Spring Growing Season is Here - Houseplant Fertilizing 101
Spring has sprung and your houseplants are ready to get their grow on! During this time of year, many houseplants are waking up from their fall and winter “slumber” and may already be showing signs of new growth. How exciting! But in order for your indoor plants to look and grow their best, they need an extra boost of nutrients that only fertilizer can provide for them. Many times fertilizing can be overlooked, but it is actually a crucial part of growing healthy and happy plants!
Why Fertilize Houseplants?
Unlike outdoor plants that receive nutrients from their natural surroundings, your houseplant’s nutrient supply is strictly limited to the soil and pot that they are living in. When your indoor plants are freshly potted in new soil, there are typically enough supplemental nutrients to get them by for a few months (so if you recently purchased or repotted your plant baby into new soil, it may be best to hold off on the fertilizer for a while). However, after your plant has had some time to consume through the nutrients in its soil, it’s our job to help feed them when they are actively growing!
When to Fertilize Houseplants
When you start to see signs of active growth, it is a good time to slowly start integrating fertilizer into your plant care routine. Remember, fertilizer should be used as a reward for growth, not a stimulant to get them growing! Once you have noticed your plants have started to actively grow (typically around March-May), you will want to ease them into their fertilizer routine by diluting the first couple of doses given to them.
Too much fertilizer can cause more harm than none at all! To play it safe during the first few feedings, we recommend diluting your fertilizer to half its strength. Once summer arrives and your plant is well into its growing season, it is best to follow the instructions provided on the label of your fertilizer of choice.
Houseplant Fertilizing Tips
Follow these houseplant fertilizing tips to give your plants their best growing season yet!
Timing is everything- Spring and summer are the best times to incorporate a fertilizing routine. If a plant is fertilized when it is not actively growing it runs the risk of burning the foliage or worse yet, killing the plant.
Don’t overdo it- A little bit of fertilizer goes a long way and when in doubt, dilute to half strength!
Not all fertilizer is created equal- always follow the instructions provided on the label.
Wait after repotting- your plant’s roots are a bit fragile after repotting and it’s best to give them some time to adjust to their new home before providing them with any fertilizer.
Different plants have different needs- some indoor plants such as African violets, succulents, or orchids require specialty fertilizer, so it’s best to do your research to see what your plant varieties require.
We hope these tips help you understand how to set your indoor plants up for growing success! If you have additional fertilizing questions, reach out to us on Instagram @wild_interiors.