Plants need nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to grow and bloom. Potted plants grow in a limited amount of soil and use soil nutrients more quickly than plants that grow in the ground. Commercially prepared potting media often contain fertilizer that supplies nutrients up to three weeks after planting. You can replenish depleted nutrients with liquid or dry fertilizers. The fertilizer “N-P-K” label will state the ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
Liquid fertilizer
Commercially available liquid fertilizers are liquid concentrates or powders that you dissolve in water before you apply them to the soil. These fertilizers usually contain a dye so that you can identify the mixture. This type of fertilizer quickly leaches out of the soil with water, so you may have to apply it as often as every two weeks. Herbaceous potted plants generally benefit from a complete liquid houseplant fertilizer such as 20-20-20, 10-8-7 or similar ratio, notes the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension.
Dry fertilizer
Dry fertilizers are available as granules or slow-release pellets or beads. Granular garden fertilizer works well for potted shrubs or trees, according to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Water carries the dry fertilizer from the soil surface into the root zone. Slow-release fertilizers release small amounts of water-soluble fertilizer from a resin coat with every watering. These pellets or beads supply nutrients for three to nine months, depending on the product.
Mixing and application
You can sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of granular garden fertilizer per gallon of potting soil, according to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. For example, potted trees and shrubs generally benefit from three applications of 10-10-10 or 12-4-8 fertilizer from early spring to midsummer. Water your plant immediately after you add granular fertilizer. If you use slow-release pellets, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the pellets per gallon of soil in the spring. Water plants with a mixture of 1 1/2 teaspoons of liquid fertilizer diluted in a gallon of water, and repeat every two or three weeks.
Considerations
Dry fertilizers do not leach from the soil as quickly as liquid fertilizers and can build up and form a white crust on the soil. Plants may wilt or develop brown leaf margins or burned roots when they receive too much fertilizer. You should run water equal to twice the amount of soil in the container every four to six months to remove fertilizer salt buildup, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. During winter dormancy, you should fertilize potted plants only two or three times.
Liquid fertilizer
Commercially available liquid fertilizers are liquid concentrates or powders that you dissolve in water before you apply them to the soil. These fertilizers usually contain a dye so that you can identify the mixture. This type of fertilizer quickly leaches out of the soil with water, so you may have to apply it as often as every two weeks. Herbaceous potted plants generally benefit from a complete liquid houseplant fertilizer such as 20-20-20, 10-8-7 or similar ratio, notes the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension.
Dry fertilizer
Dry fertilizers are available as granules or slow-release pellets or beads. Granular garden fertilizer works well for potted shrubs or trees, according to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Water carries the dry fertilizer from the soil surface into the root zone. Slow-release fertilizers release small amounts of water-soluble fertilizer from a resin coat with every watering. These pellets or beads supply nutrients for three to nine months, depending on the product.
Mixing and application
You can sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of granular garden fertilizer per gallon of potting soil, according to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. For example, potted trees and shrubs generally benefit from three applications of 10-10-10 or 12-4-8 fertilizer from early spring to midsummer. Water your plant immediately after you add granular fertilizer. If you use slow-release pellets, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the pellets per gallon of soil in the spring. Water plants with a mixture of 1 1/2 teaspoons of liquid fertilizer diluted in a gallon of water, and repeat every two or three weeks.
Considerations
Dry fertilizers do not leach from the soil as quickly as liquid fertilizers and can build up and form a white crust on the soil. Plants may wilt or develop brown leaf margins or burned roots when they receive too much fertilizer. You should run water equal to twice the amount of soil in the container every four to six months to remove fertilizer salt buildup, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. During winter dormancy, you should fertilize potted plants only two or three times.
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