Are sizzling summer temperatures scorching the plants in your garden, making them struggle to survive? I’m in Houston where we are familiar with flowers and veggies barbecuing to a crisp under intense sunlight, 105° heat, and lengthy drought conditions. Here’s a FAST recipe that makes a refreshing tonic water for heat stressed flowers, vegetables, herbs and plants of all types:
Easy Tonic Water Recipe for Heat Stressed Garden Plants
It’s hot outside, you’re sweating, and the plants are are all looking limp. Here is how to mix up this fast & easy foliar feed that you can splash on the plants quickly and get back inside to the air conditioning!
Easy Tonic Water Recipe:
2 gallons of water + 4 Tbsp liquid kelp (1/4 cup) + 2 Tbsp Epsom salt (1/8 cup) #Afflinks
Smaller Batch Version:
If your watering can only holds a gallon of water (or you want to see the single gallon recipe to mix up a much larger batch), here are the measurements you need:
1 gallon of water + 2 Tbsp liquid kelp + 1 Tbsp Epsom salt
How to Apply:
I add the Epsom salt and liquid kelp to the bottom of my watering can and then add a bit of water. I then swish the water around to help dilute the Epsom salts for a moment. Once they seem to be diluted, I fill the watering can the rest of the way up with cool water. Next, I deliberately water each plant’s leaves and foliage with this mix. This is how you foliar feed plants. Whatever falls to the ground around the plants will also be utilized by the roots but foliar feeding is the fastest way to help a plant perk up. It is best if you foliar feed in the morning or during the late afternoon or evening when the sunlight is less intense so water droplets on the leaves don’t cause any sun scald.
Why This Tonic Water Works
Plants can absorb nutrients quickly through their leaves when a gentle, water-diluted foliar feed is used. Kelp provides around 60 trace minerals plants need for growth and root health while Epsom salts provide magnesium and sulfur. Magnesium is critical for photosynthesis and the combination of these 62+ vitamins and minerals refreshes your plants and helps them to perk up quickly!
Beware of Water that is Too Hot
If your garden hose has been baking in today’s heat, make sure you let it run for a few moments to flush out any sun-heated water before you fill your watering can. Otherwise you’ll drench your plants with 110°F water and harm them further. If you accidentally filled the watering can with hot water, add some ice cubes and let it sit indoors in the AC or in the garage until it cools down.
Save Your Tomatoes!
I hope this easy tonic water recipe helps your flowers and veggies survive the brutal summer heat! It does a fantastic job of helping my tomatoes and bell peppers survive deadly summer temps to finish ripening the fruit they have set and keep producing into the autumn months.
If You Have Liquid Kelp, You Might Also Enjoy these Other Foliar Feed Recipes:
Secret Farmer’s Market Organic Fertilizer Mix for Huge Garden Veggies
Harvest Tomatoes a Month Sooner (and Bell Peppers, Too!)
Organic Fertilizer Blend for Huge Flower Blooms
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