Plant Care 101: Plant Food! (Fertilizers)
One of the more popular topics in the plant lab is fertilizers; i.e. when to use them, and what to look for when purchasing. If your soil is older or has a low amount of organic material, any "indoor houseplant" grade fertilizer would be a likely improvement for your plant! In this blog post, we’ll briefly discuss fertilizer tips, the different types of fertilizers available for indoor houseplants, as well as how to use them!
Plant food/Fertilizers can help plants grow vibrant colors, and support vigorous growth!
A caution we want to highlight is an inherent risk of fertilizer burn - which can occur when using it out of season or dosing incorrectly and can be harmful to the plants. That said, while there are many different styles & concentrations available, we typically advise that as long as you follow the manufacturers recommend dosage you should be okay; you can even half the recommended dosage for some extra safety assurance.
When & How to Use Fertilizers
We usually recommend a fertilizer that's rated 10-10-10 - those numbers on fertilizers are the % of NPK by volume - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium.
You can remember what NPK does for a plant in a general sense by remembering: “up, down, and all-around.”
• UP: Nitrogen supports healthy foliage/stem growth – parts of the plant that are up, above the soil.
• DOWN: Phosphorus supports healthy a root system.
• ALL-AROUND: Potassium mainly supports overall plant cellular functions.
Types of Fertilizers
There are many different types of fertilizers available for indoor houseplants. Some of the most common types include:
Liquid fertilizers: Liquid fertilizers are easy to use and can be applied directly to the soil or mixed with water.
Granular fertilizers: Granular fertilizers are slow-release and can be applied to the soil once a month or so.
Slow-release fertilizers: Slow-release fertilizers release nutrients over time and can be applied to the soil once or twice a year.
Organic fertilizers: Organic fertilizers are made from natural materials such as compost, manure, and bone meal.
How to Fertilize Indoor Houseplants
The amount of fertilizer you need to use will depend on the type of plant, the size of the pot, and the type of fertilizer you are using. Be sure to read the instructions on the fertilizer label carefully.
In general, you should fertilize your indoor houseplants once a month during the spring and summer months. You can reduce the frequency of fertilization during the fall and winter months.
Options In Store
The Plant Shop & Lab typically use high quality soil when repottting to include organic material and support overall plant health. When choosing to fertilize, we each have our preferred types, brands, and methods:
Worm castings and other composts can be added to your custom soil mix to introduce organic material to feed over time! Alternatively, you can “steep” earthworm castings in water easily, and drench soil
Adding liquid fertilizers like DynaGro “GROW” 7-9-5 to watering pans is an easy way to feed when bottom watering - also a fabulous method to introduce systemic pest controls like MosquitoBits
Soil can make a big difference - your plant may not even require feeding for the first growing season after repotting with high quality soil
Fertilizing your indoor houseplants is great way to give your plants a boost and get/keep them thriving when the opportunity presents itself. Combine this new information with everything else we’ve learned on our plant journey (soil, light, humidity, etc.), and your plant collection will be the jewel of your home for years to come!
