I'm curious if there's an actual difference between fertilizer and plant food. Also, what are some home remedies or secret tricks you all use to keep your houseplants thriving? It feels like Google search results can get overwhelming, so I'd love to hear from those who really know their stuff!
3 Answers
When checking out fertilizers, look for at least 7 micronutrients listed along with the NPK values. I use a balanced 20-20-20 mix that's diluted to about a quarter strength every time I water. Plus, I toss in a bit of mono silicic acid. Every few waterings, I use plain water to flush out the soil to avoid nutrient lockout. And just a fun tidbit: fertilizer isn't really 'food' for the plants; they actually need light to create energy, just like us! ?
I didn’t know that about light actually being plant food! Makes so much sense now!
I'm a fan of SUPERthrive Foliage-Pro! My plants seem super happy with it and it lasts a good while too. Definitely worth trying if you're looking for something effective.
I keep it simple with Happy Frog All Purpose from Foxfarm. It's an all-in-one mix that's slow release, so it's pretty forgiving. I've noticed some solid growth spurts since I started using it!
Great point about the microns! I would have never thought about flushing the soil to prevent lockout. Thanks for the tip!