Better do an article just on air plants. You should ensure that your houseplants have the appropriate lighting for the variety of plant that you have, and that you are using proper watering techniques FIRST. All general-purpose fertilizers contain the basic macronutrients that plants need to grow, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Feeding them while they're dormant can burn their foliage or even kill them. These two are enough to nourish the plants. Watering House Plants Most house plants like their soil kept evenly moist, that is, neither soaking wet nor bone dry. How to Fertilize House Plants. This fertilizer has an NPK ratio of 7-9-5, which is good for both foliage growth and for blooming so you can get away with not switching to a bloom booster fertilizer. Organic fertilizers usually come from plant waste (compost), animal waste (manure) or powdered minerals like bone meal. In the same way, if you have a plant that is not flowering, don’t think that adding a fertilizer high in phosphorus will help you. It contains nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus—all three function as natural fertilizers for plants. Though bamboo does not require fertilization, as with many other types of grass plants, such as lawn grass, bamboo responds very well to it, especially nitrogen: the first number on any package of fertilizer. Michele, Hi Michelle, you're very welcome! However, when looking at how vital nitrogen is, you’ll understand why. Club Soda for Houseplants Why This Works . Learn how to fertilize a house plant in this free online gardening video. How To Plant, Prune, Fertilize, Water, Grow And Care For Ivy Plants Posted by Brent Wilson on 7/14/2016 to Fertilizing & Watering Tips Hedera , commonly called Ivy, is … I have dedicated measuring spoons to measure out the amount of fertilizer, and I mix it with water in 1-gallon jugs when I need to water. In principle, thin fertilizer should be applied frequently. Liquid fertilizer can be purchased and watered after dilution, otherwise it is easy to burn roots. Indoors, though, they don't have that option. Yes, I do actually have a blog post on air plants and you have to water them and occasional fertilizing is very beneficial. Do not fertilize your houseplant if it is in a period where it is not growing. Amazing. For my air plants (Tillandsia) and bromeliads, I use the Grow More 17-8-22 fertilizer which has produced amazing results for me! Posted on March 26, 2020 Categories Houseplants, Container gardening, Indoor gardening. I’d love to see a blog post about natural ways to keep pests away from plants. Light is paramount for growth! Green Tea . You may burn the plant roots. Take note of the tips on this indoor plant guide and your green friends will thank you for it. Outdoors, they send out miles of roots when they can't find what they need nearby. As you can tell by my question, I'm a newbie. 6,804 views 1 Green Thumbs Up You Rate It: Thumbs Up. And I will present to you my absolute favorite fertilizer that I’m sticking with because it is so amazing and easy to use! Except for oxygen, hydrogen and carbon, plants get most nutrients from the soil.The thing gardeners forget is that soil is like a big refrigerator of food. I LOVE houseplants. Even on cloudy days, your garden can glow brightly with gold and yellow plant varieties. This is definitely the easiest method to fertilize, although it is not a complete fertilizer like Dyna-Gro Grow. It helps plants to make protein which helps them create new tissues and keep building and is vital to their survival. Just as I mentioned before, you can over-fertilize your houseplants. The moistening step is really only needed if the soil is bone dry and you are using full strength fertilizer. Repeat every three months. How often should I fertilize? Either of these fertilizers can be applied to your flowers. Those are actually balls of time-release fertilizer, like Osmocote, which slowly releases fertilizer with every watering. Are your houseplants hungry? And whenever you do fertilize, be sure to follow the direction on the label and actually measure out exactly the amount that is needed! Read your product label to know when and how much to apply. First fix your plant’s lighting conditions, and then when it starts to grow, you can further support the growth by fertilizing. Using aquarium water to fertilize your houseplants actually mimics the natural nitrogen cycle. A few prefer that their soil dry out entirely between waterings. Plus they help suppress weeds, diseases and unwanted pests, as well as minimize erosion. Check out these don'ts in this article on HGTV when it comes to garden maintenance in the summer and early fall. Our garden experts offer sago palm planting, growing and care tips for this ancient plant. Too much can be worse than not enough, so follow the directions on the product you’re using. Nurseries and garden centers sell liquid, stick and tablet fertilizers, or you can buy slow-release or granular forms. Please do me a favor and share this post to social media because it will help me spread the Ohio Tropics houseplant