How to Fertilize Houseplants for Optimal Growth

Fertilizer is an important aspect of plant care, yet it is often overlooked when it comes to indoor plants. Just like any other plant, indoor plants need nutrients to grow and thrive. While outdoor plants can get these nutrients from the soil, indoor plants rely on their owners to provide them with the necessary nourishment. They can be incorporated into the potting soil when planting or applied to the surface.

A lack of fertilizer can lead to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and overall poor health. Fertilizing indoor plants regularly can help them reach their full potential and enjoy a long, healthy life. Various fertilizers are available on the market, so it is important to choose one specifically designed for indoor plants.

Indoor plant fertilizer typically has a lower concentration of nutrients than fertilizer for outdoor ones. This is because indoor plants have limited access to light and water, which means they are not able to access and use nutrients as efficiently as an outdoor plant.

As a result, it is important to use a fertilizer designed for indoor plants to avoid over-fertilizing and damaging your plants. With the proper care and attention, your indoor plants can thrive and provide you with years of enjoyment. If you want your houseplants to reach their full potential, you must fertilize them regularly!

This blog post will discuss the best way to fertilize your plants and how often you should do it. We will also provide a few tips on choosing the right fertilizer for your plants. So if you want your plants to thrive, be sure to read our guide on How to Fertilize Houseplants!

Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food (Liquid), 8 oz

What’s in houseplant fertilizer?

Over time, the nutrients in the potting soil get depleted, and your plants can suffer, so fertilizers are important for healthy plant growth. They provide essential nutrients that plants need to grow and thrive. Fertilizers typically contain macro-and micronutrients in a variety of ratios. The most common macronutrients are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (N-P-K).

The ratio of these nutrients is listed on fertilizer bottles and bags. The N-P-K ratio in tomato or grass fertilizer is different than in houseplant fertilizer. It is important to use a houseplant-specific fertilizer in order to provide the correct ratio of nutrients for your plants.

Look for “houseplants” on the packaging. In addition to N-P-K, fertilizers also contain calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and boron. These micronutrients are important for plant health and are usually present in sufficient quantities in most soils. However, if your plants are not growing well, you may need to supplement with a fertilizer that contains additional micronutrients.

Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food (Liquid), 8 oz

Ingredients in houseplant fertilizers

Fertilizers are important for supplying essential nutrients to plants. Calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and boron are all essential nutrients that are often lacking in the soil, especially when plants are grown in containers. Fertilizers can also help to correct nutrient deficiencies in plants.

For example, if a plant is deficient in iron, applying a fertilizer containing iron will help correct the deficiency. Fertilizers can be applied to the soil or foliage of plants, and Foliar applications are more efficient because the nutrients are directly absorbed by the leaves. Fertilizers can also be applied through irrigation systems.

Fertilizer applications should be tailored to the specific needs of your potted plants and the soil in which it is growing. Applying too much fertilizer to your potting soil can damage plants and pollute waterways. It is important to follow the directions on fertilizer labels carefully to avoid over-fertilizing.

When using natural fertilizers, compost properly is important to avoid introducing harmful bacteria and pathogens into the environment.

Types of houseplant fertilizer

Fertilizers are available in a wide range of formulations, including liquids, sticks, tablets, granules, and slow-release formulations. The fertilizer you use will depend on the plants you are growing and your desired results.

For example, liquid fertilizers are best suited for plants that quickly need a large amount of nutrients. In contrast, slow-release fertilizers are better for plants that only need a small amount of nutrients over an extended period of time.

Granular fertilizers are typically used in outdoor settings, as they are not as efficient at moving nutrients through the soil. When choosing a fertilizer for your houseplants, be sure to choose one that is specifically designed for indoor use.

Liquid fertilizer

Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food (Liquid), 8 oz

Organic fertilizers in liquid form are one of the best options, even if they must be applied more regularly than granular fertilizer. Unlike chemical fertilizer, the materials in all-purpose fertilizer are produced from plants, animals, and mined minerals.

Additionally, liquid fertilizers have a reduced danger of fertilizer burn. In addition to supplying a houseplant with nutrition, liquid fertilizers derived from naturally occurring substances also stimulate its growth.

