The 9 Best Houseplant Fertilizers

When to feed indoor flowers

Plants especially need additional nutrition during the period of active development. For most crops, this happens during the months when daylight hours are long, from about March to October. At this time, absolutely all indoor plants need top dressing. Fertilizers are applied approximately once every 2-3 weeks, and during the flowering period more often - once every 1-1.5 weeks.

From October to February, many flowers are at rest, so they do not need plentiful nutrition. As a rule, top dressing is carried out no more than once every 1–1.5 months, and the dosage of funds is halved. The exception is plants that bloom in winter. This, for example, poinsettia, cyclamen, azalea, Decembrist (Schlumberger). They are fertilized often (once every 1–1.5 weeks).

Some crops (ivy, chlorophytum, aloe, gloxinia, cacti and others) need complete rest in autumn and winter and do not need to be fed at all. Usually, with a decrease in daylight hours, such specimens can stop growing, drop all leaves, or even completely get rid of the ground part.

The need for extraordinary feeding will be indicated by external signs: sudden yellowing or dryness of the leaves, spots on them, falling flowers and buds. At the same time, individual plants, as a rule, suffer from a lack of nutrition. But if the view changed immediately for all the inhabitants of the window sill, most likely they were attacked by pests or diseases. And you can not fertilize the flowers until complete recovery.

After transplants the first top dressing is carried out not earlier than in 2-3 months. The same applies if you brought home a plant bought from a store.

In addition, pay attention to fertilizer packages, especially if you are buying a product for a specific crop. Typically, the manufacturer indicates the optimal frequency of feeding and even months when you need to reduce the dose or completely stop using the drug.

What is the best fertilizer for indoor plants

The most important elements for all plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, the easiest way is to choose fertilizers with a uniform distribution of these substances - for example, 18: 18: 18.

During flowering give preference to drugs with a high content of phosphorus and potassium. During active development, especially in early spring, most crops will need a supply of nitrogen to build up green mass. You can choose mineral and organic fertilizers for a specific plant or more versatile preparations that are suitable for feeding many house flowers.

Mineral fertilizers can be applied in two ways - root and foliar. In the first case, the nutrient mixture is poured under the root of the plant, in the second, the leaves are sprayed. Organic most often just water the flowers. When spraying, try to get the solution on both the outer and inner parts of the leaves. When watering under the root, try to moisten the entire earthen ball in the pot with the mixture.

Mineral fertilizers

You can use one tool or alternate different ones. They are suitable for both root and foliar dressings. The consumption rate depends on the size of the plant.

1. Ammophos

It contains a lot of phosphorus and potassium and is suitable for both deciduous and flowering houseplants. To prepare the nutrient mixture, dilute 2 tablespoons of the product in 10 liters of water.

2. Nitroammophoska

It is a fertilizer with a uniform distribution of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It often contains sulfur, which helps plants to strengthen the immune system. Nitroammophoska is considered a universal option that is suitable for all indoor crops. To prepare the nutrient mixture, take 2 tablespoons of the product and dissolve them in 10 liters of water.

3. Potassium monophosphate

Fertilizer is useful to plants during flowering. Dilute 1 teaspoon of the product in 10 liters of water. Pour the solution under the root or spray the leaves.

4. calcium nitrate

It contains a lot of nitrogen, so it is suitable for spring top dressing - at the very beginning of the growing season. During the dormant period, it is better not to use this remedy so as not to stimulate growth. Dissolve 1 g of calcium nitrate in 1 liter of water and spray the flowers.

organic fertilizers

Natural top dressings are not as effective as mineral ones. But on the other hand, it is almost impossible to overfeed the plants with organic fertilizers and harm them. In addition, such funds are more available and usually always on hand.

1. Sugar

It contains glucose, which is considered a kind of building material for indoor plants. Sprinkle half a teaspoon of sugar over the surface of the soil in the pot, then water the soil liberally. Such top dressing should be carried out no more than 1 time per month.

2. Liquid biohumus

An excellent alternative to humus and manure. After all, few people want to mess around at home with “fragrant” substances. Dilute 25 ml of the product in 1 liter of water and water the plants under the root. Fertilizer should be used no more than 1 time in 1.5–2 months.

3. wood ash

Ordinary wood ash is a storehouse of useful elements. In addition to phosphorus and potassium, it contains calcium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese and boron. Dilute 2 tablespoons of ash in 1 liter of warm water. Leave the solution for two days. Then you can water the plants under the root once every two weeks.

4. Yeast

They actively stimulate plant growth and improve soil quality. There are two ways to prepare a useful solution. Dissolve 10 g of fresh yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1 liter of warm water, or dissolve 3 g of dry yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in 3 liters of warm water. In both cases, let the solution stand for 2 hours. Then take 1 part of the mixture, dilute it with 5 parts of ordinary water and water the plants under the root. You can carry out yeast top dressing 1 time per month.

5. succinic acid

With this fertilizer, you can not only water, but also spray indoor flowers. True, it is better to carry out such top dressing no more than 1 time per year during the growing season. To get a useful solution, dilute 1 g of succinic acid in 5 liters of water.

Things to remember when fertilizing houseplants

• Do not feed house flowers too often. An excess of nutrients affects them worse than a deficiency. From abundant top dressing, plants can lose their decorative effect or even die.
• Before using fertilizers, carefully read the information on the packaging. Consumption rates and method of preparing nutrient mixtures may vary depending on the manufacturer.
• Pour fertilizer into moist soil so that the solution does not burn the roots.
• Feed early in the morning or late in the evening. Drops of the product under the influence of sunlight can cause burns on the leaves.