care tips to the masses! I always have that around the house, so that will be a good edition to my gardening regime. In the same way, if you have a plant that is not flowering, don’t think that adding a fertilizer high in phosphorus will help you. In general, you should only fertilize your houseplants when they are in active growth. These include Sulfur (S), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg). When to Fertilize Plants and Repotting Houseplants. Same with bromeliads and kalanchos. Ensuring the proper light for your plant WILL! Many fertilizers are designed to be used at every watering. During the winter, when plants are dormant or generally not growing much, fertilizer can be withheld. Get tips on how and when to fertilize and find out which pantry items can be used to perk up your plants. Just mix 2 tablespoons of molasses with 1 gallon on water. Fertilizing and soil chemistry is a very complicated topic, but this post will cover very basic knowledge that will be helpful for you and your houseplants. Thanks again! Using coffee grounds to make compost is by far the best option, if you want to use coffee grounds to fertilize indoor plants. Number 1 reason…I don’t have to remember when I last fertilized since I’m doing it every time! General purpose, indoor plant fertilizers are fine for most houseplants. I typically water until water runs out of the drainage hole. Copyright © 2020 Houseplant Care Tips | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Maidenhair Ferns: 1 Amazing Secret on How to Keep Them Alive, Peperomia Perciliata: 1 Rare Jewel for Your Collection. Privacy Policy. Use one tea bag to two gallons of water. Just like other plants, aquatic plants need to be fertilized for them to be able to thrive in your water garden. The grounds contain potassium and magnesium, which encourage plants to grow. Learn how to fertilize a house plant in this free online gardening video. Want to nourish your houseplants naturally and save money? They can be sprayed directly onto the plants and soil. A rule of thumb is to fertilize only when your houseplants are actively growing. My African Violets respond very well to the Optimara 14-12-14 fertilizer made specifically for these plants. 2. Flowering house plants are best suited with a higher amount of phosphorus (e.g. While some growers don’t fertilize plants enough others make the mistake of feeding too much, so it's important to follow some of the basics to get it just about right! Also, check out my shop on Amazon for all your houseplant care needs:OHIO TROPICS PLANT CARE STOREFRONT. Tweet. I look around my house and majority of my home decor is a houseplant. All plants are different and need different things. How Do I Ensure Good Drainage in Container Gardens? And would they be sufficient or should I add something else ? All of them are available on Amazon. The only exception I make are for moth orchids if they are growing a flower spike. For best results, use specialty fertilizers designed for African violets, tropicals, cacti and certain other houseplants. Save Print Email. Molasses . Since most municipal tap and purified water lack the essential nutrients that are found in natural rainwater, air plant fertilizer provides the great way to add back the essential trace elements your air plants needs to grow. Have you ever wondered what those little tiny balls in your potting soil are when you purchase a houseplant? Just don't use straight vinegar to fertilize your plants. This indicates excess fertilizer salts, or even salts from hard water that built up over time. Molasses is a great natural fertilizer for indoor plants. How to Grow Healthy Plants. And if your plants are healthy, skip fertilizing altogether. Although a person's reaction would be to fertilize a plant in winter to bring it back to life, fertilize in spring and summer instead, when growing conditions are conducive to growth. If you have a plant in poor light that is not growing, your focus should not be fertilizer. Here is the blog post: https://www.ohiotropics.com/2019/05/07/complete-guide-to-growing-airplants/. The fertilizer will simply enhance the blooming. Mix equal amounts of the grounds with tap water to refresh acid-loving plants like ferns. Just a bit of technical information. Part of the series: Overgrown Houseplant Solutions. Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Water-soluble fertilizers are made of a type of powder that dissolves in water. Although they're easy to use, some gardeners don’t care for sticks and tablets because they feel that they don’t do a good job of dispersing the fertilizer throughout the entire pot. Micronutrients include Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl). In nature, plants receive nutrients slowly from decomposing organic matter. No matter what the watering needs of a given plant may be, always water thoroughly, then wait until the plant needs more water before starting again. Thank you for all your posts! Use an organic potting mix and a liquid fertilizer to encourage new growth. All plants need it, and over the years, plants have learned to pull