They contain dozens of minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, and plant hormones, all of which contribute to the health and vitality of your indoor plants. Liquid organic houseplant fertilizers are composed of a few ingredients: liquid kelp, fish emulsion, compost tea, worm tea, and liquid bone meal.

These ingredients are beneficial to your plants because they provide essential nutrients that promote growth. In addition, these ingredients help to condition the soil and make it more hospitable for plant life. As a result, organic liquid fertilizers are an ideal way to ensure that your houseplants are getting the nutrition they need to thrive.

Granular fertilizer

Purely Organic Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Plant Food Spikes

Granular fertilizers designed specifically for houseplants are available in two distinct forms – either as loose granular pellets or compacted fertilizer “spikes.”

The most effective pelletized and compressed granular fertilizers for houseplants are those that are composed of natural ingredients, such as worm castings, bone meal, blood meal, sulfate of potash, limestone, rock phosphate, and various other substances derived from animals, minerals, and plants.

Some are also composed of synthetic chemicals available on the market; however, I choose not to use them on my houseplants. You can learn what ingredients a fertilizer is composed of by taking a quick look at the label and examining the list. 

Slow-release fertilizer

Clean Water Grow All-Purpose Plant Food 2.5 lb. Slow Release Natural Environmentally Friendly

Slow-release fertilizers, also known as time-released fertilizers, are a type of fertilizer designed to release nutrients over an extended period. These fertilizers are often made using synthetic sources of nutrients, which are then coated with a protective covering.

This covering slowly breaks down, releasing the nutrients in trace amounts over time. This can be very convenient, as it means you won’t need to fertilize your garden as often. However, it’s important to be aware that the components used in slow-release fertilizers can be harmful to the environment.

Choosing between organic and chemical fertilizers

Any gardener worth their salt knows that fertilizers are key to maintaining a healthy garden. But with so many products on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for your plants. Organic and chemical fertilizers are known to stimulate plant development, but which is superior? The answer depends on the specific requirements of your plants. 

Both organic and chemical fertilizers add nutrients to the soil that plants require, but each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Chemical fertilizers, also called synthetic fertilizers, are typically cheaper and more readily available than organic ones, and however, they can also be more harmful to the environment.

On the other hand, organic fertilizers are generally more expensive and less available than chemical fertilizers. But because they are made from natural materials, they tend to be more environmentally friendly. 

In the end, the decision of which fertilizer to use is a personal one. Your preferences regarding the cost, availability, and impact on the environment will ultimately determine which product you choose to purchase.

When should I fertilize houseplants?

Jobe’s Organics 09524 Purpose Granular Fertilizer, 16 lb

It is very important to learn when to fertilize houseplants and keep them looking happy. All plants require three essential resources for proper growth: water, sunlight, and nutrients. While most gardeners have a pretty good understanding of providing these resources, when to fertilize your houseplants can be considerably more difficult.

There is no signal from your plant that screams, “Hey, it’s time to feed me!” Other than delayed or sluggish development, which for many houseplant parents goes unnoticed, there is no visible indication that your plant needs to be fed.

Therefore, rather than waiting for a signal from the plant, you must take matters into your own hands and apply fertilizer to houseplants on a schedule based on their growth cycle. Most plants have a period of active growth in the spring and summer months, followed by a period of dormancy in the fall and winter.

Fertilizing during the active growth period will help encourage strong growth and promote healthy development. However, over-fertilizing can cause problems such as leaf burn or root damage, so it is important to follow the directions on the fertilizer package and apply it at the correct rate.

Fertilizer Schedule

Organic Indoor Plant Food – All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer

Each houseplant has varied fertilizer demands, so don’t overcomplicate the process. Yes, you could study each houseplant species to determine its nutritional demands. Still, the vast majority of popular houseplants have comparable fertilizer requirements, so treating them in a single approach is enough to satisfy their nutritional needs. Some houseplants are heavy feeders, and a houseplant fertilizer regimen like the one below strikes a decent balance between heavy feeders and those requiring less fertilizer.

Here’s how to fertilize most houseplants. It’s based on the growing season, which affects outdoor plants similarly despite houseplants’ more stable temps. For example, during the spring and summer, when days are longer, and there’s more light, plants grow more and need nitrogen for foliage growth.

