How to feed flowers at home. Feeding perennial flowers, what fertilizers are applied to flowers. Water after washing cereals and potato broth

The substrate for indoor plants provides them with all the necessary nutrients within a very short period of time. Due to the limited volume of soil, several months after transplanting, the reserves of macro- and microelements necessary for plants are depleted, and indoor pets begin to depend on measures that replenish the nutritional value of the soil. Fertilizing is not only the main, but also a vital point of plant care. Like watering, they are beneficial only when they are carried out correctly and in a timely manner.

The correct choice of substrate is important both from the point of view of creating an ideal air- and water-permeable environment for the development of the root system, and for the optimal processes of absorption of moisture and nutrients from the soil. But even the best, high-quality substrate, carefully selected taking into account all individual characteristics, works as a source of nutrients for indoor plants only in the first weeks, and for plants that prefer poor soil - for several months after replanting. Unlike nature, the nutrients in potting soil are not renewed or replenished through biological processes. And even a good supply of them is exhausted quite quickly.

Fertilizers for indoor crops are designed specifically to maintain a stable nutrient environment, compensate for substrate depletion and provide the plant with constant access to all the nutrients it needs. Accordingly, the question of when the need for fertilizing for indoor plants arises is quite simple: fertilizing is carried out when the substrate can no longer provide the plants with all the necessary macro- and microelements. If plants are replanted annually, then fertilizing for them plays a lesser role than with more rare replantings: starting next year, the plant’s nutrition will be completely dependent only on its care program.

Often the most important thing in fertilizing is the choice of fertilizers themselves.. Special fertilizers for decorative deciduous plants, flowering crops, cacti, orchids, palm trees, Bromeliads, roses and many other preparations allow you not to limit your range only to universal fertilizers. Choosing fertilizers is simple - just study the recommendations for a particular plant and make sure that the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium matches their preferences. But there are two more nuances of feeding that determine their “correctness”. Regarding the application of fertilizers for indoor plants It is of great importance when fertilizing is carried out and how exactly it is carried out.

When to feed indoor plants?

Indoor plants are fed only during the active growing season, when both their underground and above-ground parts grow and develop. It is during this period that fertilizers need to be applied. This rule does not mean at all that proper fertilizing is carried out only in spring and summer: there are also plants that not only do not have a complete dormant period and develop throughout the year, but also stars that bloom in autumn and winter. You need to choose the period when you need to feed each plant based on its growing season and its characteristics.

In spring and summer, all plants need fertilizing. The period of active development in crops, even those growing indoors, begins with an increase in daylight hours and lighting intensity. Typically, the growing season begins in March, and if the weather is favorable, it starts at the end of February. And with this, the period of active feeding begins. Active growing season ends in autumn, with a corresponding reduction in daylight hours and overall light intensity. The seasonal reduction in light usually manifests itself already in October, so the period of traditional fertilizing is usually completed during September.

Feeding in autumn and winter is not so easy to understand:

1. If the plant goes into a complete dormant period and completely stops growing, fertilizing in the fall and winter is not carried out at all. Typically, lignified and large plants, beautifully flowering crops that shed leaves or the entire above-ground part of the plant need to be stopped.
2. Reduced daylight hours, slower growth, cool wintering, and a partial dormant period require a reduction in fertilizing for the autumn-winter period. For example, for many decorative deciduous plants, although rare, winter fertilizing that maintains stable conditions is necessary to preserve the beauty of the leaves.
3. If the plant blooms in the cold season or autumn, then fertilizers are continued to be applied to it.

At the same time, feeding indoor plants from October to February is possible only if the plant receives a comfortable level of illumination and does not suffer from a lack of light. For crops that do not need fertilizing during this period, fertilizing can lead to burns of the root system and excessive accumulation of non-absorbable nutrients. Even crops that develop in winter and beyond, due to seasonal characteristics and reduced light, still reduce their needs for nutrients, and without adjusting fertilizing, they will also suffer from excess fertilizer.

