What You Need to Know before Fertilizing Your Houseplants
Keeping plants indoors is a great way to decorate your home. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they also bring a few benefits with them. They’re great for promoting cleaner air in your home, and the color green has been shown to influence feelings of relaxation and refreshment.
Indoor plants are also easy to take care of, with most of them only needing water every two weeks while placing them in direct or indirect sunlight. However, many people tend to forget that these houseplants don’t get as many nutrients from the soil as they would if you planted them outdoors. That’s why it’s important to give them fertilizer.
What Is Fertilizer?
Fertilizer works to provide the nutrients a plant needs to encourage growth and lush foliage. Usually, houseplants only require fertilizer once every season, but that can change depending on their bloom and nutritional needs. It’s integral to do your research because too much fertilizer can cause chemical burns and dehydrate your plant.
All general-purpose fertilizers have the necessary nutrients for your plant, so there’s no need to worry about what brand you use. However, you might want to consider the type of fertilizer you buy because this affects how your plant receives its nutrients.
Liquid Fertilizers
Liquid fertilizers are concentrated mixtures that you’re supposed to add to the water before giving it to the plant. They’re a great option because it’s easy to control the amount to avoid overwhelming the plant, and you can easily stop during the winter if they don’t need it as much.
Slow-Release Fertilizers
Like the name suggests, slow-release fertilizers gradually release nutrients into the soil. They usually come in rounded shells with a special coating, keeping the contents from releasing too much too soon. Many professional gardeners prefer this for their indoor and outdoor plants because it’s more efficient when caring for many plants.
However, you may find that these types of fertilizers are more expensive than liquid ones. But because it takes a while for the fertilizer to disperse fully, the cost comes out almost the same in the long run.
Granular Fertilizers
Granular fertilizers come in dry pellets, and you can easily mix these in with your houseplant’s soil. These types of fertilizers are commonly used for outdoor plants, but it’s perfectly fine to use them indoors.
It’s essential to keep in mind that granular fertilizers release the nutrients every time you water a pot, so it’s hard to control the amount your plant receives. That’s why it’s always better to use them outdoors because there’s a wider area for the fertilizer to disperse into, and it won’t burn your plants.
Conclusion
Caring for indoor plants is fairly easy because most of them are low maintenance. They only need water at least once a week and, depending on their needs, you only have to put them under direct or indirect sunlight for a few hours. However, it’s vital not to forget to give your indoor plants some fertilizer at least once whenever the seasons change. If your plant becomes dormant during particular seasons, you may even need to do it less frequently.
For more gardening tips and tricks, check out our other content on Blossom & Broom. We have all the best articles that tell you how to care for your plants and ensure they’re growing out the lushest foliage.
