How to add magnesium to soil naturally?

Author: Darrel Little V  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Providing magnesium for plants begins with annual applications of rich, organic compost. Compost conserves moisture and helps keep nutrients form leaching out during heavy rainfall. Organic compost is also rich in magnesium and will provide an abundant source for plants.

What is a good source of magnesium for soil?

Dolomitic Lime

Easy to apply, as the magnesium is in the lime. If a pH adjustment is not needed (due to a soil test pH of 6.0 to 6.5), a relatively small amount of dolomitic lime will provide the needed magnesium and be the cheapest option.

What is the fastest way to add magnesium to soil?

50 to 100 grammes of Epsom salt per square metre is recommended – on lighter soils normally add the higher quantity and on heavier soils the lower quantity. If the soil is well adjusted, it is also often sufficient to just supply it with lime, NPK or compound fertiliser containing magnesium.

How to fix magnesium deficiency in plants naturally?

The easiest cure for magnesium deficiency is to apply epsom salt, which is magnesium sulfate. (For more information, see Epsom Salt in the Garden.) I normally apply it as a foliar spray of 1 tablespoon of epsom salt in one gallon of water, every two weeks.

What is the best homemade magnesium fertilizer?

Good sources of magnesium include epsom salts (applied overall at about one cup per 100 square feet at the beginning of the season, or used as a foliar spray by mixing 1 tbsp epsom salts to 1 gallon of water and spraying on foliage). Dolomite lime can also be used (see calcium sources above).

Magnesium Deficiency In Soil

What natural fertilizer is high in magnesium?

Epsom salt fertilizer is a quick solution for introducing more magnesium into your plants' diets. Without enough magnesium, you might notice your green plants turning a pale shade of yellow. To prevent this from happening, use Epsom salts to encourage healthy plant growth.

Are coffee grounds and cinnamon good for plants?

Using coffee grounds, you can make your fertiliser mixture for house plants. One recipe suggests adding the coffee grounds to a container, adding one teaspoon of cinnamon, diluting with club soda, and applying once every few weeks. You may substitute the club soda with sparkling water, tonic water or carbonated soda.

How to tell if soil needs magnesium?

Plant Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms
  1. Yellow areas between the leaf veins.
  2. Necrosis.
  3. Defoliation of lower leaves.
  4. Reduced fruit yields.
  5. Purpling areas on tomato plants.

Can you put too much magnesium on plants?

Adding Epsom salts to soil that already has sufficient magnesium can actually harm your soil and plants, such as by inhibiting calcium uptake. Spraying Epsom salt solutions on plant leaves can cause leaf scorch. Excess magnesium can increase mineral contamination in water that percolates through soil.

What is a good magnesium supplement for plants?

Products to correct magnesium deficiency in plants.

6H2O – A crystalline salt, highly soluble in water. Due to its solubility in water, it is suitable for use in foliar fertilization and fertigation. Epsomite – MgSO4. 7H2O – With a richness between 15 and 16% of this element.

Do coffee grounds have magnesium?

ground facts: Coffee grounds contain approxi- mately 2 percent nitrogen, 0.06 percent phosphorus, and 0.6 per- cent potassium by volume. They also contain many micronutrients including calcium, magnesium, boron, copper, iron, and zinc.

Can I just sprinkle Epsom salt on plants?

Can I Just Sprinkle Epsom Salt on Plants? Never apply Epsom salt straight from the package. Always dilute the granules in water first, and either drench your plants' roots or spray it on the foliage. Don't spray on hot or sunny days, however, to avoid scorching the foliage.

What does baking soda do for plants?

Prevent Fungal Disease

MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.

How do you replenish magnesium in soil?

Organic. For a long-term solution, apply a yearly mulch of home-made compost. This will conserve moisture, prevent the leaching of nutrients during heavy rainfall, and provide the soil with sufficient quantities of magnesium to keep your plants healthy.

Can I mix coffee grounds and eggshells together for my garden?

Depending on the size of your garden, compile enough of each component to contribute a moderate amount to each hungry plant. Combine the two together, crush the eggshells by hand even more (which should be easier now that they're fully dry), and sprinkle the mixture across the soil bed.

What is the highest natural source of magnesium?

Which foods are high in magnesium?
  • Seeds, such as pumpkin and chia.
  • Nuts, such as almonds and cashews.
  • Leafy greens, including spinach and beet greens.
  • Peanuts and peanut butter.
  • Fortified breakfast cereals.
  • Beans, such as black beans and kidney beans.
  • Soy foods, including edamame, tofu, and soy milk.

What fertilizer has the most magnesium?

Calcined magnesite (typically 80% MgO). This is the most concentrated magnesium fertiliser, but it is only slowly available in the soil.

Do coffee grounds make soil acidic or alkaline?

Contrary to popular belief, it's a myth that coffee grounds are acidic and will lower the pH of the soil. After brewing, the grounds are close to pH neutral, between 6.5 and 6.8. Research shows that whatever change coffee grounds bring to the soil is short-lived, Brewer said.

What depletes magnesium in soil?

Because removed Mg is typically not replenished annually, intensive cropping systems can deplete soil Mg reserves over time. Acidic and/or coarse-textured soils are most likely to experience Mg deficiency.

How do you fix magnesium deficiency in plants?

How can you remedy magnesium deficiency? Your first solution will be Epsom salts. Epsom salts are an essential feed for high foliage plants in the summer. To apply, you should dilute the salts, with 20 grams of salts per litre of water.

Which plants cannot use coffee grounds?

Avoid using coffee grounds on alkaline-loving trees, such as linden, ironwood, red chestnut and arborvitae. Coffee grounds used as mulch or compost inhibit plant growth on geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass. Definitely don't use coffee grounds with these plants.

What is the best homemade fertilizer for plants?

"A compost pile would be the natural fertilizer I would strongly recommend," says Kemper. To make compost, take all your scraps (like eggshells, fruit peels, and coffee grounds) and put them into a pile with leaves, sticks, and other organic debris.

How much cinnamon do I add to coffee grounds?

Add one tablespoon of ground cinnamon to the coffee grounds and brew. You can add sugar later if you want more sweetness. Another way to add the spice is to break the cinnamon sticks and put them inside the coffee bag or the canister where the coffee is being stored.

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