In order not to get confused about the timing and periods of active fertilizing and their complete or partial stop, it is enough to carefully study the characteristics of each individual indoor plant - information not only about temperature or lighting, but also about what plants need care. Usually, the recommendations provide all the necessary information about the characteristics of a given species, the preferred frequency of application and the composition of fertilizers. There are plants that like sudden changes in the feeding regime, and those for which periods when feeding is carried out actively should begin and end gradually.

Universal feeding times vary for newly acquired and transplanted plants.. Feeding after transplantation begins only after a month for capricious plants and after 2-3 months for hardy and not too demanding plants. When purchased, plants are not fertilized not only during quarantine, but also during the first months after it, starting to resume them gradually. Fertilizing is never carried out for crops affected by diseases or pests, completely removing them from the care program until the treatment process is completed.

Special (additional) feedings are carried out when any plant shows clear signs of a lack of certain nutrients. The appearance of spots on the leaves, dropping leaves and buds, stopping or slowing growth, dwarfism, lack of flowering, paleness of the leaves - all this indicates improper feeding. The main task of such fertilizing is to provide everything that the plant lacks. Conventional liquid fertilizing will not bring results immediately; resuming normal care will help the plants recover much faster, as well as measures supplemented by foliar fertilizing.

How to apply fertilizers correctly?

In order not to make mistakes and to fertilize correctly, the most important thing is to accurately follow the instructions for use, which provide all the comprehensive information and will help you not to doubt either the dosages or the methods of application. The instructions will tell you exactly how to apply the fertilizer: powder, granules, sticks, capsules, and even liquid form.

Whatever type of fertilizer we are talking about, it is worth remembering that in the matter of fertilizing there are several universal recommendations:

1. “Underfeeding” is much better than applying too much fertilizer.. Special fertilizer mixtures are designed for a specific concentration and have a beneficial effect only if they are used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Uncontrolled use, in excessive dosage, will not reduce the frequency of fertilizing and will not create a “reserve” in the soil, but will only increase the risk of damage to the roots and disruption of normal life, the process of absorption of nutrients and moisture. Houseplants, unlike garden plants, suffer greatly from excess nutrients. And we are talking not only about the loss of decorativeness, but also about the risk of losing the plant as a whole. Symptoms of excess fertilizer in indoor crops are:
   • burns on leaves;
   • yellowing, blackening and death of tops or individual shoots;
   • dropping leaves.
2. Do not apply any type of fertilizer to the soil if it is completely dry.. Fertilizing of both liquid and dry, and even foliar type is carried out only after moistening the soil and watering. If a stable humidity regime is maintained for the plants and the substrate never dries out completely, then liquid fertilizers can be applied along with water for irrigation. If the substrate is dry, it is always better to separate fertilizing and watering and fertilize the next day after watering, on fresh and moist soil. This requirement eliminates the risk of burns to root tissues.
3. The quality of water is no less important than the quality of fertilizers. Water for irrigation should be soft, settled, and selected according to the preferences of each specific plant. If fertilizer is dissolved in water or added to it, then under no circumstances should you use cold water: any fertilizer is added only to water slightly warmer than room temperature.
4. Fertilizing is not carried out in the middle of the day and heat, and especially in direct sunlight.. As with garden plants, fertilizing for indoor crops should be done either in the early morning or in the evening.

The most popular and safest option for fertilizing is liquid fertilizers or short-acting fertilizers. Liquid and soluble powder fertilizers provide plants with nutrients in an easily digestible form. They are applied along with water for irrigation, pouring in concentrate or dissolving dry mixtures in it, avoiding the risk of burns or excess substances while observing the recommended dosages for each individual plant and type of fertilizer. Typically, during the active growing season, liquid fertilizing is carried out once every 2 or 3 weeks, and during the flowering period - once every 1 or 1.5 weeks. During the period of relative rest, if fertilizing continues, it is applied half as often - once every 1 or 1.5 months. It is also customary to reduce the dosage of fertilizers by half.

