Top Fertilizers for all Your [Indoor] Potted Plants

Indoor plants are beautiful additions to any home! 🪴 They add color, life, and a feeling of nature inside your living space. Much like your plants outside, indoor plants also need some TLC from you to really thrive. And fertilizing them is a first step towards their good health.

Although fertilizing indoor plants is a must, a lot of people find themselves confused on which fertilizers to use. Well, if you’re among them, you can’t be blamed as there are several types out there. Each one has different functions and ingredients, which makes it a daunting task for many first-time plant owners.

To make your life easier, here’s a guide that will teach you about the best types of fertilizers available for you. Choose from our list and ensure your indoor plants get the best fertilizer out there. We’ll take a look at different types of fertilizers and how they work, so keep reading.

Why should you fertilize your indoor plants?

Much like outdoor plants, indoor ones also need a lot of nutrients to feed on and grow well. If you just keep watering them without giving them any additional nourishment, there’s no way they can thrive in the long run. This is why regularly feeding them with fertilizers will become an inevitable part of your precious indoor garden’s maintenance.

Indoor plants that are well-fed with the right fertilizers are more likely to stay lush, green and healthy all year round. It’s important to note that fertilizers act differently from plant food. Plants are able to generate their own food through a process called photosynthesis where they combine water and carbon dioxide to produce sugar which they use to feed themselves.

Fertilizers, however, work as supplements for your plants. It provides them with essential elements called macronutrients which are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) that are usually not found in potting soil. They are referred to as macronutrients because plants need them in huge quantities. On top of these macronutrients, fertilizers also provide your indoor plants with micronutrients that improve their health and beauty. Plants both indoor and outdoor, cannot produce these nutrients on their own which is why fertilizing them is very important. As a plant owner, it’s important to remember that the food that plants produce on their own isn’t enough.

When should you fertilize your indoor plants?

When should you fertilize your indoor plants? In general, it is best to start applying fertilizer in the springtime once they have had a chance to grow some roots.

The frequency of feeding your plants with fertilizer depends on the type of indoor plants that you grow. Indoor plants that are heavy-feeders would usually need to be fertilized as often as once per week, while some may only need a monthly feeding or less. A good rule of thumb would be every two weeks during the growing season and then monthly or so during the rest of the year, until winter comes around again.

The Many Different Types of Fertilizers for House Plants

Now that we know how important fertilizers are and when your plants need them, the next step to successful indoor plant growing is to familiarize yourself with the types of fertilizers that you can use for your lovely plants. This will make choosing the right one so much easier!

When it comes to fertilizers, there are several types available on the market. The two main types of plant fertilizers are organic and inorganic options. You can pick whichever one works best according to your needs, but here’s a quick look at each type so you’ll know the pros and cons of each before choosing one for yourself.

Organic Fertilizers for Houseplants

Compost is considered an excellent fertilizer that has a myriad of nutrients and helps plants grow well by providing them with essential minerals like nitrogen, phosphate, etc., which are essential nutrients that are perfect for indoor plants at home or office spaces where regular watering may not be possible due to lack of time or because you live in a place where summers get too hot despite having access to water all year round. It also helps to improve the texture of soil and thus, can be used for both indoor as well as outdoor plants.

Organic fertilizers are derived from plants or animal matter and waste. These types of fertilizers do not contain any synthetic ingredients such as chemicals, salts, etc., Most organically rich products will provide a slow release of nutrients into the soil.

Inorganic fertilizers for Houseplants

Also known as synthetic fertilizers, are those that are manufactured artificially. Most elements and minerals found in this type of fertilizer are mined from the earth. Inorganic fertilizers are an abundant source of all three macronutrients. Additionally, they also contain:

• ammonium sulfate
• magnesium sulfate
• potassium chloride

Organic and inorganic fertilizers can come in several forms such as:

Liquid fertilizers are inorganic fertilizers that are added to the water you use when watering your indoor plants. They are simple to use and readily available. Simply dilute the appropriate amount when your plants need feeding. With liquid fertilizers, you can hold off fertilizing during the winter months.

Liquid fertilizers can be used in both hydroponic and soil-based growing techniques. They are also easy to transport and you won’t even need special storage. There is a range of liquid plant food available, each with different applications such as vegetative growth or root production.

