Casa Garden

Your plants basically need two types of nourishment to survive: water and minerals. They get minerals by absorbing them from the damp soil through their roots. Outdoor plants can often gather all the minerals they need from their surroundings by themselves. However, houseplant care requires more careful attention from the gardener, since the nutrients available from the soil in a pot are limited.

What are those numbers on the bag of fertilizer?

Fertilizers contain the key elements needed: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) in varying proportions. The numbers given on a bag of fertilizer show the relative amounts of these three elements. For example, an 18-6-12 fertilizer contains 18% N, 6% P2O5, and 12% K2O. Other elements are also necessary, but in much lower amounts.

How much of each mineral does my plant need?

This of course depends on what type of plant you are fertilizing. It is very important not to give your plant too much or too little food. This is a decision that must be made for each individual plant. You should carefully read both the label that came with your plant if there is one, and the label on the bag of fertilizer. If you’re still not sure, ask the person at the plant store for advice.

What does each of the elements do for my plant?

Without going too deeply into biochemistry, we can say that flowering tropical houseplants have a greater need for phosphorus, whereas leafy green house plants like a lot of nitrogen. Potassium helps fight plant diseases, and helps fruit-bearing plants by making it easier to transport other necessary elements through plant tissue.

What are the symptoms of poor feeding?

If the leaves are losing color, or are smaller than usual, your plant is likely suffering from a mineral deficiency. You can help by using liquid fertilizer, since this allows the roots to absorb the minerals faster. Brown leaf tips or wilting leaves are a sign of over-fertilization. The quick fix for this ailment is a thorough flushing with plenty of water to remove the excess fertilizer.

How do I fertilize my plants, and how often?

My personal preference is to use “liquid” fertilizers, since that makes it more difficult to over-fertilize. Dry fertilizer is dissolved in water using the directions given on the package. Then the plants are soaked by pouring the solution into the pot until it begins to flow out the holes in the bottom. I do this every two months – a bit more frequently during the blooming season.

If you use care in feeding your house plants, they will not only stay alive, they’ll become luxuriant. And don’t forget to ask for advice if you’re having difficulties. Your plant store should be happy to help a good customer.

Do you need more help with tropical houseplant care? Visit the Professor’s website on tropical houseplants, where you can find help for your plants. I also have a lot of beautiful pictures, and some neat videos too. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory