A few weeks ago I shared with you some of the BEST plants for indoor air quality improvements. Shortly after I wrote that article and published it, I had a few of my own house plants really take off and start thriving. I started using a few things to promote their growth, but of course I was really picky about what I decided to add. I knew I wanted to use a homemade fertilizer for indoor plants instead of buying one.
You might be wondering why this was so important to me. Well, as you know I’m a HUGE supporter of the idea that you must really be careful about what you bring into your space. I didn’t want to start feeding my plants with something man-made or synthetic. Instead I really wanted to make sure I chose exactly what I’d be adding to the soil.
Not only does whatever we put in the soil end up in the air, but it also ends up in the dust around our homes too. Chemicals and toxins added to our homes contribute to body burden and can have a harmful effect both short term and long term to our bodies.
Not only does whatever we put in the soil end up in the air, but it also ends up in the dust around our homes too. Chemicals and toxins added to our homes contribute to body burden and can have a harmful effect both short term and long term to our bodies.
This is why I started researching homemade fertilizer for indoor plants. I was hoping I could find something basic and not too complicated in order to feed my houseplants and keep them alive. Afterall, it wasn’t all that long ago that I killed most of my house plants in one way or another. I’m still a work in progress, and I’m definitely not an expert, but I’ve done some trial and error and really learned a lot as I’ve pursued keeping my houseplants alive.
This week I’m excited to share with you everything from how to water plants to a few homemade fertilizer for indoor plants that you can make at home too.
Watering the Right Way Before Using Homemade Fertilizer for Indoor Plants
Watering plants the correct way is even more important than finding a homemade fertilizer for indoor plants. It’s the basic care that helps a plant flourish and stay healthy. This is where you’ll need to know the care instructions for whatever houseplant you have.
If you don’t have an idea of what type of houseplant you have, you can use your phone and take a picture to try and determine what type of plant you’re working with and go from there. Otherwise, it might take some trial and error to determine what exactly your plant prefers.
Here are some basic tips to watering a plant the right way:
- Use a spray bottle or mister. This is a really great way to make sure that your plant is getting a little moisture without watering. If you choose this method you’ll likely have to mist your plant daily, if not multiple times a day. (These misters are THE cutest addition to your green thumb hobby!)
- Avoid standing water in pots. This is a HUGE no-no. It’s why mold, mildew and pests infiltrate your plants. If you do begin to see these problems, you’ll likely have to correct the issue before adding any sort of homemade fertilizer for indoor plants. A good way to avoid standing water is to avoid over-watering.
- Use room temperature water. Even water that’s a little on the warmish side is beneficial to plants. They don’t like the shock of cold water to the soil. If you have a container that you can reuse and keep filled, you can leave it out for your plant watering. My grandma used to use jars and keep them above her fridge where they warmed up a bit. She would keep them there for a day or so before watering them, and I’ll admit she’s quite the green thumb and hasn’t killed a plant since I’ve been alive. So there may just be something to this tip.
- Make sure your planter has good drainage. I’ve researched this topic quite a bit as so many cute planters offer no drainage at all. There are ways around using a planter without drainage though. You can simply add a nursery pot with drainage right inside your planter, which will allow water to drain out as one idea. You can also drill your own hole in a planter, however I’d recommend watching a few videos and testing this method out on a practice pot first.
Organic Pest Preventer
Before I get to the homemade fertilizer for indoor plants that you can make, let’s run through some ways you can combat common houseplant problems.
First, if your plant has become infested with either gnats or other pests that have made their home within the soil, you can be sure you’ll need to take care of the problem BEFORE even thinking about adding a homemade fertilizer for indoor plants.
These two methods are COMPLETELY natural and relatively inexpensive. You can mix up a small spray bottle or use a mister to spray on the leaves and soil of your plant with either of the following solutions.
Organic pest preventer #1: 10 drops rosemary essential oil, 10 drops clove essential oil, 10 drops peppermint essential oil & 10 drops orange essential oil. Mix with water in a small spray bottle and mist onto soil and leaves.
Organic pest preventer #2: Mix ½ tablespoon of Tohi Concentrate and water in a spray bottle and focus on spraying the soil. Repeat until pests are eradicated.
Organic Ways to Prevent Rot & Mold
If you haven’t allowed great drainage or you’ve gotten in a habit of over-watering your house plant, you might run into an issue with rot or mold in your soil or around your plant. This must be taken care of before you add any homemade fertilizer for indoor plants.
Luckily, taking care of this mold or rot is relatively easy.
Method #1: 25 drops tea tree oil and water in a spray bottle can prevent fungus and prevent it from taking hold in your plants
Method #2: If you have fuzzy white mold on your soil or plant, simply dab it with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to remove the mold and fungus.
Method #3: Apply a mix of 1 tsp baking soda and a few drops of dish soap to spray a bottle full of water to the soil.
Method #4: Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts water in a spray bottle and spray the plant. Be sure to wipe it off after about 10 minutes to prevent any other issues.
Organic Plant Food & Fertilizer
Now that we’ve addressed all the potential issues your plant may be facing, here are a few of my favorite homemade fertilizers for indoor plants.
- Organic Coffee: Use organic coffee grounds to help kill weeds and pathogens in the soil. Organic coffee also adds potassium and magnesium to the soil as food, which are great for plant growth.
- Green Tea. The tannic acid in the green tea will increase nutrient levels in soil and improve oxygenation, which helps roots grow healthy as it fertilizes.
- Epsom Salts . This option provides magnesium and sulfate, which allow plants to grow fuller and greener. Simply dissolve 2 tbsp epsom salt in 1 gallon of water and mist plant.
Other ways to increase growth and naturally fertilize your plants are these two methods:
- Growth Accelerator: Mix 10 drops lemongrass essential oil, 10 drops geranium essential oil and 10 drops frankincense essential oil in a spray bottle. Spritz on your plant and in the soil to promote growth.
- Horticultural Charcoal: This is a great trick for adding nutrients to the soil and making sure your plant absorbs more of the food and natural homemade fertilizer for indoor plants you’re giving it. It acts as a conditioner for the soil and absorbs impurities from the soil. It feeds for a long period of time and helps with drainage as well.
Other Important Tips:
After you’ve applied your homemade fertilizer for indoor plants and gotten rid of any other problematic ailments, these tips will help your houseplants flourish and grow.
- Don’t move plants around too much. Plants acclimate themselves to climate slowly, and when moved frequently, they have a hard time adjusting. This can result in fewer flowers, slower growth or the plant beginning to die off.
- Prune regularly. This means cutting off dead branches and shoots. These can attract bugs or begin to rot, affecting the rest of the plant.