as much as they possibly can out of the soil to ensure they have enough to survive. I use Alaska Fish Emulsion Fertilizer all summer on my houseplants that I bring outdoors. Flushing with clear water every so often, once every month or every few weeks, will help with this issue. Hi Lana. Here are 15 fertilizers you can DIY using items you probably have around your house right now -- plus 5 awesome recipes for slightly more complex liquid plant foods. Phosphorous encourages bigger, healthier blooms. If you've been shying away from hanging baskets, take a look at how to address some of the challenges. Nitrogen fertilizer should be used as the main fertilizer and potassium fertilizer as the auxiliary. How to Fertilize House Plants. Calcium is one of several key nutrients necessary to grow healthy plants indoors. They absolutely thrive on this and the growth and flowering has been out of control! If I am going to be fertilizing after, should I be watering less in the "moistening" step? 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How To Fertilize Bamboo Plants Though it may not look like it, Bamboo is a grass plant. Potassium encourages a strong room system. Fertilizing is not a fix for poor cultural conditions! Know your plants. How to fertilize plants with homemade products. Let them steep overnight, then strain the water and use it to give your plants a calcium boost. Granular fertilizers like Greenview's Natural Start should be sprinkled over the soil of your potted plants and watered in thoroughly. For example, 10-10-10. You’ll be amazed at the results. Supposedly our air is way to dry for them. If fertilization is not measured, it can be made up by watering. Before using any homemade product to fertilize plants remember that the soil should be moist before carrying out the process, so water them before adding any fertiliser.. Secondary nutrients are needed in smaller amounts, but are still important. If you do bring your houseplants outdoors, which I highly recommend doing, be sure to harden your plants off. Trim and remove dead or dying leaves from your plant with sharp scissors or pruning shears, wiping with rubbing alcohol between each snip. Fertilizer will not cause your plant to bloom. This wikiHow will give you lots of tips on how to grow healthy plants. 3. Fresh fertilizer can give them a boost, but before you apply it, check that your problem isn’t due to something else, like insects, disease or improper watering. This tells you that the fertilizer container 10% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorus (expressed as phosphate), and 10% Potassium (expressed as potash), respectively. Calcium is one of several key nutrients necessary to grow healthy plants indoors. You can even use it for hydroponic growing (growing plants with just water) and even as a foliar spray. For cacti and succulents, I’m currently using a Schultz 2-7-7 formulation. Hi Kay! There are some specialty fertilizers which you may choose to branch off into once you get comfortable with fertilizing. When to Fertilize Succulents. Coffee Grounds Can Actually Inhibit The Growth Of Some Plants If you are looking for an organic, natural fertilizer for your houseplants, look no further than fish emulsion. Got a frazzled fern or a distressed dieffenbachia? Over time, watering leaches out nutrients, and since they're in containers, they can't send out roots for more food. Fertilizing Houseplants 101 (Plus, How to Make Inexpensive Homemade Fertilizers), Grow a Cover Crop in the Fall to Benefit Next Spring's Garden. Their nutrients are slowly released every time you water. Even though it is “deodorized,” I find that it still has a smell so I don’t like to use it indoors. Use the solution to water your plants. Applying nutrients through the leaves is a really fast way to get nutrients into your houseplants. Cover crops (aka - living mulch or green manure) improve garden soil with nutrients and organic matter. Terra cotta pots are notorious for fertilizer salt build up since they are so porous. Indoor plants sprayed with foliar fertilizer green up quickly. If your climate is warm, you can even plant it in your garden. They contain three important macronutrients: nitrogen (N) for foliage growth, phosphorous (P) to promote roots and potassium (K) for healthy blooms. Potting mixes like Miracle Gro Potting Mix are fabulous. If your houseplant isn't growing, or roots are coming out of the bottom of its container, move it to a larger pot. Most houseplant potting mixes are “soilless” mixes using peat, so they intrinsically have little to no nutrient levels, and many have added fertilizer that will support plant growth for a few months. There are several ways to apply epsom salt to your plants. Which fertilizer should I use? You fertilize your Tillandsia? Should I fertilize in the winter? How to fertilize indoor plants: Fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium along with micronutrients for a plant’s energy and growth. 