Any long-acting fertilizers - sticks, granules, grains, etc. - are used in accordance with the instructions. Usually it is not necessary to add them to the soil more than once every 2 or 3 months. Sometimes such fertilizers are simply added during transplantation and forgotten about fertilizing until the next procedure, but more often than not, all long-acting fertilizers require application with a 1-3-month frequency. Because the nutrients are released gradually, they make maintenance easier.

Different types of long-acting fertilizers are used differently:

1. Granular or powdered fertilizers are applied to the soil at planting.
2. Sticks of fertilizers or fertilizers with an insecticide function are applied to the soil after planting. They are buried 4-5 cm and at approximately the same distance from the edge of the pot, calculating the number of sticks according to the diameter of the pots (1 stick per pot with a diameter of about 10 cm).

Foliar feeding is used quite specifically. They are carried out only for herbaceous plants that have hairless, smooth leaves and form a dense foliage mass. They are not used not only for succulents and all plants with edges, but also for palm trees. Foliar feeding is carried out only on the leaves, during the period of active growth. In fact, they are applied to the leaves, but this is done by a very simple method - spraying. Instead of the usual spraying with warm and soft water, spray with a low-concentrated fertilizer solution. This procedure is carried out carefully, isolating the plant and placing it on a surface on which mineral substances will not cause unpleasant consequences. But it is much more important to make sure that when feeding by leaves, the plant will not suffer from too bright lighting, and even more so from direct sunlight, which will instantly leave burns on the leaves. Air humidity during fertilizing should be at least medium or high. Foliar feeding is always combined with conventional feeding, because despite the fact that this procedure maintains the decorative appearance of the foliage, the plant absorbs the main nutrients from the soil.

Hello, dear indoor plant lovers! Our green friends depend on us in everything, and only proper care will allow crops to turn green, bloom and develop, so in continuation of the flower theme I would like to talk about such an issue as feeding flowers at home. It turns out that a plant living in a flower pot only has enough nutrients for 1.5-2 months after transplantation, and then it begins to suffer from a lack of microelements! Let's not starve our pets and learn how to feed them correctly!

Special nutrients must be added regularly; during the period of active growth (from spring to autumn), it is recommended to add fertilizer to the pot about once a month; in winter, you can relax, since most crops rest at this time and gain strength for the new season.

Fertilizers are divided into two groups - mineral and organic.

The first ones can be bought at any gardening store, they come in different types - with one microelement, several or a whole complex. Adding them is quite simple; just dilute the liquid in water according to the instructions and pour it over the flowers. When choosing a drug, you need to take into account the needs of plants. Thus, deciduous and decorative flowers (for example, ficus) love nitrogen, and flowering ones love phosphorus. You can find out more about the “tastes” of the culture in the description of the flower, or simply consult with a consultant in the store.

But there are also organic types of fertilizers, these are natural products that have a beneficial effect on plants. We'll talk about them in more detail later.

When should it be done?

You need to feed the plants constantly, without waiting for the first symptoms, but the following signs will help you find out that the flowers simply need additional nutrition:

• weak and thin stems stretching upward;
• lack of buds and flowers;
• growth slowdown;
• the leaves became smaller, weaker, paler;
• the foliage turns yellow and crumbles;
• the overall pitiful appearance of the plant.

But you shouldn’t get carried away with fertilizing, as excessive activity can be harmful. As they say, everything should be in moderation; if there are too many nutrients, home flowers drop their buds and are in no hurry to bloom.

