Fertilizer & Potted Plants

• Knowing when and how to fertilize your houseplants will keep them healthy. Monkey Business Images Ltd/Valueline/Getty Images

  If you have a lot of houseplants you will want to give them some fertilizer from time to time since they cannot get any nutrients from outdoor soil. Keep in mind several things when fertilizing your potted plants: the type of fertilizer you use, the type and size of the plant and the frequency with which you use the fertilizer.

Types

• Use the proper type of fertilizer for your specific type of plant. Find fertilizer for specific types of plants, such as special formulas for African violets. Purchase an all-purpose fertilizer with the numbers 5-5-5 (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) on the bag, or any other relatively even numbers, which will work for most of your potted plants.

  Fertilizers also come in powder, crystals, tablets and liquid. Use the powdered fertilizer when first planting your potted plants so you can really mix the fertilizer into the soil. Stir the fertilizer in the soil, put it in the pots and and sow the plants. Use liquid fertilizer after the plant is established in the pot --- or mix a powdered fertilizer with some water before adding when watering your plants, to make sure the fertilizer is evenly spread through the soil. Add a granule time-release fertilizer to your potted plants for a longer-lasting supply.

Frequency

• Fertilize your potted plants when you first plant them. Watch for them to have a growth spurt after that. This is a good time to fertilize, since they are absorbing and using up any nutrients that are still left in the potting soil. Watch, too, for any plant that has new growth that does not look strong, pale leaves, lack of flowers or dropping leaves --- these are signs that it needs fertilization. Read the package instructions for the fertilizer before adding it to your potted plant. Add only the suggested amount, as too much can burn the leaves of your plant. Look for browning roots, brown leaf tips, wilting leaves or a white crust as signs of over-fertilization. Fertilize your houseplants about once a month.

Foliar Feeding

• Feed your plants directly through the leaves by foliar feeding. Use a liquid fertilizer for this. Apply foliar feeding to your potted plants when you want to jump-start their growth, give them a heavy dose of fertilizer or you just want to see improvement in the appearance of the plants. Spray the leaves of your plants using a liquid fertilizer, which you can either purchase or mix yourself.