In fall and winter, when growth slows down, they need less nitrogen and more phosphorus for root growth. With that in mind, use a high-nitrogen fertilizer (24-8-16) in spring and summer, switching to a low-nitrogen fertilizer (10-20-10) in fall and winter. Fertilize every two weeks while plants are actively growing, then monthly during their rest period.

Spring houseplant fertilizer schedule

Fertilizing houseplants is important to maintain their health, but it is also important to know when to fertilize them. Start fertilizing around eight weeks before the last projected spring frost, when the days begin to lengthen and the plants’ dormant phase transforms into a growing phase.

The first three applications of fertilizer should be half the required strength. If the product is granular, use half the amount recommended on the package. If it’s a liquid fertilizer for houseplants, dilute it to half intensity.

This nourishes houseplants at a time when they are preparing for active growth but do not yet need larger quantities of nutrients to sustain prodigious growth. By giving them a little boost during this time, you will help them to grow strong and healthy during the growing season.

After the eighth week, you can gradually increase the strength of the fertilizer until you are using the full recommended dosage. This will help your plants to thrive and produce beautiful foliage and blooms all season long.

Summer houseplant fertilization schedule

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose and Shake ‘N Feed Plant Food Bundle

During the growing season, houseplants require more frequent fertilization than at other times of the year. The type of fertilizer you use will determine how often you need to apply it. Liquid fertilizers are applied more frequently, for instance, biweekly or monthly.

Granular products are utilized less often, perhaps once or twice per month. Slow-release houseplant fertilizers decompose slowly and gradually release their nutrients over an extended period of time. A single application of these products typically lasts between three and four months.

Follow this routine whether or not you transfer your indoor plants outdoors for the summer. When summer light levels are high, houseplants are in a state of active growth, regardless of whether they are exposed to the steady temperatures of an air-conditioned home or the fluctuating temperatures of the great outdoors. Regular fertilization will help your plants thrive during the summer months.

Fall houseplant fertilization schedule

Fall is the time of year when lawns and gardens start to wind down for the season. This is also a good time to start cutting back on the amount of fertilizer that you give to your houseplants. About eight weeks before the first fall frost that is forecast, reduce the amount and frequency of fertilizer that you give to your houseplants.

This means that beginning in the middle of August, cut the quantity of fertilizer you apply to your lawn in half and start increasing the amount of time between each fertilizer application by about three to four weeks. This strategy continues until about the time that winter arrives. This Fall Fertilization Schedule will help your plants stay healthy and strong through winter.

Winter houseplant fertilization schedule

Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose and Shake ‘N Feed Plant Food Bundle

Fertilizing your houseplants is an important part of maintaining their health, but it’s important to know when to fertilize them. During the winter, plants are not actively growing, so fertilizing them can result in fertilizer burn and browning of leaf tips.

If you live in a region that doesn’t see regular winter frosts, you can continue to fertilize your houseplants throughout the year, but at half the strength and frequency of summer applications. This is because the light levels are lower in winter rather than the temperatures.

And if you live in a tropical area where it is always warm, you should maintain a summer fertilization regimen for your houseplants year-round. Following these guidelines will ensure that your houseplants stay healthy and vibrant all year long.

How to Fertilize Houseplants – FAQ

Do fertilizers encourage plant growth?

Yes, fertilizers are applied to plant roots by using liquid fertilizer in order to encourage healthy growth. There are many different types of fertilizers available, and each one contains a specific combination of nutrients that plants need in order to grow.

Is fertilizing houseplants easy?

Yes, once you know which fertilizer to use and how often to apply it, fertilizing houseplants is easy.

Do I need to feed houseplants regularly?

It depends. Some plants need to be fertilized more often than others.

Do blooming plants need to be fertilized?

Yes, especially during their peak growing cycle. This is when the plant is leafing out for deciduous species, flowering, or putting on new growth after leaving the dormant winter stage. 

Do I need to use a lot of fertilizer?

Large amounts of fertilizer are therefore unnecessary for most indoor plants. Applying too much fertilizer can “burn” the plant’s roots, causing the leaves to turn yellow or brown. It is important to follow the manufacturer.