 'Nice & green' doesn't always equate to 'nice & healthy'. There are several nutrients that, being present in soils at toxicity levels, can make your plants extra green - Mg being one of them. What are you using for fertilizer, what are you using for soil, and how long have your plants been in that soil? The answers to that question will probably determine if a Mg deficiency is even a possibility. Al

Hi FelixCat and all., No I have never had rust, only get it when I order from florida, more damp conditions, I take off the leaves and put the plant in sun, kills it. I live in a Semi-Arrid area, very dry hot, rarely any humidity, rarely any rain. Right now in drought conditions. cannot water after 9 am to 4 pm. Yes, my plumeria oddly get very dirty. I go out and wipe them off with my hands and can get dirt off, seems dirt clings to some of the leaves. It like when you grow plants in the house, if your leaves are dirty, you washed them off to allow them to breathe or accept light.. the oil in your hands makes the plants shine. I am careful now not to wash them off if its going into the low 60's, now some cool humidity at night. don't want the plants to pull dampness to maybe breed bugs..will wait until the morning, 80 degree temps tomorrow, when light moves in the shade, have morning and afternoon light..then wash off only if needed. After 5 or 6 pm no, watering or washing off, stays damp all night, can cause problems to plants. Now if 90 degrees out, well this can all change. ha we are cooling down. I have followed this way, never have had bugs, never had rust, no problems at all. Perhaps is from growing roses, seeing what can happen to plants. I think I raise plumeria like my roses! I had at one time 125 rose bushes. I showed them in competions, shows etc. There again, never water after 4 pm..can cause black spot, mildew, and aphids..So maybe learned from this..don't know.. I feel this works for me. Damp conditions, you all have different problems to work with..I have to watch for West sun, burns in my area, but not in others..You have to learn what your plants can handle. Karen B