Fertilizing Indoor Plants

Plants need different elements from the soil to grow.  If they are not present in the right 

amount the plants will not be as healthy or grow as they should.  This is the reason plants 

need fertilizer, to add the missing elements (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium).  You 

can give your plants too much fertilizer and that will have the opposite affect you are 

going for.  

The same species of plant that is grown indoors or outdoors will have different fertilizing 

needs.  Plants that are grown indoors have a will not need as much fertilizer as the ones 

grown outside.  The rate of growth is slower indoors and you can harm your plant by 

over-fertilizing it.  

How do you know how much fertilizer to give to your plants and when to feed it to them?  

If you have purchased a plant meant for the indoors chances are the information tag it 

comes with will give fertilizing instructions. But a better method to follow is observing 

your plant for any signs that would indicate it is lacking nutrients.

Your plant might need fertilizer if it is not growing as fast as it should.  If you notice the 

growth of the plant is stunted and it is spring or summer you can safely add fertilizer in 

small amounts over a period of one to two weeks.  Many indoor gardeners will add 

fertilizer as part of routine maintenance each spring and that is fine too.  Just be careful 

not too over-fertilize.  Some signs that you have added to much fertilizer are the tip of the 

leaves are turning brown or the leaves are drooping downwards.

All fertilizers are not made the same; they are available in different ratios of nitrogen, 

phosphorous and potassium.  Purchase a fertilizer meant for indoor plants or one that is 

made for a specific type of plant.

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