Green plants in the home are becoming more and more popular - but if they are not properly cared for, they can only grow slowly and no longer develop their full potential. Regular fertilization of indoor plants is of great importance in order to provide them with sufficient nutrients. How often, how much and which fertilizer you should use depends on the type of plant. But don't worry, there is a suitable fertilizer and a simple care routine for almost every plant. Be inspired by the green variety and start today with the right care for your green darlings.
Recognizing deficiency symptoms of the most important nutrients
You can often recognize symptoms of a nutrient deficiency by looking at the leaves of your houseplant. Depending on the symptoms your plant is showing, it can be deduced which specific plant nutrient it may be lacking. To prevent deficits from occurring in the first place, you should fertilize your houseplants regularly.
When there is a lack of mobile nutrients, the first symptoms to appear are in the older plant leaves, such as yellow leaves on houseplants, as the plant nutrients are transported from the older to the younger. If there is a lack of immobile nutrients, the deficiency symptoms are first seen on the young leaves.
The most important nutrients and trace elements
Plants need main nutrients, also known as macronutrients, and trace elements, also known as micronutrients. Not to be forgotten are oxygen, hydrogen and carbon as the essential basis for the growth of your plants.
The main nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur. Plants need these elements in larger quantities. Nitrogen ensures strong leaf growth in plants. Phosphorus helps in the formation of flowers and fruits. Potassium, on the other hand, is good for cell structure and ensures the stability of the plant. If you have a slow-growing plant, insufficient levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can be to blame.
Trace elements include: iron, copper, zinc, chlorine, manganese, boron and molybdenum. Plants need small amounts of these nutrients.
Fertilizing houseplants: organic or mineral?
Organic fertilizer is produced biologically and consists of animal or vegetable raw materials. Therefore, these fertilizers are an environmentally friendly alternative to mineral fertilizers, which have to be produced industrially and consume a lot of energy in the process.
The best green plant fertilizer
The perfect green plant fertilizer for your indoor plants should always have the following properties:
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Nutrient Richness: The fertilizer should contain sufficient nutrients to promote plant growth and health. A composition of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other important minerals ensures a healthy houseplant. A complete fertilizer is often ideal for the care of your plant.
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Environmental friendliness: The perfect fertilization should be environmentally friendly and contain no harmful chemicals or synthetic additives that could affect groundwater or other living things during manufacture and application.
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Simple application and dosing: The fertilizer should be easy to dose - this enables effective fertilizer application without over-fertilizing.
Types of fertilizer: liquid fertilizer or fertilizer sticks for your plant?
The primary types of fertilizer are liquid fertilizer and solid fertilizer. There is not only a difference in the consistency and thus in the application, but also in the effect of the fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer often provides the "immediate effect", while solid fertilizer is more known as a long-term fertilizer. There are different types of solid fertilizer, such as sticks, powder, grains or pellets. These fertilizers only work in combination with irrigation water, which has to transport the nutrients stored in it to the roots. Liquid fertilizer, on the other hand, acts directly on the roots, but can also be washed out more quickly. Alternatively, there is foliar fertilization for green plants, where the liquid fertilizer is placed in a spray bottle and sprayed directly onto the leaves of the plant.
The FARBIO® Nitrogen Bio-Boost supports your plants with nitrogen, which is not only essential for healthy growth, but also lets your plants shine with intense green leaves!
When and how often should you apply fertilizer for indoor plants?
Fertilizers can be used all year round. We recommend fertilizing once a week from March to October and once a month from November to February. Do indoor plants need to be fertilized in winter? Yes, but the frequency varies depending on the type of plant and whether it is dormant during the winter. The FARBIO® organic liquid fertilizers can be used during the entire growth phase of your plant.
Fertilize indoor plants with a suitable home remedy: coffee grounds
Your houseplants can also be fertilized with some home remedies. You can work dried coffee grounds into the plant pot once in winter and once in spring. Put a teaspoon or two in the pot. But be careful - not all green plants tolerate the slightly acidic pH value of the coffee grounds. Balcony and indoor plants can also be watered once a month with cold coffee and water in a ratio of 1:1. The caffeine it contains combats pest infestation in the substrate of indoor plants, such as fungus gnats.
