Fertilizing

Spring is upon us, and this is the best time of year for fertilizing your house plants. Here are some signs that your plant may need fertilizer:

These can also be signs of insufficient light or watering, so evaluate all conditions. Do not use fertilizer to stimulate new growth on a plant in poor growing conditions.

  There are many kinds of fertilizers to choose from. Since formulations vary, follow directions carefully. Never apply more than directed and never apply fertilizer to wilted plants. Water the plants first and apply fertilizer after the plants have recovered and the soil has dried slightly. Brands such as Miracle Grow are best, as they aren’t as harsh as others. If you use something such as Miracle Grow, we recommend using it every few weeks, except in winter months. Stronger formulas should be used every few months. Fertilizers that are available in beads, pills, spikes, granules, and other forms release nutrients slowly over a long period of time. These should be used less frequently than liquid forms.

  Prior to fertilizing, you may want to flush away excess salts (leaching). This is done by watering heavily, causing some of the water to run out the bottom of the pot. Make sure it all runs out, and the roots are not left sitting in water. If you continue to have plant problems after fertilizing a few times, please double check for insect infestations and evaluate the growing conditions. Some symptoms of over fertilizing are:

If you have these problems, leaching is needed.