There’s nothing we love more than snuggling up on the couch with some tea and our favorite snack, surrounded by plants and listening to that one playlist in the evening light. We like to imagine what it’d be like for a plant to kick back – what would they be listening to? What would they be snacking on? Your Pothos personified would probably eat “whatever you had around” whereas a Maranta might insist the conditions were right for a mojito. Always a little extra, that one.

What do plants actually eat? Fertilizer? But isn't fertilizer 💩? And what is in this tea? 😅 

 

You do know to feed your plants 💩, tho, right? If not, here’s your reminder: now is the perfect time to fertilize those babies, because they are actively growing! Springtime means there’s green everywhere, and plants are spending large amounts of energy producing the matter to grow, flower, and even produce fruit. It’s important to boost your plants with small, consistent supplements so they can facilitate as much energy transfer as possible.

 

But is it food?

Okay, technically, fertilizer isn’t food for plants. Photosynthesis actually makes the food for your plants to eat, making fertilizer more like a vitamin taken periodically to give its health a boost. As your plant grows, it pulls essential nutrients out of soil, so a diluted boost is good for replacing those yummy nutrients and encouraging its full growing potential.

There are so many options out there for fertilizers, how do you pick the right one for your plant baby? Well, we were once told to think of fertilizers and plant supplements as "the other half of your plant's soil" - so ask yourself, what kind of soil and environment does she thrive in naturally?

 

 

 

N - P - K

Typically, fertilizer brands will tell you what their nutritional breakdown is for that particular mix on the front of its packaging. You're looking for 3 numbers separated by dashes. These numbers represent the % of N, P and K (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium respectively). Nitrogen helps with the overall health of your plant's growth, Phosphorus encourages larger and more gorgeous flowering and blooms, and Potassium is good for a hardy system of roots for that your plant grows nice and strong. Some plants learn heavier in one direction on these breakdowns, but a nice balanced fertilizer will work wonders on your indoor jungle.

What isn’t easy is figuring out what to look for at the store if you want to narrow it down and curate your fertilizers for your plant babies.. We are here to help!

 

 

 

Aloe: Liquid 10 - 40 - 10 once every month, the day after watering.

 

 

Most Succulents: Liquid 15 - 15 - 15 once a month to two months.

 

 

Barrel Cactus: Liquid 5 - 10 - 10 once a month during growing season only.

 

 

Neon Pothos: Liquid 10 - 10 - 10 once in the spring.

 

 

Satin Pothos: Water-soluble 20 - 10 - 10 fertilizer, diluted by half, once a month.

 

 

Snake Plant: Liquid 10 - 10 - 10 once in the spring.

 

Every type of plant has a different set of preferences for its optimal growth conditions, but generally speaking, it’s pretty easy to figure out what kind of food your plants like. 

 

Save this article for next watering day and help your plant babies be everything they can be!