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Gardening

What plant fertilisation is and how it works

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Plant fertilisation can seem complicated, but it really needn’t be. The key is to remember that different plants like different types of fertiliser – or food, say. Once you understand how plants eat their food, it makes it a lot easier to get to grips with finding the perfect fertiliser for your plant.

For a bit of background info - a plant will usually get its nutrients from the soil through roots that contain vascular tissues. The xylem transports water and minerals up from the roots to the leaves. The phloem transports sugar molecules, amino acids, and hormones through the plant to give it a good feed. However, because your house plant isn’t set in soil, sometimes there’s not the depth to provide sufficient nutrients in a pot. As such, you’ll need to provide your leafy friends with some fertiliser. 

There are three numbers on the front of every bag or bottle of fertiliser. The numbers are always in the same order and stand for the percentage by weight of the N-P-K or Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium contained in the fertiliser. Each of these is a necessary nutrient for healthy plant growth and development. 

Our Top Tips Before You Begin

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During the winter, don’t go about fertilising your plants. Most plants will actually not be actively growing during this time. If you add a load of fertiliser, it will damage their roots.

Another thing to remember is that the recommended doses on the packaging of fertiliser is often much higher than your plants actually need. Dilute your doses (perhaps by half) so as to avoid damaging your precious plants.  

Potted Plant Fertiliser

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Potted plants can be helped by preparing a nutrient solution and pouring it into the soil. This will be absorbed and quickly bring what was missing in the soil, to the plant.  Plants in containers are often bunched up close together. This means that, especially in the warmer months, competition for fertiliser is high. This means that they become depleted of nutrients quickly as they are constantly used up by plants and leached out by watering. Also, best to remember that the faster a plant grows the more fertiliser and water it will require.

Outdoor Plant Fertiliser

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Outdoor plants require something a little different in terms of how you need to fertilise them. You can either use powder or liquid fertiliser (added to their water) or, if you prefer an easier option, you can add slow release fertilisers to the soil. These come in stick or pellet form. 

There are even more specific fertiliser options for your outdoor plants. If you have a plant that you want to give a little nudge towards blooming, try using a Flower fertiliser.  

Make Your Own Fertiliser

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If you’re feeling creative, you might want to attempt making your own fertiliser. This will really help you understand the process of helping your plants grow. Shop-bought fertilisers are often quite high in salt which can build up on the soil. A home-made fertiliser will also feed the microbes in the soil, which play an important role in feeding the plant itself. 

Any home-made alternative will need to be formed from parts that will provide the necessary Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium that your plants need. A simple combination is Urea, Potash, Bone Meal and water. Try mixing these up and feeding it to your plant. It will be extra satisfying to watch it flourish thanks to your hand-crafted brew. 

Now you know how to feed your plants, why not browse our selection of indoor and outdoor plants? Plus, for more tips on how to care for your plants, take a look at our beginner’s guide to caring for your plants.

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