Natural products for feeding flowers

1. Sugar or glucose

Sugar and glucose become the basis for plant nutrition, because this component is necessary for the respiration of the sprout, the processes of absorption of substances, the production of energy, and the creation of new cells. To do this, dissolve a spoonful of sugar or a glucose tablet in a liter of water and pour or spray the mixture on the sprouts. But you shouldn’t get carried away with this procedure; even in people, excess sweets cause obesity and diabetes; it is also harmful to the plant world. It is enough to make the life of indoor plants sweet once a month.

2. Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds contain a large amount of nutrients, making them an excellent fertilizer. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a long time preparing the composition; you just need to leave the coffee after drinking it and pour it directly into the pot. It will act as mulch, preventing excessive evaporation of moisture from the surface, and when watering, microelements will gradually dissolve and enter the substrate, and from there through the roots to the plant. But we remember that coffee increases the acidity of the soil, so you should not use this fertilizer on succulents (cactus, money tree, aloe), but azalea, rhipsalis, and hydrangea will be very happy with the delicacy.

3. Black tea

Tea is rightfully considered an excellent home fertilizer; it can be used in both dry and liquid form. Is there any tea leaves left after drinking tea? We just pour it into the pot instead of traditional watering. True, you shouldn’t do this regularly, since the liquid is very popular with black flies. And experts recommend adding dry leaves to the substrate; they make the soil loose and light; for this, the tea leaves must be mixed with the soil in a ratio of 1:3 at the time of planting. You can sprinkle tea leaves on the surface of the soil in the form of mulch, following the example of coffee. Such procedures are suitable for delicate crops such as violets, geraniums, and begonias.

4. Citrus peels.

Do you like oranges and lemons? Flowers also adore these fruits, because they contain a lot of vitamins that improve immunity. Therefore, we do not throw away the remaining crusts after consumption, but collect them in a liter jar, after which we fill the contents with a liter of hot water and leave for a day. Next, we filter the infusion, dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:10 and use it for watering indoor plants that prefer acidic soil - azaleas, hydrangeas, and rapsis.

5. Ash

Ash is a classic of the genre; ash from burning wood not only contains a lot of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, but also helps disinfect the soil, preventing the occurrence of various diseases. The easiest way to apply this fertilizer is during transplantation, mixing the substrate with ash. And in the future, you can water with ash water; for this, a tablespoon of powder must be diluted in a liter of water.

6. Onion peels

Are there any onion skins left over after cooking? And it will come into use, because this product contains many phytoncides that fight diseases and pests of flowers, and this feeding also stimulates the growth and flowering of domestic green pets. For the procedure, you need to take 20-25 grams of dry husk and boil it in a liter of water for 10 minutes, leave it and use it for spraying and watering, especially if there are diseases and midges in the pot.

7. Yeast

Yeast is recognized even by scientists as a fertilizer; it stimulates the growth and development of stems and roots. To do this, take a pinch of dry yeast, 1 tsp. sugar to activate them, and pour the powder with a liter of heated water. After a couple of hours, the liquid needs to be diluted with water five times, and water the flowers with it, and the method is not harmful, it can be used every two weeks during the period of active growth, and once a month in winter.

8. Banana

Banana is rich in potassium, which supports active flowering, so flowers with frequent buds will like this fruit. It was easier for me to dry the banana skins on a radiator or in the oven until brittle, and then grind them in a coffee grinder. Then the powder can be periodically sprinkled on the surface of the soil or added to the substrate when replanting.

Every plant needs regular nutrition, and now we know how and with what to fertilize green spaces so that they please the eye all year round. See you soon, good luck with your experiments with flowers and subscribe to the blog!

Perhaps someone thinks that fertilizer for indoor flowers is a desirable thing, but not necessary, and that watering them with water may be enough for them. To think so is fundamentally wrong. Fertilizers for flowers are vital, without them - and therefore, without vital substances - they will develop slowly, they will not bloom, and if they do, it will not be at full strength.

Nowadays, specialized flower shops offer a wide range of both mineral and organic fertilizers. It’s very easy to get lost in such variety, especially if a beginner is dealing with the choice. Let's try to figure out what fertilizers are available for indoor flowers, in what cases they need to be used, and in which cases it is possible to save money and prepare fertilizer at home.