Granular plant fertilizers, on the other hand, will have to be mixed into the soil. The nutrients they contain are released to the plants when they get water. This type is best when you are repotting a plant in fresh soil.

Slow-release fertilizers release nutrients into the soil gradually. They come in pods, spikes, and capsules. Many plant owners prefer this type of fertilizer because you don’t need to remember to feed the plants. Controlling how much nutrients get into the pot is a bit tricky, however. If you have small pot plants, then this type would generally fit your fertilization needs.

Things to Consider When Fertilizing your House Plants

Fertilizing your house plants is crucial for their healthy growth and they are generally safe but it needs to be done cautiously. It’s very important to avoid overfeeding your house plants as it can be detrimental to their growth rather than beneficial. If you notice any signs of fertilizer burn, immediately cut back on the dosage until it goes away.

Knowing your plants’ current health situation is also very important. You need to keep an eye for any signs of deficiencies or malnutrition to be able to address them properly. Some of the most common symptoms of plant nutrient deficiencies are as follows:

• Drooping leaves.
• Tiny or yellow spots on leaves.
• Stunted root growth.
• Wilting foliage and buds at the tips of branches.
• Yellowing or dull green leaves.
• Purpling coloration in stems and veins of older leaves.
• Smaller flowers and fruits than usual

Remember that plants can show these symptoms even if they are low in just one particular element! This is why regular soil testing should be done before fertilizing your indoor plants again. If you notice any of those signs, revisiting how you apply your fertilizer would be beneficial. Following the manufacturer’s guide on the proper application can do a great deal in keeping your plants lush and green all year round.

The Best Fertilizer Products for [HAPPY] Indoor Plants

When choosing the best fertilizer for your indoor plants, remember that they are different from their outdoor counterparts. For one thing, you can’t use any type of fertilizers on them because it will most likely burn or kill some types of house plants.

So what is the best fertilizer for your inside plants? The answer depends upon several factors such as:

• The amount of light and water they receive every day.
• The source of light, artificial or not.
• The species of plants you have chosen to grow in a pot indoors
• Other growing things near them like trees or grasses whose roots could leech into the soil mix eventually contaminating it with salt build-ups and making nutrients inaccessible to your plants.

The best fertilizer for house plants is a balanced nutrient solution that contains all the essential nutrients required to sustain life. Some of these include carbon, nitrogen, and potassium just to name some examples. When mixed together properly, it can help your inside plants grow better than ever!

We know you’re as excited as we are so without further adieu, we give you our top picks for your indoor plants.

QUICK GARDENING FACTS

Perfect if you need a fast-acting product that’s also affordable! Has a resealable lid to keep product fresh between uses.

Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food (Fertilizer Spikes)

QUICK GARDENING FACTS

Includes a plastic tool to help make room in the soil. Based on a detailed scan of reviews, be sure you don’t over water the area immediately around the spike!

Jobe’s Organics 09524 Purpose Granular Fertilizer

QUICK GARDENING FACTS

Provides a natural nutrient source in a 4-4-4 ratio that’s less likely to burn plants due to the slow release of organic nutrients.

Joyful Dirt Organic Premium Concentrated House Plant Food and Fertilizer

QUICK GARDENING FACTS

Indoor potting soil tends to be devoid of life…fix this with a product that includes beneficial microorganisms like Joyful Dirt’s 3-1-2 product.

Jobe’s 5001T Houseplant Indoor Fertilizer Food Spikes

QUICK GARDENING FACTS

Priced surprisingly competitive to the Miracle-Gro product, these spikes by Jobe’s Organics also last a month and have 2,500 reviews at the time of writing.

Schultz SPF45170 Purpose Liquid Plant Food

QUICK GARDENING FACTS

Simply add 7 drops to each quart of water when you water. That’s it and literally this is the only product I’ve found so far with 5 stars and over 1200 reviews!

The Verdict: This Week It’s a Draw!!!

Choosing the best fertilizer for your lovely house plants can be difficult and confusing. But it all boils down to your preference and how much time you have on your hands dedicated to tending your plants. In general, all fertilizers have their fair share of pros and cons but if you strictly follow the appropriate application as advised, they are sure to improve the quality and health of your indoor plants.

The bottom line is, fertilizing your indoor plants gives far more benefits than not doing it. Choose from our top picks above and fertilize wisely!