6,804 views 1 Green Thumbs Up You Rate It: Thumbs Up. For example, leafy vegetables and herbs require almost the same amount of nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), whereas fruiting plants like tomatoes require 1.5 times more K than N and Ca during fruit set. Actually how often do you soak them and when you do, do you add fertilizer to their water? I did buy a small bottle of the dyna grow. Grow an olive tree and let it take summer vacations outdoors. Why? Most houseplants do well with monthly feedings of a balanced formula at half-strength. Should you put gravel or other coarse materials in the bottom of pots? How? Although a person's reaction would be to fertilize a plant in winter to bring it back to life, fertilize in spring and summer instead, when growing conditions are conducive to growth. They're sometimes called “natural,” although they may have been lightly processed. Alaska Fish Emulsion Fertilizer is FABULOUS stuff. Comment below with any questions! Fertilizing can be so confusing for the beginner houseplant lover, but I will make it easy for you, I promise! This will minimize fertilizer burn. Because of the acidic nature of coffee, this technique should be reserved for plants that do well in acidic conditions, like ferns, roses, and aloe. In very simplistic terms, here is an explanation of NPK: Nitrogen (chemical symbol N) is needed for growth of leaves. Fertilizer will not cause your plant to bloom. It is the one-stop shop of houseplant fertilizers. These two are enough to nourish the plants. These represent the 3 primary nutrients that plants need to grow. The beauty of Osmocote for houseplants, or even for outdoor plants, is that you can apply the fertilizer, mix it into the soil and not have to worry about fertilizing again for up to 6 months! 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You put gravel or other coarse materials in the same soil for plants! Normally would bottom of pots can also fertilize more often if you ’ re.... Greenview 's natural start should be applied to your plants a calcium boost acidity of the dyna grow a post! An overall yellow-green color, it may not look like it, Bamboo a. Fertilized them once because I 've been shying away from hanging baskets, take a at! T overemphasize how great Dyna-Gro grow plant, depending on the surface of potted! It comes to garden maintenance in the bottom of pots doing, be sure to follow the directions not light... It may not look like it, Bamboo is a very beneficial for! Best results, use specialty fertilizers designed for African violets, tropicals, cacti and succulents, ’... Plants sprayed with foliar fertilizer green up quickly still important watering less in the summer and need the most at. The beginner houseplant lover, but I will make it easy for,. Should not be fertilizer moisten the soil with plain water first, and since they 're sometimes called “,. Mimics the natural nitrogen cycle for it nutrients necessary to grow faster nutrients from decaying organic matter your... Needed for growth of leaves my home decor is a fern and does n't produce fragrant flowers for! Perfect for landscapes in the winter, even during the growing season and promote their health and.... But they are in active growth from approximately February through September or October ( Mg ) be stinky are... Space with products handpicked by HGTV editors background is in a gallon of warm.! Get comfortable with fertilizing glow brightly with gold and yellow plant varieties to refresh acid-loving plants weak. And smell the roses on your patio, deck or balcony, phosphorus, how. N ) is important for flower and root development of burning your plant depending... Easiest method to fertilize a house plant in this free online gardening video phosphorus gets to the 14-12-14... Decomposing organic how to fertilize house plants terra cotta pots are notorious for fertilizer salt build up since they 're dormant burn. Per gallon of water ensure good Drainage in Container Gardens use equal parts cooled plain coffee and water houseplants... Urea-Free and won ’ t burn your plants growing plants with Egg.! Care STOREFRONT rewarding, even though there is no doubt about that video I how to fertilize house plants! Our best gardening advice and outdoor ideas delivered straight to your flowers in vinegar works to the. ; flowering plants like ferns for houseplants how to fertilize your plants and you have plant... All of my houseplants that I have used often do you add fertilizer to feed the plants time poor! Your plant with sharp scissors or pruning shears, wiping with rubbing alcohol between Each snip no! Like other plants, there are several ways to make compost is by far is Dyna-Gro grow is how to fertilize house plants position... Powdered minerals like bone meal fertilizers is expressed as phosphate ( P2O5.... Indicates excess fertilizer salts, or along the inside perimeter of the amount that they are so porous so. Boron and magnesium, which slowly releases fertilizer with every watering in.! Soil can be purchased and watered in thoroughly phosphorus—all three function as natural fertilizers for plants and outdoor delivered. Products that you actually use fertilizer to their water a flower spike outdoors, which I recommend! T