Everyone, without exception, needs feeding, even the most unpretentious house plants. Imagine: your flower grows in the same soil, in a limited feeding area. Over time, it greatly depletes the soil, taking all the nutrients from it. Even if it is planted in a large and wide pot, this does not solve the problem. And even when transplanted into a new substrate, the plant’s supply of nutrients lasts no more than a couple of months. It’s unlikely that anyone would prefer to replant a plant into new soil every two months, instead of simply providing it with the necessary fertilizers.

There are some signs by which you can understand that the plant urgently needs nutrients. If care was carried out according to all the rules, it has enough lighting, enough humidity, watering is regular, but something is still not right, then it needs fertilizer. The signs will be either one of the following, or several at once:

• the plant grows too slowly;
• it has weak elongated stems and pale drooping leaves, which turn yellow and fall off over time;
• the plant either does not bloom at all or blooms very weakly, the buds do not form, fall off, or do not bloom;
• the plant has reduced disease resistance.

You should not wait for all these signals to appear. It is best to start feeding the plant from the moment it is planted, and even if your green pet is growing well and does not seem to feel deprived, this is not a reason to delay feeding.

When to fertilize

You shouldn’t thoughtlessly apply fertilizers; they also have their own special application rules:

1. Fertilizers are applied in the spring-autumn period, from early April to mid-October. In winter, flowers, as a rule, are not fed, because most of them hibernate at this time. At the same time, the reduction in the amount of fertilizer occurs gradually.
2. Fertilizer of any type should be applied only to moist soil - this guarantees that there will be no burns on the roots of the plants. Always water the plant thoroughly and wait at least three hours before applying any substances to it. After fertilizing, the plant is watered again.
3. Different plants need different fertilizers. Fertilizer for and fertilizer for deciduous plants differ from each other. Therefore, you need to take this into account when choosing a specific fertilizer.
4. Feeding is contraindicated for plants that are sick or affected by pests.

Fertilizers should not be applied immediately after transplantation. If you have chosen the right soil, it already contains enough of all the microelements necessary for the plant, but only for the first time. Fertilizers will need to be applied after 2-3 months. This is especially true for plants purchased in flower shops; such specimens are grown on an industrial scale, and therefore manufacturers make sure that their soil contains more than enough nutrients.

Mineral fertilizers for indoor plants

Mineral nutrition for indoor flowers is represented by a spectrum of basic useful elements, or their complex content. Each of these elements is important during a certain period of plant development. The presence and proportions of substances in complex fertilizers depend on the specific type of plant and on the stage of its development.

1. Nitrogen fertilizers are usually used to increase the green mass of a plant, that is, during the active growing season. This flower feeding is usually used in spring and summer, and is usually used for feeding decorative deciduous varieties. Such species include, for example, palm trees, ficus and ferns. Feeding with a high nitrogen content will not only promote rapid growth and proper development, but will also make the leaves healthier and more beautiful. But do not forget that excess nitrogen is harmful to the flower, despite the fact that it stimulates the growth of vegetative mass, it can also inhibit flowering.
2. Potassium fertilizers, like nitrogen fertilizers, are intended for active growth during the period of formation and accumulation of vegetative mass.
3. All young plants require phosphorus fertilizers; these fertilizers play an important role for flowering. Therefore, this type of fertilizer is extremely useful for decorative flowering varieties. Such varieties need to be fed immediately as soon as the buds form, and fed throughout the flowering period until its end.
4. Complex fertilizers in different proportions include nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Most often this is a universal flower food, and therefore they are useful for any variety. For example, the combination of potassium and phosphorus is perfect for decorative flowering varieties.
5. Microfertilizers. Contain any chemical elements missing in the soil - calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, molybdenum and so on. They are introduced only when there is a deficiency in the soil. Mineral fertilizers containing microelements help the root system develop and grow and increase its immunity. Microfertilizers can contain organic matter and components that stimulate rapid plant growth.

