I'm a big gardner...in fact I run a market garden business. I've bought several houseplants at the end of summer to improve the air quality in my house. I am STUMPED at how to care for them. Is there a homemade or organic fertilizer I can use for houseplants? Manure tea used in the house just doesn't sound appealing to me Any advice on careing for houseplants is greatly appreciated!
Celeste
"No matter where you go, there you are" --Confucious
I use compost tea that I make during the summer. Manure tea would make an odor as would fish emulsion (sorry Alee). Fish emulsion makes my garden smell for a couple days but I don't care because it's outside. Compost tea doesn't have much of a smell other than a slight earthy smell which isn't bad. BUT, fertilizing houseplants in winter isn't really necessary. Maybe one application in the fall and then start fertilizing in the spring. Houseplants have a somewhat dormant period in the winter triggered by the sun; or the lack of sun. Some don't grow at all in the winter, most grow very slowly. Keeping them watered but not over-watered, and some really like misting during the dry winter months. For those houseplants that prefer high humidity: put a dish larger than the bottom of the pot with a layer of pebbles in it under the plant and keep it full of water. The pebbles are so the plants don't suffer root rot, but this will raise the humidity level around the plant.
In the spring, I start fertilizing again and when the chance of a freeze is past, I put them out on the porch where they get more light but not direct sun where they really bush out during their "summer vacation".
Farmgirl Sister #35
"If you can not do great things, do small things in a great way." Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)
How do I fertilize my houseplants
Posted - Nov 22 2008 : 10:15:24 AM
Any advice on careing for houseplants is greatly appreciated!
