By James Thomas 
Houseplants need fertilizer at every step of their development. A lack of nutrients will harm flowering and growth as well as the formation of the plant. If you wish, you can find a wide variety of composts in flower shops. But you can also prepare your own high-quality fertilizer with the textiles you have on hand — in this article. You will know to make your own homemade fertilizer for indoor plants!
Why plants need fertilizers
Much like people, plants need a set of necessary nutrients to grow properly and stay healthy. In particular, all plants must have nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, understood as macronutrients, because plants need them the most (there are also several micronutrients required in such small quantities that you usually don’t have to worry about them).1 Without sufficiently of these macronutrients, you’ll eventually end up with very sad plants with weak stems, less leaves, fewer flowers, and poor color.
The good news is that you can fix most nutrient deficiencies by adding fertilizer to your soil. The best fertilizers for plants depend on whether they are developing in your garden or in containers.
Fertilizing your indoor flowers
Early fertilization of potted plants is essential for proper growth, good growth, and lush blooms. The whole issue is that potting soil has only a supply of certain nutrients, and these nutrients are further depleted over time. If you don’t provide your plants enough nutrients at least twice a month, they will starve to death after a while. This will inevitably lead to a decline in cosmetic value.
You can make your nutrient mix in your own kitchen. You can make it from all sorts of scraps: eggshells, onion skins, coffee settings, banana peels, water from a fish tank, spilled tea leaves, etc. Fertilizers made from organic materials saturate the substrate with nutrients, sterilize it, and encourage beneficial microorganisms.
WHEN TO APPLY FERTILIZER
Domestic yields have increasing and decreasing requirements for various micro and macronutrients throughout the year.
A. Spring
Spring is the awakening time for all plants, and houseplants are no exception. This is when they develop faster and produce flower buds. Therefore, you should add nutrients to your plants in the jump. Feed every 2–3 weeks until the bushes flower. At the beginning of spring, you will require a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Then, soon before flowering, their need for potassium and phosphorus increases.
Please note! You should not add a fluid nutrient mixture to a dry substrate. Make sure you water laboriously before fertilizing.
B. Summer
In summer, flowers also need frequent fertilization because they need to consume many nutrients and energy to bloom. Now, they need potassium in particular. Therefore, fertilization should be done double a month.
If foliar fertilization is to be done, nutrients should not be permitted to drip onto the inflorescence. This will cause brown spots to appear and decrease the attractiveness of the flowers.
C. Fall
As fall practices, it is recommended to reduce the amount of watering and frequency of fertilization greatly. Otherwise, the flowers will not be sufficiently prepared for their resting period. In the fall, houseplants are particularly in need of phosphorus.
Fertilize every four weeks and cut the last summer’s fertilizer application in half. However, there are exceptions to this rule — for houseplants that flower in autumn. The shrubs can then be shown the same fertilizer as in the summer. It is advised to use granular fertilizers with a slow-release effect.
D. Winter
During the frosty winter months, nearly all indoor flowers are dormant. To these months, it is recommended to keep them cool. During this time, plants not only rest but also open their bloom buds.
To this period, no feeding is done, and watering is decreased. But even in this case, there is an anomaly: crops that bloom in winter. Fertilization of such plants is taken out once in 15 days, and fertilizers contain phosphorus and potassium.
Plant fertilizer requirements
In my spreadsheet I have a distant more detailed description of various plant fertilizer requirements, but instead of getting too in-depth, here are some advanced levels of the more popular houseplant genera. Please keep in mind that I do not fertilize my cacti or succulents, and from my knowledge, you really shouldn’t have to.
10-10-5 Fertilizer
1-Calathea sp. (monthly, spring through fall)
2-Maranta sp. (monthly, spring through fall)
3-Stromanthe sp. (monthly, spring through fall)
10-10-10 Balanced Fertilizer
1-Anthurium sp. (monthly, spring through fall)
2-Spathihyllum sp. (monthly, spring through summer)
3-Zamioculcas sp. (4 times per year)
4-Pachira sp. (biweekly, spring through fall)
5-Oxalis (monthly)
6-Peperomia (3 times per year)
7-Ficus (monthly, spring through fall)
8-Cissus (every three weeks)
9-Strelitzia (monthly, spring through fall)
20-20-10 Fertilizer
1-Alocasia sp. (every two weeks, spring through fall)
20-20-20 Balanced Fertilizer
1-Aglaonema sp. (monthly feedings, spring via summer
2-Dieffenbachia sp. (biweekly, spring via summer; monthly, fall through winter)
3-Philodendron sp. (monthly, spring via fall)
4-Syngonium sp. (biweekly, spring via fall; monthly in winter)
5-Epipremnum sp. (biweekly, spring via fall; monthly in winter)
6-Monstera sp. (biweekly, spring via fall; monthly in winter)
10-20-10 / 10-30-10 Fertilizer
1-Begonia (feed every three weeks)
2-Cyclamen sp. (feed every two weeks)
17-8-22 Fertilizer
1-Tillandsia (once a month, spring through summer)
How Often to Fertilize Plants
“While you take everyday vitamins, your plants don’t need fertilizer as often.”. Just how often you fertilize your plants depends on the types you are developing and the time of year.
Fertilizer for Outdoor Plants
Some garden plants are serious feeders (meaning they need more nutrients than others). These grow to be species that produce fast and flower a lot, including most annuals, fruits, veggies, roses, and hydrangeas. These plants enjoy being fed about once a month during their growing season with a broad-purpose liquid fertilizer.
Other plants, including some perennials (such as bee balm and coneflower), trees, and shrubs, don’t require much fertilizer at all—especially if you add plenty of compost or other organic fabric to their soil before planting. You may want to provide them once in the spring as they start ramping up their growth.
Fertilizer for Indoor Plants
Many leafy and flowering houseplants also observe a seasonal schedule, slowing down their growth during the cooler months and, therefore, not needing as many nutrients. When they’re more actively developing in the spring and summer, they benefit from a small liquid fertilizer mixed into their water about once a month. If you’re not one to place to do that, go for slow-release granules or a nutrient tab you can go into the soil every few months or so. When it comes to indoor cacti and succulents, which typically don’t need much fertilizer at all, just one or two amounts of liquid fertilizer per year will suffice.
| Aspect | Houseplant Fertilization |
|---|---|
| Nutrient Requirements | Macronutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (N-P-K) Micronutrients: Required in smaller amounts (not typically emphasized). |
| Importance of Fertilizer | Necessary for healthy growth, flowering, and overall plant development; prevents nutrient deficiencies. |
| Types of Fertilizers | – Homemade: Made from kitchen scraps (eggshells, coffee grounds, etc.). – Commercial: Available at garden stores, often with specific N-P-K ratios. |
| Risks of Over-Fertilization | Can cause nutrient “burn,” leading to yellow leaves, weak growth, or plant death. |
FAQs
1. What’s factory toxin, and why do shops need it?
Toxin is a blend of nutrients that help shops grow strong and healthy. shops need it because occasionally the soil does not have enough natural nutrients for them to thrive.
2. How frequently should I fertilize my shops?
It depends on the type of factory. Some need toxin every 2- 4 weeks, while others may only need it once every many months. Always check the marker or factory care companion for specifics.
3. Can too important toxins detriment my shops?
Yes! Over-fertilizing can” burn” shops, causing unheroic leaves, weak growth, or indeed death. Always follow the recommended quantities on the toxin package.
4. What type of toxin should I use for inner shops?
For inner shops, balanced liquid diseases are generally stylish. Look for a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula, which means an equal corridor of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.