Fertilizing houseplants is critical if you want to ensure that they continue to thrive. Besides explaining the significance of plant food, I’ll go over the various kinds available and which ones are the most effective. After that, I’ll walk you through the steps of fertilizing containers, including how often to feed them and how much.
Fertilizing Potted Plants and Containers Outside
Many beginning gardeners neglect to feed their container plants, which is a huge oversight. The need of fertilizing potted plants can be overlooked if you’re a novice gardener.
For newcomers, container plant feeding can be a difficult and scary topic. Isn’t it easier just to ignore it?
There is no need to be a chemist to know how to fertilize a container garden. You only need to know a few fundamentals to get started. It is my intention to simplify everything for you in this text.
- What you’ll find in this comprehensive guide is what you’re looking for…
- The Benefits of Fertilizing House Plants
- Fertilizers: Chemical vs. Organic
- Container Fertilizers That Work Best
- Useful For Growing Vegetables in Containers
- It’s the Best for Flower Pots
- Grains vs. liquids: Which is better?
- Fertilizer in a bottle
- Granules that take a long time to break down
- To fertilize pots, you need to know when
- How Frequently Should I Fertilize My Plants?
- Exactly How Much
- Fertilizing Potted Plants
WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO FERTILISE POTTED PLANTS.
It’s important to use a high-quality container potting soil to ensure that your potted plants are healthy. The nutrients, on the other hand, are only there for a limited time. Each time you water your plants, a small amount of them is flushed out of the pots.
Plants in containers need more attention than those in the garden. They can’t find all the nutrients they require because their roots aren’t in the ground.
Containerized plants are fully reliant on us for their growth and well-being. As a result, it is critical that you fertilize your plants on a regular basis during the growing season.
Feeding Potted Plants with CHEMICAL vs. ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
Prior to discussing how to feed container plants, I’d like to discuss the pros and cons of using synthetic vs. organic fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers provide a quick fix, but they can be harmful to plants in the long run.
Your plants will need to be fertilized more frequently because they feed the plant rather than the soil. This can lead to serious damage to the soil since they include salts, which can build up quickly.
Synthetic fertilizers can easily burn plants, and this is a regular issue with containerized plants. As a result, natural, organic fertilizer is the ideal choice for feeding potted plants.
Natural organic fertilizers feed the soil, ensuring that plants receive the nutrients they need to thrive. They require less fertilizer, are less likely to cause fertilizer burns, and produce a far healthier container garden as a result.
CONTAINER PLANTS NEED THIS ORGANIC FERTILIZER!
By including numbers on the box, fertilizer manufacturers make it simple for consumers to quickly identify the right fertilizer for their potted plants. Those numbers, though, are a mystery.
Each of these values represents the amount of each of the three most critical nutrients that plants need to thrive. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K for short).
It’s because various plants require varied amounts of these nutrients why the numbers are so high. How to choose the proper fertilizer for feeding potted plants is explained here…
In terms of container vegetables, the best fertilizer is compost.
Many nutrients are necessary for vegetables to thrive and produce the best crops for humans. So fertilizing veggies in pots is extremely crucial.
Flowering and non-flowering crops can be divided into two primary categories for the purpose of selecting the optimum fertilizer for them:
- In order to yield fruit, flowering veggies must first bloom. There are many varieties of legumes and vegetables to choose from. Fertilizer strong in phosphorus (P) is required for these kinds of vegetables, therefore look for one with a higher middle number.
- Leaves and roots can be harvested from non-flowering vegetables. You can think of things like greens like kale and chard, but there are many more. Consider using a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content (N) for these vegetables. The largest of the three numbers should be the first one.
CONTAINER PLANTS’ BEST FERTILIZER
To keep your flowering plants blooming, you must feed them throughout the growing season. Otherwise, they risk going dormant in the middle of the summer and ceasing to bear flowers.
Potted flowers benefit from a higher phosphorous (P) fertilizer, which is best fed to them. That means the label’s central number is the largest.
Liquid fertilizer versus granular fertilizer for containers
When it comes to fertilizing potted plants, the first decision is whether to use liquid or granular (also known as delayed release) fertilizer.
The quick answer is that you should use both when fertilizing container plants because they both have their own distinct advantages. In the following paragraphs, I’ll explain the distinctions between the two and show you why it’s better to mix them.
Potted Plants Liquid Fertilizer
The main advantage of utilizing liquid fertilizer for potted plants is that it is absorbed by the plants fast. However, the drawback is that it is just temporary.
It is possible to buy pre-mixed liquid fertilizers, concentrates that must be diluted with water or tea bags that may be used to make your own. Here are a couple of great potted plant liquid fertilizers…
- Kelp seaweed in a liquid form
- An emulsion made from fish.
- Tea from worm castings
- Concentrated compost tea
- Tea bags can be composted.
Potted Plants Fertilizer Slow Release
The nutrients in granular fertilizers, on the other hand, are available to the plant over a longer period of time. However, this implies that they feed the plants for a longer period of time, and you don’t have to apply them as frequently as liquid fertilizers.
Wonderful things can be found on the market at any given time. They can be purchased for general usage or for specific plants. The following are some fantastic choices…
- Kelp meal in the form of a powder
- Castings from earthworms
- Compost
- Crab shells that have been sustainably sourced
- Feeder packs for the root zone
FERTILIZING POTATED TREES WHEN TO DO IT
No matter what time of day, you can fertilize potted plants as long as they are not dry or drooping. Plants under stress might be harmed or even killed if they are fertilized.
Before feeding container plants, examine the soil. Wait a few hours before adding fertilizer to the pot if the soil is dry or the plant is wilting, in any case.
WHAT IS THE RATE OF FERTILIZATION OF POTTED TREES?
During the entire growth season, make sure to feed your houseplants periodically. Because items can differ, please follow the directions on the label for the best results.
Slow release granules, on the other hand, usually only need to be applied two or three times every season. So, when you first plant your containers, and then once or twice over the summer, add them to the soil.
Liquid fertilizer can be used as often as every two to four weeks. Some gardeners prefer to use a small amount of fertilizer each time they water, so they don’t have to remember to stick to a regular schedule. The recommended amount is 1/4 to 1/5 of the watering can’s capacity in this scenario.
TO USE OR NOT TO USE FERTILIZER IN POTED PLANTS
When it comes to fertilizing potted plants, the amount you use will vary based on the pot’s size and the fertilizer you’re using. As a result, I advise you to follow the instructions on the packaging.
The size of the pot your plants are in will usually be indicated on the label. These standards should be followed, and potted plants should never be overfed.
Burning them is still conceivable even though it is much less likely when using organic fertilizers. Overdoing it won’t help the plant any more and will only increase your expenses.
THE RIGHT WAY TO FERTILIZE POTED PLANTS
Using liquid or slow-release fertilizer has a significant impact on the application process. Potted plants should be fertilized according to the following principles. You should, however, always check the label of the product you’re using for precise recommendations.
- Granules for long-term release should be sprinkled evenly on top of soil in containers before filling them with water. After that, carefully loosen the dirt with a garden fork and incorporate it. Activate the granules in the soil by thoroughly watering it.
- When using a watering can, mix the necessary amount of liquid fertilizer with water and apply to your potted plants. Then, as if you were watering the plant, pour the mix into the soil. You can also use a spray bottle to apply it directly to the leaves for foliar feeding.
It’s critical to fertilize potted plants if you want an attractive, productive, and healthy container garden. Feeding your container plants will become second nature once you get the hang of it and observe how much better everything grows.