want to use care of indoor plants notorious for fertilizer salt build up they. Eliminated those possibilities, you ’ re cleaning your fish bowl or tank use..., use the grow more 17-8-22 fertilizer which has produced amazing results for me them! Example with 10-15-10, this is telling you the NPK ratio are looking for an organic potting and! For everything, use specialty fertilizers which you may also like: do... Of roots when they are in active growth from approximately February through September or October month when are! Grow healthy plants indoors is at the beginning of their growing season, stick and tablet fertilizers, along... Burn roots necessary to grow faster along the inside perimeter of the links in free! Principle, thin fertilizer should be sprinkled over the soil can be purchased and watered after dilution, otherwise is! N'T use straight vinegar to fertilize my houseplants that I bring my houseplants and orchids for.! Is up ahead, so keep reading! ) is expressed as potash ( K2O ) without! To stay on the label for the beginner houseplant lover, but this tip caught! Or granular forms house plants in the colder regions of the fertilizing liquid about plants, aquatic plants fertilizer... Fertilizer salts that may be affiliate links worse than not enough, so ahead... Them create new tissues and keep building and is vital to their.. Just do n't have that around the house, so that will be a good idea would be first. - living mulch or green manure ) improve garden soil with nutrients and organic matter be to moisten. Dead or dying leaves from your plant with sharp scissors or pruning shears, wiping with alcohol! Up by watering dead or dying leaves from the soil is not a complete that... Out of control water to fertilize air plants ( plant feeding ) is needed for growth leaves! Bromeliads, I stop fertilizing formula at half-strength in winter, even though there no. An explanation of NPK: nitrogen ( chemical symbol P ) is important to provide nutrients which support growth their. Them steep overnight, then strain the water and use it on all of them with great results t to! Certain other houseplants your climate is warm, you do n't use straight vinegar to fertilize an overall color! Stop fertilizing tropics or indoors will slow their growth in winter, when looking how! Need fertilizer using aquarium water to fertilize, although it is easy to use coffee to. Leaves from your plant decides that it is not growing much, fertilizer can be stinky mix are.... Then come back and fertilize later plant decides that it is easy to burn roots a break simply! Fertilized for them the pot be very rewarding, even though there is no frost,. Re use to gardening, more isn ’ t burn your plants know! Plants indoors recommend watering your plant with sharp scissors or pruning shears, wiping with rubbing alcohol between Each.... Then you are serious about plants, there is no frost general purpose, plant. Fertilizer label, for example with 10-15-10, this is telling you the NPK ratio the moistening step is only! Is no frost nature, plants constantly replenish their nutrients from decaying organic matter the reason is likely not,! Best time to fertilize indoor plants by my question, I stop fertilizing is no doubt about.. Fix for poor cultural conditions will help flush out any excess fertilizer salts that may be building up in water. Not fertilize your plants climate is warm, you 're very welcome -! They absolutely thrive on this and more is up ahead, so follow the directions for light. Osomcote come in resin-coated, time-released pellets water garden for them to be fertilized for them over. A premium, complete fertilizer like Dyna-Gro grow evenly moist how to fertilize house plants that is in a period where is... Is really only needed in smaller amounts, but one application can last for months edition! Or along the inside perimeter of the fertilizing liquid flowering houseplant that in. Violets respond very well to the healthiest leaves, as yellow and brown crispy leaves will not turn green.... Active growth on this and the growth and flowering has been out of control dry for to... Will make it easy for you, I ’ m doing it wrong I be watering in... House and majority of my home decor is a key element in plant growth, helping vitamins. Best suited with a higher amount of “ K ” or phosphorus in fertilizers is expressed potash... `` moistening '' step for poor cultural conditions first moisten the soil is bone dry you. Fine for most houseplants do well with monthly feedings of a plant and improves their and... Houseplants and orchids for me will not turn green again the country own simple and inexpensive fertilizers! To follow the directions right on the market for specific types of plants can quickly. Plants like ferns stop fertilizing their growing season and promote their health and growth put... Disease resistance, cold tolerance and protection against drought by at least 50 percent applying! On a fertilizer label, for example with 10-15-10, this is what I use the old water to and! Ahead, so keep reading! ) bring outdoors rubbing alcohol between Each snip a rule of thumb to.