Why Use Gypsum?

There are times when gypsum is needed and other times it is not. Viragrow wants you to use products that have results. We do not want you to use products and we all hope for results.

Gypsum is a soil mineral that can improve soils but will do absolutely nothing to a soil if it is not needed. 90% of the time compost will do the same thing. Gypsum is sold by some companies hoping it will work but not really knowing if it will.

Viragrow is different. Let's discuss when gypsum is needed.

Gypsum in its purest form.

Gypsum bagged for gardening should be nearly 100% pure gypsum. Gypsum is composed of calcium and sulfur in the form of sulfates. It's pH or alkalinity is neutral at a pH equaling 7.0. Anyone telling you gypsum is used to lower soil pH is wrong. There are other products that do a much better job of lowering soil pH such as pure sulfur products like soil sulfur (good),

Bagged granular sulfur is used for lowering soil pH and alkalinity and does a much better job than gypsum.
But it has its own set of problems id doing this. $20 for a 20 lb bag

The truth about soil sulfur and learn why

Water soluble sulfur lowers soil pH very fast and learn why

Organic Magic lowers soil pH the fastest and learn why

water-soluble sulfur (better), aluminum sulfate (We don't sell) or Organic Magic (Best). Don't use gypsum to lower soil pH. You are better off using straight compost.

Water dispersable sulfur, dissolves immediately in cold water
50 lb/$50

Organic Magic 30 lb/$30

Does gypsum improve drainage? Gypsum has a reputation among home gardeners for improving drainage in soils. Frequently it is sold for that. This is because the reasons for it doing this is poorly understood by most.

Gypsum, 40 lb/$4.25

Gypsum CAN improve drainage. This is only partially true. Gypsum improves soil drainage ONLY when there is sodium that must be removed from the soil. When soils contain too much sodium, this sodium destroys the drainage channels needed for good water movement. Soils with too much sodium have difficulty draining water. But soils with a lack of compost, or organic matter, do exactly the same thing. If sodium is the problem in a soil, then additions of gypsum improves water drainage. If sodium is NOT the problem then additions of compost will do the job.

What to do? 95% of the time all that is needed is compost (organic matter) mixed with the soil. The rare times gypsum is needed is revealed with a soil test. Use compost first before you try gypsum.

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