In order to keep your indoor plants healthy and thriving, it’s important that you use natural plant fertilizers. There are many different kinds of items in a home which can be used as homemade fertilizer for the plants, you may even have some already!
Here are 10 things you can do to make your plant happy. When it comes to nurturing your plants indoors, you don’t have to rely on chemical fertilizers. Natural houseplant fertilizer is a healthy way of feeding them and their soil without the chemicals that can be harmful for pets and children nearby. Their natural slow breakdown process means they will last longer than synthetic options because there’s no large initial burst of nutrients as with those products which are important in supporting plant growth over time. All you need for your homemade liquid fertilizer are a few simple ingredients, which will keep both plants and garden-lovers happy.
10 NATURAL HOUSEPLANT FERTILIZERS
1. Banana peels
Banana peels can be thrown in the compost or trash but they’re a rich source of potassium and contain small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium. They are an ideal slow release natural houseplant fertilizer with few ways to use them! If you have a banana peel laying around, it can be reused in the following ways to keep your plants healthy and strong. You can lay the peel directly on potting soil or cover with dirt if you want to reduce its stench while breaking down – but don’t forget about recycling by cutting up pieces of peels into small bits before mixing them with water for natural liquid fertilizer.
2. Eggshells
With the help of eggshells, your plants will be able to grow in no time. Eggshells are made up primarily of calcium which is a key ingredient for healthy plant growth and can reduce soil acidity levels as well. They also contain phosphorus and other minerals that benefit all indoor gardeners alike! The importance of using natural fertilizers like eggshells cannot be emphasized enough – they have many benefits including reducing acidic soils or creating healthier environments for growing plants indoors without any chemicals! Before using eggshells on your plants you’ll need to remove the inner membrane, wash them and allow them to dry. You can crush the eggshells into a fine powder for easy application or soak in water overnight before adding it directly onto soil. Adding crushed shells of eggs will help boost plant growth by providing calcium as well as potassium which is necessary for photosynthesis!
3. Worm tea
A bit of kitchen waste goes a long way with worm farms. The worms will gobble up your fruit and vegetable scraps to produce natural fertilizer for your plants without taking up any space in the garden or backyard! And if you don’t have enough room, consider an indoor compost bin that uses bacteria to break down food into nutrient-rich liquid tea.
4. Cooking water
Do you love to cook with fresh vegetables? If so, then there is a way that your plants can reap the benefits. Allow water used for boiling or steaming veggies to cool down before using it as fertilizer on indoor houseplants!
5. Coffee grounds
Coffee is a powerful tool to help your plants grow. Coffee grounds can be used as fertilizer! Mix some coffee grounds into the potting mix and plant before watering with leftover liquid from brewing old cups of coffee. Coffee grounds are acidic, but they can be great for certain plants. Coffee makes the soil more acidic and this creates a perfect home for many plant varieties like african violets, jade plants, christmas cactus or ferns!
6. Green tea
You can save your green tea bags and use them to create DIY houseplant fertilizer. Empty the leaves from a bag of used green tea, or brew it up in water for an easy liquid plant food. Plants that like acidic soil will really benefit from this natural substance!
7. Epsom salt
Epsom salt is the perfect ingredient for houseplant fertilizer. The minerals in this household staple will help keep your plants healthy and thriving! Just dissolve a teaspoon of Epsom salts into one liter (or about two cups) of water or sprinkle some on the surface soil to give them that extra boost.
8. Fish tank water
Freshwater aquariums are great for your plants because they’re brimming with nutrients! You can save the water from when you clean out the fish tank to use on them. When you clean your fish tank, save the water to use in a homemade cleaner.
9. Hair
Did you know that if one cuts their own hair or trims the kid’s hair at home, they can save it for use in house plants? Mixing a small handful of your collected hairs into soil before potting them will break down to provide valuable nutrients including nitrogen and magnesium.
10. Molasses
Did you know that molasses is a thick black liquid made from refining sugar cane? It contains many nutrients which will benefit your houseplants. This recipe calls for one tablespoon of molasses and half gallon (about 2 liters) of water to give plants the nutritious drink they need.
Why do houseplants need to be fertilized?
It is crucial that indoor plants receive the appropriate amount of water so they do not become deficient in nutrients. Without adequate nutrient supply, the roots will weaken and eventually die off – resulting in stunted growth for your plant.
When is the best time to fertilize indoor plants?
There’s never a bad time to give your houseplants some love, but they need more fertilizer in the summer and spring months when their roots are absorbing nutrients from rapidly-growing plants. Here are ten ways you can make organic fertilizer for them using kitchen scraps or other items around your home—you may even have these things on hand already!