If you have ever wondered whether to use vegetable fertilizer on houseplants or not, then you have come to the right place.
Long story short:
Vegetable fertilizer can be used on houseplants. Natural plant food is better to use than synthetic one. Vegetable fertilizers contain iron, calcium, and other minerals that plants need to grow correctly. Houseplants can benefit from the same fertilizers as garden plants, but the supply dosage will differ.
The main goal of vegetable fertilizer is to provide them with the nutrients they need without overdosing them.
In this article, we will discuss the fertilizer requirement of houseplants and how you can use vegetable fertilizer on them without hurting them or causing any damage to their leaves or stems.
What are the Fertilizer Requirements for Houseplants?
If you want to grow houseplants successfully, then you need to know how much fertilizer your plants need and when to feed them with it so that your plants will thrive and look healthy.
Fertilizer affects the growth and health of plants in a variety of ways. There are three main macronutrients that plants need for healthy growth (N,P,K):
- Nitrogen
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
As well as micronutrients such as zinc and iron.
Some plant fertilizers contain all three macronutrients, while others focus on just one or two.
A fertilizer that’s good for one plant may not be so good for another. Different types of plants have different nutritional requirements, as do plants in different stages of growth.
While some plants require more nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium than others, the best houseplant fertilizer is one with all three in a carefully-calculated balance.
| Nutrient | Use | Deficiency Symptom |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen – N | A major component of chlorophyll and is used in photosynthesis | Stunted Growth, Pale color, Light green yellowish leaves |
| Prosperous – P | Energy transfer, photosynthesis, the transformation of sugars and starches | Stunted growth, darkening of the leaves |
| Potassium – K | Enzyme activation in plants, Increases root growth and improves drought resistance. | Brown scorching and curling of leaf tips |
| Calcium – Ca | To provide structural support to cell walls | Plant dark green, Drying starts from the tips, Tender leaves pale |
| Magnesium – Mg | Used in chlorophyll production and enzyme regulation | Paleness from leaf edges. Edges have cup shapes folds |
| Sulfur – S | Used in the formation of amino acids, proteins, and oils | Leaves light green, veins pale green |
| Boron – B | Used for cell wall formation and plant stability | discoloration of leaf buds. breaking and dropping of buds |
| Copper – Cu | Photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport chains | Pale pink between the veins. wilt and Drop. |
| Chlorine – Cl | Osmotic and stomatal regulation, disease resistance and tolerance | Wilting of leaves, especially at the margins |
| Iron – Fe | Used for the synthesis of chlorophyll, and it is essential for chloroplast function | Leaves are pale, No spots, major veins Green |
| Manganese – Mn | Sustains metabolic roles within different plant cell compartments | Leaves pale in color, veins dark green |
| Zinc – Zn | Formation of chlorophyll and some carbohydrates | Leaves pale, dark spots on leaf edges |
Do Houseplants Require The Same Fertilizer As Garden Plants?
There is no direct answer to it. All plants, no matter indoor or outdoor, have different nutrient requirements.
For instance, it is important to consider whether or not your plant is a flowering plant or a foliage plant when you choose a fertilizer for it.
Foliage plants prefer fertilizers with more nitrogen and phosphorous, while flowering plants are best fertilized with phosphorus-based fertilizers.
See how you can use tomato fertilizer on houseplants.
Picking the best fertilizer for your houseplants depends on what type of plant you’re growing and what it needs to blossom and thrive.
Some plants, for example, certain species of cactus, need to be fertilized on an infrequent basis. On the other hand, other indoor plants should be fertilized regularly during the growing season.
However, indoor plants should only be fertilized during the vegetation period because the plants need a break in the cold season.
Only specimens that bloom in winter, such as the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), should be supplied with fertilizer during wintertime.
If you’re using a lot of fertilizer, it will be hard for your plants to absorb all of it. That’s why it’s important to use a balanced formula that has all the essential nutrients they need in small amounts.
In a nutshell, houseplants have different nutrient requirements. Houseplants can benefit from the same types of fertilizers as the rest of your garden plants, but the ratios are different.
The main goal is to provide your houseplants with the nutrients they need without overdoing them.
Pro Tip: Houseplants are grown indoors but need more care than outdoor plants. They require higher light levels to grow well, so you will have to use artificial lights if you can’t spend a lot of time outside during the day.
Will Garden Fertilizer Harm Houseplants?
No, garden fertilizer will not harm houseplants (if used in moderate amounts).
Garden fertilizer is a great way to help your plants grow and thrive, but it’s important to use it in moderation.
In fact, many gardeners use their vegetable gardens as a source of free fertilizer for their houseplants.
A simple solution is to add some granulated or liquid fertilizer to the soil around the plants.
