Every plant has its individual need for nutrients, if it is not supplied with sufficient nutrients, then it suffers damage, withers or does not flower as it should. Potted plants need additional fertilizer due to the limited amount of soil in the pot.
Potted plants also need fertilizer
How often do potted plants need fertilizer?
How often you should fertilize your potted plants depends on two different factors. The first is the actual nutritional needs of the plants. It can vary significantly depending on how big they are and what species they belong to. The second factor is the type of fertilizer you use.
Long-term fertilizer releases its ingredients relatively evenly over several months, short-term fertilizer on the other hand within a few days, a maximum of a few weeks. The latter must therefore be administered regularly. Very many potted plants are content with being fertilized about every two weeks. On the other hand, you should fertilize heavily consuming, fast-growing or particularly lush flowering plants on a weekly basis.
Do potted plants need special fertilizer?
Commercial flower fertilizer (€1.95) is usually sufficient for potted plants. However, flowering plants usually prefer a variant richer in phosphate. In general, tub and potted plants depend on the supply of nutrients, since only a limited amount is available in the planters.
In the spring, when you put your potted plants outside, give them a dose of slow-release fertilizer. When repotting, you can work mature compost into the soil instead. You have secured the basic supply for your potted plants for one season. You can cover additional requirements relatively easily with a liquid fertilizer. After flowering, you can stop fertilizing.
The essentials in brief:
- Fertilizer required for almost all potted plants
- Adapt the amount and frequency of fertilizer application to the respective plant
- incorporate compost when repotting
- Give slow-release fertilizer in spring
- Apply short-term fertilizer regularly as needed, about every 2 to 4 weeks
- Add liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water
- Stop fertilizing from August until next spring
tips
The more your potted plants grow and/or bloom, the higher their nutrient requirements. Adjust both the amount of fertilizer and the frequency of fertilization accordingly.