OnewsO: Week 2: Fertilizing Your Houseplants

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Week 2: Fertilizing Your Houseplants

Welcome to Week 2!

Allison Bean, Editorial Director

Now that you know the best ways to water your houseplants, it's time to talk about fertilizing. Many people think that water and sunlight are the only things houseplants need to survive, and while that's true to a certain extent, fertilizing will give your plants the nutrients they need to be stronger, healthier, and more vibrant. And it's easy to incorporate fertilizing into your regular houseplant care routine.

Supplies You'll Need

	A high-quality liquid fertilizer
	A watering can

How to Fertilize Your Houseplants

Choose Your Fertilizer

	Choose a good-quality all-purpose fertilizer for indoor plants. Liquid fertilizer is the easiest to control and provides a steady supply of nutrients.

	A high quality fertilizer will have: nitrogen for healthy foliage growth; phosphorus for root growth; and potassium for bigger, healthier blooms.

	For some plants, like African violets, you can even find a specific fertilizer with the optimized proportions of nutrients for that plant.

Follow the Instructions

	Always read the instructions on your fertilizer label. Overfertilizing is one of the most common mistakes made by well-meaning indoor gardeners.

	The next time you water your plants, following the instructions on the label, add the right amount of fertilizer to your watering can with the appropriate amount of water.

	The number of times you fertilize will depend on several factors: the time of year, the fertilizer you have, and your plants' requirements. Plants with large blooms, for example, require more frequent feeding.

Set a Schedule

	In the spring and summer, you may have to fertilize your plants once a month. During the winter, many plants only require fertilizer once in the entire season while they're dormant.

	Like your watering schedule, it's important to have a fertilizing schedule and keep track of the last time you fertilized your plants.