If you don’t want to use garden fertilizer, there are alternatives like compost or manure.
Gardeners who use these methods often find their plants produce more flowers and fruit than those only fertilized with potting soil.
Note: Gardeners should avoid adding too much nitrogen (which is found in fertilizers) to their plants’ soil. Too much nitrogen can cause root rot which leads to damage to the plant’s roots and leaves.
The same goes for too much phosphorus or potassium—if you’re using a fertilizer that contains these elements in excess, it could lead to nutrient burn on your plants’ leaves and blooms if they are exposed to too much of the element at once.
Which Fertilizer is Best for Indoor Plants?
There are many different types of fertilizers available to feed your pets. Unique shops offer various liquid fertilizers, powders, granules, or so-called fertilizer sticks.
I have had the best results when growing healthy plants by using this Miracle-Gro fertilizer on indoor and garden plants. It’s excellent value for money and will last a long time.
Fertilizer requirements vary greatly depending on the plant species. Therefore, find out as much as possible in advance about the requirements of the individual plants. In general, the following rule applies:
- Houseplants adorn themselves with many large leaves and grow vigorously, need more nitrogen than plants that produce many flowers and fruits, and need more phosphorus.
- Sufficient potassium is particularly important for root formation and the resistance of indoor plants.
Note: Proper watering is also essential for healthy indoor plants. Supplying your indoor plants with fertilizer more often but in smaller doses is better.
Organic fertilizers are preferable to mineral alternatives because of their sustainability but also because of their demonstrably positive influence on plant growth and safe application.
These include, for example, natural fertilizers such as compost or manure, which are often used in the garden.
In the house or apartment, however, you will tend to use products from specialist retailers.
In addition to liquid fertilizers, there are also organic fertilizers in solid form. Such organic long-term fertilizers supply your plant with nutrients over a much more extended time than many conventional mineral fertilizers.
Can I Mix fertilizers (Vegetable and Houseplant fertilizer)
Yes, you can mix fertilizer. As long as the amount of vegetable and houseplant fertilizer used is not enough to cause damage to either plant or soil, then you can mix them.
When mixing fertilizer, it’s important to keep in mind that some plants are more sensitive than others.
For example, if you’re using ammonium nitrate (a nitrogen-based fertilizer) with an iron-based product (an iron supplement), then you may find that some plants will grow better than others.
It’s also important to remember that some fertilizers are very acidic and can burn plants’ roots.
If you plan on mixing two types of fertilizers, it’s best to do this in a separate container (like a large plastic tub) to avoid contaminating your soil with any acidic ingredients from one of the products involved.
If you want to use vegetable fertilizer on your houseplant, then make sure that it’s organic and contains some sort of nutrient instead of just being able to say “vegetables.”
In general, vegetable and houseplant fertilizers are designed for specific plants and should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
The fertilizer will not work as well as it should if you apply it at the wrong time or in the wrong place; follow the directions carefully when applying your fertilizer.
How to Fertilize Houseplants?
Fertilizing houseplants is a simple process, and most home gardeners can do it. Here are some tips:
- Read the care instructions on the plant tag and follow them.
- Use only water-soluble fertilizer (organic or inorganic).
- Start fertilizing when the top inch of soil is dry (but not allowed to get too dry), and stop when the top inch of soil has at least one week’s worth of moisture.
- Apply a balanced fertilizer according to label directions every two weeks or so, at about half the recommended dosage for your plant size.
It’s important to remember that there are two different types of nutrients – organic and inorganic.
Organic nutrients come from minerals in the soil, which is why soil is usually black. While inorganic nutrients come from man-made materials such as rock powder or crushed limestone (calcium carbonate).
Other additives can be added to your fertilizer mixture depending on what plant you’re trying to grow.
For plants to thrive, they require both organic and inorganic nutrients. To absorb these nutrients properly, they need water and sunlight – two things that nature provides naturally without fail!
So when it comes to deciding how much fertilizer your garden needs, it’s all about finding a balance between what nature provides and what man has provided for us.
The Takeaway
Fertilizing houseplants is a must. It’s the best way to keep them healthy and strong and to ensure that they grow in a healthy manner.
The best time to fertilize is when the leaves are still flexible and soft. This way you can apply more liquid fertilizer than dust it on top of the soil.
Vegetable fertilizers are a great way to feed your houseplants, as well as make them more vibrant and beautiful. The key is to choose a fertilizer that is safe for the plant and then follow the label instructions for application and dosage.
You can use vegetable fertilizer on houseplants, but it will take a lot of attention in order to keep the plants healthy and happy.
Vegetable fertilizer is a concentrated form of nutrients that are designed to be used on plants.
There are many types of vegetable fertilizers, but one of the most common is a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that’s often called a “complete” or “balanced” fertilizer.
