We share useful information about the types of fertilizers and tell you how to properly feed indoor plants.

Fertilizers for indoor flowers are necessary, but they need to be used correctly. To do this, first of all, it is worth studying the needs of a particular flower, its growth periods and “sleep”, as well as information about fertilizing: how, in what quantities and in what season one or another mixture should be used. It is not necessary to completely abandon additional feeding, since a green pet will grow and develop worse. But there should not be too much of it, otherwise the seedling may die altogether. In our article we will tell you about what fertilizers are and how to apply them correctly.

All about feeding home flowers

 

Why do I need extra food

House plants do not yield crops like garden fruits or vegetables, but they also need additional trace elements. It’s all about the soil: the seedling is in the same soil for a long time until it is transplanted (and this happens, as a rule, once a year or even several years). Over time, the root system pulls out all the useful substances from the soil, and it becomes “empty”. The flower begins to lack nutrition, and then top dressing comes to the rescue. If you do not add a useful mixture in time, your green pet will begin to wither a little: it will lose the intensity of color, may shed some of the leaves and stop blooming.

The best fertilizers for flowers are exactly the substances that are necessary for a particular variety. They make the soil nutritious, contribute to a more intensive development of the seedling. There are also universal components that are suitable for everyone: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. They should be applied depending on the needs of the flower and in a certain order. These trace elements can be used both separately and as part of complex mixtures, where, in addition to them, there are many other useful components. 

Kinds

Fertilizers can be divided into three types: mineral, natural and homemade. The first two types can be bought in the store, and the last one is made independently. Mineral and organic mixtures are usually alternated for the best effect. As for domestic species, their effect can be different, so it is important to check the reaction of plants to them. 

Mineral

Mineral fertilizers can be nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc., depending on the main component in the composition. Such mixtures perfectly saturate the soil and help the seedling to develop better. They are sold in different formats: liquid, solid, crushed. The first type works the fastest, but powders and tablets turn out to be more “long-lasting” and, therefore, economical. The only fertilizer format that is infrequently used for seedlings in pots is granular. The reason is that it is usually calculated per square meter, and if the planter is small, then it is impossible to make such a calculation correctly.

How and when to apply mineral mixtures:

Organic

Organic top dressing usually has a natural composition and natural origin. They also have a beneficial effect on the development of the plant and help it grow and gain strength. Among the most popular organic additives are humus or manure, sawdust, bird droppings, peat, sapropel, ash. Obviously, it will not be possible to use some of them in the apartment because of the smell. In this case, you can choose the necessary extract from a natural fertilizer in the store, which has no fragrance.

Homemade

Folk dressings for indoor flowers at home are made easily and do not require spending, but they are the most dangerous among all. Due to the peculiarities of manufacturing (with their own hands, from improvised means) they can have not only a positive, but also a negative effect, and are not suitable for all home flowers, so be careful. For greater efficiency, you can add not only organic, but also mineral elements to homemade mixtures.

Coffee

One of the most popular folk coffee recipes (only not instant). They water the soil with it or mix cake from a coffee maker there. For some plants, this is useful, but as a “side effect”, flies or other pests can get started, and there is also a risk of mold. Caffeine can negatively affect the leaves, causing burns, so keep an eye on the condition of the plants. If the flower reacts badly to such a top dressing, it is better not to use it.

Welding

Do not throw away the remnants of the tea that you brewed in the kettle. These wastes will be a good alternative to store fertilizers with nitrogen and will saturate the soil with oxygen. Either the brew itself or sweetened tea is added to the soil. But keep in mind that it, like coffee, can attract black flies.

Yeasts

Another popular option for fertilizing flowers at home is yeast. It is believed that they perfectly stimulate the growth of indoor plants. But at the same time, such top dressing “eats” all the calcium and potassium from the soil, so that the plant may then lack them. This can be traced by the condition of the leaves: they will curl and dry.

Solutions of compressed or dry yeast, sugar and various additional components are used for fertilizer. It can be potato tops, ascorbic acid or, for example, whey.

Fruit peelings

Homemade fertilizers are often made from the peel of fruits: for example, citrus fruits or bananas. The latter have a large amount of useful substances contained in the skin. To get top dressing, banana peelings are dried or infused in a jar. But it is important to use the infusion while it is fresh, because after 10-12 hours all the benefits from it will be reduced to zero. Be prepared for the fact that an unpleasant smell may appear, this is a feature of working with any organic matter. And, as in the case of tea or coffee, do not use too much of such top dressing, so as not to attract insects.

Eggshell

The shell left after the eggs can also be used as fertilizer, but it is important to remember that it will not be useful for all plants. Since the egg shell contains a lot of calcium, it is suitable for light sandy soil, and it will also help to make heavy acidic soil more friable. The shell is used as follows: crushed, poured into a glass jar, filled with water and left in a cool dark place for two weeks. When the mixture is infused, be prepared for a not very pleasant smell, this is a signal that the top dressing is ready.

Rules for the use of top dressing for indoor flowers 

Before deciding how to feed flowers at home, it is important not only to choose the right mixture of substances needed for this particular plant, but also to study the application features. After all, if you do everything at random, you can seriously harm the plant and even provoke its death.

So, there are a few rules to follow:

In order to make top dressing in a timely manner, it is better to make a schedule for yourself. Keep records in notes or set reminders in the calendar. This way you won’t miss an important date and you won’t add more fertilizers than you need.

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