Feeding indoor plants.
When, how, and how much to feed indoor plants is a often the question. The
proper application of the right fertilizer at the right time will greatly
improve the health of your plants.
Fertilizing indoor plants regularly is important because the available nutrients
in most potting mixes are usually depleted quickly. Because the ratio of root
mass to soil volume is much higher than that of garden plants, the roots have
fewer nutrients to use. And every time an indoor plant is watered, the nutrients
wash out of the soil a little bit at a time. Although the indoor environment
might seem comfortable to you, it can be extreme for indoor plants: Low humidity,
dry, dusty air, and too little or too much sunlight can overpower a plant
that doesn’t have the nutrients it needs.
There are many different forms of fertilizers for indoor plants, from powders
to spikes to premixed liquids. Two of the most convenient and popular types
are slow-release pellets and water-soluble crystalline plant food. Slow-release
pellets are effective and easy to use: Mix them in with your potting soil,
and every time you water, a small amount of fertilizer is released. Pellets
come in 2-, 4-, and 9-month-release timetables. They should be your choice
if you don’t want to have to remember when and how much to fertilize
each plant.
Water-soluble crystalline plant food is a powdery substance that you mix with
water and pour into the plant’s soil (never pour fertilizer on the leaves
of an indoor plant). A complete fertilizer will have nitrogen, which encourages
green, leafy growth, and phosphorus and potash, which enhance vigor and overall
health.
The frequency of plant feedings depends on the time of the year and the composition
of the mix. In fall and winter, a indoor plant won’t need quite the support
that it does in spring and summer, because it won’t be growing as quickly
and thus will not be using its nutrients as quickly. If the fertilizer is
very potent frequent feedings can harm the plant. If you want to feed the
plant each time you water, then dilute the mixture considerably, so it is
the right potency, and follows the manufacturer’s recommendations for
use.