Table of Contents
When to Fertilize A rule of thumb is to fertilize only when your houseplants are actively growing. Feeding them while they’re dormant can burn their foliage or even kill them. When you fertilize, don’t overdo it. Too much can be worse than not enough, so follow the directions on the product you’re using.
When should I start fertilizing my indoor plants?
Tip 1: Spring is the best time to start fertilizing plants because that’s when they are starting to actively grow. Plants that grow faster, like begonias, should be fertilized more often than plants that grow slowly, like a cactus, or are dormant, i.e., all plants in winter.
How often should you fertilize indoor house plants?
Houseplant fertilizers are available in liquid, crystalline, granular, spike, and tablet forms. Frequency of application depends upon the product and varies from every 2 weeks to once every 3 to 4 months. Carefully read and follow label directions. Do not fertilize houseplants during the winter months.
Should you fertilize indoor plants in the winter?
Houseplants are not in a state of active growth during the winter and therefore should not be fertilized. Doing so can lead to fertilizer burn and brown leaf tips (more on why this happens here).
How do I fertilize my indoor plants?
Liquid fertilizers are diluted into water and applied with a watering can. Depending on label instructions, you might fertilize every time you water or every other time. The type of plant will also impact the frequency, as some—especially those with dramatic large blooms—may require more frequent feeding.
What happens if you don’t fertilize house plants?
Plants that aren’t fertilized will also be less visually appealing than fertilized plants, because healthy plants produce more foliage and blooms. Plants that don’t get fertilizer may also be malnourished, which makes them susceptible to infestation by garden pests and makes them more likely to catch plant diseases.
Is fertilizer necessary for indoor plants?
General purpose, indoor plant fertilizers are fine for most houseplants. They contain three important macronutrients: nitrogen (N) for foliage growth, phosphorous (P) to promote roots and potassium (K) for healthy blooms. Some fertilizers also contain micronutrients like manganese, boron and magnesium.
What do you feed indoor plants?
A good way to feed houseplants is with a liquid concentrate feed. These are a great way of feeding and watering your plant at the same time. However, they are only successful if the mixture isn’t made too strong or too weak.
What plants should not be fertilized?
Perennials that do best with no supplement fertilizer include butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), false indigo (Baptisia australis), asters, pinks (Dianthus spp.), rock roses (Helianthemum spp.), sea holly (Eryngium spp.), bee balm (Monarda didyma), speedwell (Veronica spp.), coneflowers (Echinacea spp.
How do you fertilize a potted plant?
Consequently, a granular fertilizer is the popular choice for growing potted plants. It reaches the part of the soil where the root systems are with the help of water. Basically, you have to use half a teaspoon of the fertilizer for every gallon of potting mix. Water the potted plants as soon as you apply fertilizer.
How do you fertilize indoor plants naturally?
How do you fertilize houseplants naturally? Natural organic material can be used to provide nutrients to fertilize your houseplants naturally. Household waste such as coffee grounds, egg shells, banana peels and green tea are suitable, or commercial natural houseplant fertilizer can be used.
How often should indoor plants be watered?
How often should you water houseplants? Most houseplants need watered every 1-3 weeks. You should monitor your houseplants and water when they need it, rather than on a schedule. Frequency of watering will depend on the size and type of plant, size and type of pot, temperature, humidity and rate of growth.
Why are my indoor plants dying?
Plants die because of improper watering techniques. Overwatering: Overwatering is one of the leading causes of death for houseplants. When you water constantly, the plant doesn’t have the chance to absorb water through the leaves. This can easily lead to root rot, mold, yellowing leaves, bacteria or bugs.
Why do my indoor plants have brown tips?
Plant tips can turn brown when they’re exposed to too much fertilizer and too many salts build up in the soil. Indoors or out, soluble salts build up in soil, draw moisture away from plant roots and create an artificial drought. As a result, water-deprived plant tips turn brown.
How can I make my indoor plants grow faster?
You can help your houseplants grow faster by adding essential nutrients to the potting soil with either an organic or inorganic fertilizer. Plants are relatively self-sufficient if provided light, water, and preferred climate. But, your houseplants will excel when fed the right nutrients.
How do I know if my soil needs fertilizer?
A soil test will identify common nutrient deficiencies in your lawn, and can provide information on the proper amount of lime and fertilizer to apply. Soil testing is the only way to determine the proper ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to apply to a lawn.
How often do you need to fertilize plants?
It’s typically recommended to apply fertilizer in clay soil about every four to six weeks after planting. For plants growing in organic soil that’s rich with organic matter, only fertilize a little bit every three to four weeks.
Is feeding and fertilizing the same?
What’s the difference between plant food and fertilizer? The main difference is that plant food is a naturally occurring type of sustenance while fertilizer is not. Plants make their own food for survival. Fertilizer delivers nutrients for survival as well, but commercially, not naturally.
How do I make my indoor plants healthy?
Tips for Healthy Houseplants Match plants with light conditions. Houseplants vary in their light requirements. Choose the right container. Use good-quality potting soil. Water properly. Fertilize and control pests. Increase humidity and prevent drafts. Keep foliage clean.
Is coffee grounds good for indoor plants?
Coffee grounds (and brewed coffee) are a source of nitrogen for plants, which is the nutrient that produces healthy green growth and strong stems. You can use coffee fertilizer on your potted plants, houseplants, or in your vegetable garden.
How do you tell if a plant is overwatered?
1. If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water.
Should I cut the brown tips of my plants?
Should you cut off dying leaves? Yes. Remove brown and dying leaves from your house plants as soon as possible, but only if they’re more than 50 percent damaged. Cutting off these leaves allows the remaining healthy foliage to receive more nutrients and improves the plant’s appearance.
Do houseplants need sunlight?
Light. As with watering, every plant has different light requirements. Many plants prefer direct sunlight, but this may be hard to get inside a house. Placing a plant in a window might offer enough light, but some houseplants will need supplementing from a grow light (see Lighting Indoor Houseplants).
