Feeding Indoor Plants
It’s the season to feed those indoor plants. Typically plants are dormant in winter and are actively growing from early spring to late fall. That means that this is the time when plants are waking up again and getting ready to sprout new growth since the days are getting longer. This means that your houseplants need some feeding to help with that growth.
I spent some time this past weekend feeding the indoor plants so they’re ready for the growing season. I like to keep them in good shape since I rely on them to keep the air in the house nice and clean. I use an organic fertilizer and some worm castings as a top dressing for the potted plants. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes.
With this feeding my plants should have a nice burst of food for the new spring growth. I’ll feed them again at the beginning of the summer and then again in late summer. No feeding in the late fall, I don’t want to stimulate early growth. I generally remember to feed around Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
I’ll also spend some time in the next couple weeks pruning the houseplants, and any that are getting too big for their containers will be repotted for the growing season. Keeping your houseplants in top shape will ensure that they’re healthy and thriving and doing their job keeping the air inside your home clean and healthy.
Do you have specific times to feed houseplants?
Filed under Miscellaneous | Comments (12)
I have to admit, I’ve never fed housplants apart from when I first get them.
to Frugal Trenches's comment
I usually don’t feed mine until I move them out on the porch in the summer. I guess I should start earlier!
.-= pam´s last blog ..I’m in love with The Fat Quarter Shop =-.
to pam's comment
I’ve decided, this year, to get new houseplants and actually take care of them (I’m terrible). I’ll make sure to pick up some feed for them and wire it into my brain to feed them during the summer sabbats
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..Winter Storms and Scarves =-.
to Kelly's comment
Thanks for the reminder.
-Brenda
to Sense of Home's comment
Such a good reminder! I use a slow release fertilizer – since I often forget to water my houseplants it’s probably even slower. Seriously…I forget to water them so often it really is amazing that they are still alive. It’s probably a good thing they can’t walk or I suspect they’d find another home!
.-= Pampered Mom´s last blog ..On My Wish List – “Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture” =-.
to Pampered Mom's comment
That’s probably a good things, most indoor plants actually die of overwatering.
to Susy's comment
I don’t “feed” them perse, I use boiled egg water and boiled potatoe water (once its cooled) to water them when its available. I also take compostings and put them on the top layer and add fresh soil as needed. I don’t have much of a green thumb and have a hard time keeping them alive (becuase I usually forget about them). Right now I have one lowly spider plant (which a friend was going to throw away when they moved because her cat had done a number on it). I have kept it alive since November and hope it will start growing soon. I know I have to repot it soon.
.-= Tree´s last blog ..Mostly Meatless =-.
to Tree's comment
I also use water from rinsing out the milk bottles.
to Susy's comment
I can’t keep plants in our house because of the cats but I have a jungle in my office at work…and I feed and water every Friday right before I go home…it’s part of my weekend ritual!
.-= warren´s last blog ..Sleeping is weird =-.
to warren's comment
The only houseplants I have are the seedlings growing in my kitchen window. I have one cat that likes to eat the leaves off of anything growing within reach, and three cats that like to play Jungle Cat in anything larger than seedling-size. It didn’t work out too well.
I need to have a hanging plant setup, and figure out a way to water it that doesn’t involve a step ladder.
.-= melissa´s last blog ..paradigm shift =-.
to melissa's comment
Please tell me the name of the plant pictured in this post.
Thanks
to Emma Day's comment
It’s a dwarf citrus tree. You can purchase one from http://www.fourwindsgrowers.com/
to Susy's comment