It is imperative to fertilize indoor plants in order to maximize their potential and ensure they look beautiful throughout the year. Organic houseplant fertilizers are a great choice as they provide a steady release of nutrients into the soil and are safe, effective, and provide a steady supply of nutrients. Moreover, they are environmentally friendly and can even enhance the quality of the potting soil over time.
To fertilize house plants naturally, you can use natural organic material. Organic materials provide nutrients for household plants. Besides coffee grounds, egg shells, banana peels, and green tea leaves, other household waste is suitable, or a commercial organic houseplant fertilizer can be used.
We will explain the benefits of natural houseplant fertilizer and discuss how you can use safe, environmentally friendly nutrient sources for your potted plants, including kitchen waste and commercial natural fertilizers.
What Is Natural Houseplant Fertilizer?
A natural fertilizer consists of materials that contain nutrients in their natural state, so the nutrients are not altered during the production process.
This type of nutrient is most often organic in composition and not immediately available to plant roots, which need microbes in order to decompose and change it back into mineral form.
Using natural fertilizers is slower than using chemical fertilizers because only the soil receives nutrients rather than the plants. Think of it this way: Natural fertilizers feed the soil rather than the plants directly.
Often “organic” and “natural” are described interchangeably as describing any kind of naturally occurring fertilizer.
But some people maintain that organic fertilizers can only contain organic materials produced from biological matter, whereas natural fertilizers can include both organic and mineral components.
A natural fertilizer can be used in the same way as the commercial chemical fertilizers you can find in any gardening supply store. However, the term can also be used to describe soil conditioners which must be mixed into the soil before planting.
Fertilizers made with natural ingredients are widely available, but among the best are kelp, cow manure, alfalfa meal, limestone, and chicken manure fertilizers as well as compost, worm castings, and tea.
Although natural fertilizers are great for farms and gardens, they have a strong smell and are not recommended to use on indoor houseplants.
Natural Fertilizers For Houseplants
Your indoor plants will remain healthy and thriving with natural houseplant fertilizers.
It is possible to use many different items as a natural plant fertilizer, and you probably already have some of them in your home.
It is due to the fact that natural houseplant fertilizers provide essential nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous to the soil that they are so effective.
Your indoor plants will receive long-lasting nutrients by using natural fertilizers because they will slowly breakdown.
If you want to make your own liquid fertilizer for indoor plants, use one of these ingredients or a combination of them.
Banana peels
The peels of bananas are usually thrown in the compost or trash, but potassium is the main nutrient in them, and they also contain small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium.
They are an ideal slow release natural fertilizer for houseplants. Banana peels can be used in a variety of ways.
If you want to reduce the smell as the banana peel breaks down, you can layer it with soil or cover it with a thin layer so it breaks down directly on top.
Additionally, you can slice the peels up and mix them into your soil before planting for a nutritional liquid fertiliser, or blend the peels with water for a nutritious natural liquid fertilizer for your plants.
Eggshells
The shells of eggs are another excellent organic fertilizer for indoor plants.
These plants contain a high amount of calcium and help to reduce soil acidity.
Also found in eggshells are minerals such as phosphorus that help houseplants grow.
Eggshells must first be removed from the inner membrane, washed, and allowed to dry before being used on plants.
If you prefer, you can crush the eggshells and mix them into the soil, or you can soak them in water overnight and use it to water your plants.
Worm tea
Kitchen scraps are an excellent source of fertilizer for plants when used in worm farms.
If you place the scraps of fruit and vegetables in the worm farm, the worms will crush them to produce irrigation fluid for your plants.
You can still create a worm farm, however, if you lack the space for a worm farm, you can make an indoor compost bin that breaks down kitchen waste by using beneficial bacteria.
With a Bokashi system you can produce a nutritious liquid by diluting it and using it to water indoor plants.
Cooking water
When you boil your vegetables or steam them, you’re providing nutrients for indoor plants.
The water you’ve just cooked may be used to provide your house plants with a nutritious drink once it has cooled down.
Coffee grounds
There is good news for coffee drinkers: coffee grounds can be used as fertilizer in houseplants.
You can either mix coffee grounds with potting mix before planting or rinse your plants with the liquid once the seeds are planted.
As coffee grounds will make soil more acidic, it is recommended to use this natural fertilizer on acid-loving plants such as african violets, jade plants, christmas cactus, and ferns.
Green tea
Green tea leaves can be converted into a cost-effective and easy home-made plant food by saving the used tea bags.
You can sprinkle tea leaves onto the soil or make a liquid fertilizer by brewing them in water. This will provide your indoor plants with nutrients.
Plants that prefer acidic soil should take advantage of green tea grounds, just as they would with coffee grounds.
Epsom salt
The mineral magnesium and sulfate in Epsom salt contribute to the vigor and health of houseplants.
Epsom salts are an easy way to create an easy natural plant fertilizer. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of them in a litre of water or sprinkle a small amount on top of the soil.
Fish tank water
Fish waste in freshwater aquariums contains a large amount of nutrients including nitrogen and potassium. Once your aquarium is cleaned, you can save the water for use on your plants.
Hair
You can save your own or your kids’ hair for your houseplants if you cut them at home.
It’s even possible to use hair from your brushes or from your pet cat or dog.
The hair will harmonize with the soil, providing valuable nutrients including nitrogen and magnesium that will help the plant grow. Mix a small handful of hair into the soil before planting to assist with that process.
Molasses
Molasses is the last of the natural indoor plant fertilizers on this list. It is a dark brown liquid produced by refining sugar cane that is rich in nutrients, making it a great choice for your houseplants.
Make up half a gallon (about two litres) of water with one tablespoon of molasses and use it to give your plants a healthy drink.
Why Fertilize?
In the process of watering an indoor plant, a small amount of nutrients are leached out of the soil.
Fertilization is essential to keep the plants healthy. Without fertilizer, nutrients will eventually run out, which will affect their growth.
When to Fertilize?
When houseplants are actively growing, spring and summer are the perfect times to fertilize them.
You don’t need to fertilize indoor plants during the cold winter months.
So here are 10 ways to fertilize your indoor plants with organic materials. You can use kitchen scraps or other items you have around the house.