Table 1 “Signs of mineral deficiency in indoor plants”

Fertilizers for indoor plants

Based on their state of aggregation, mineral fertilizers are divided into liquid and solid.

• Solid mineral fertilizer

It is a mixture of minerals in the form of granules and crystals. Before adding the dry mixture to the soil, it must be diluted with water so that there is no sediment left at the bottom and the solution is completely homogeneous. It is important to strictly follow the instructions on the fertilizer package. Dry fertilizers can also be presented in the form of tablets, sticks or capsules. There is no need to dilute them; these are long-acting fertilizers, that is, in such a case the substances reach the roots of the plant gradually over a long period of time. For example, one stick is endowed with useful minerals for use for an average of two months (there are fertilizers that last up to six months). The composition of such fertilizers includes a whole range of useful substances - both basic and microelements.

• Liquid fertilizers for flowers

Liquid fertilizers are most convenient to use

This is a concentrated solution of salts. This type of fertilizer acts as a good addition to regular fertilizers, it is more convenient and effective, and is often intended for certain varieties - for example, there are fertilizers specifically for succulents, orchids, and palm trees. It is important that liquid fertilizers make it possible to feed plants by foliar feeding. Foliar feeding of indoor flowers - applying fertilizer directly through the leaves or stem by spraying and wiping them. With this method of adding nutrients, you do not oversaturate the plant with them; it will absorb the required amount of substances. Some varieties that have pubescent or glossy leaves - succulents, palms and Saintpaulia - have difficulty absorbing substances from the soil, and therefore in their case foliar feeding is necessary.

Liquid fertilizers are good for everyone, but it is important to remember that this is not a replacement for regular fertilizing. Root feeding is required for all plants without exception; foliar feeding is a convenient and effective addition to the main feeding during active growth.

Organic fertilizers for indoor plants

Organic fertilizers are manure, litter, compost, humus, and ash. Like minerals, they are excellent suppliers of nutrients. Flower growers still argue about their use to this day, because despite their naturalness, improper use of organics can sometimes cause more harm than the use of chemicals. This happens from ignorance. If a person is purely psychologically distrustful of “chemistry” and once again checks the instructions for use, then in terms of using organics he may act thoughtlessly. But “natural” does not always mean “will not harm.”

How can organic matter be dangerous? It can carry pests and diseases. That is why organic fertilizer must be sterilized before feeding. The process is not quick: sterilization is carried out using fire, and then left for almost a month so that the biological environment is restored.

Organics cannot be used in the case of bulbs and plants. Decorative leafy varieties, if organics are used incorrectly, run the risk of turning monochromatic green.

Fertilizing flowers with home remedies

First, we should debunk some myths that flower growers actively use to this day, passing on their rich experience from generation to generation.

1. Coffee and tea grounds are more harmful than they have any meaning. Tea leaves do not provide any nutrients for the plant; all the benefit from its use lies only in slightly loosening the soil. Coffee grounds significantly increase the acidity of the soil, which is simply destructive for flowering plants.
2. Eggshells also do not contain anything nutritious, being only drainage and a soil loosening agent.
3. Water after cooking meat. It is believed that after watering with such water, the flower is saturated with protein. Why a flower needs protein is a rather controversial question.

Feeding indoor flowers with home remedies is essentially using the same organic matter. Therefore, you need to use them carefully and always watch for the backlash.

Here are some of the well-known remedies used by flower growers:

Table 2 “Fertilizers for indoor plants from home remedies”

Fertilizers for indoor flowers, unlike garden ones, are often neglected. But indoor plants need additional nutrients no less, if not more, than their outdoor counterparts. The most important thing is to use them correctly, because an excess of both mineral and organic substances will negatively affect the plant.

Indoor flowers are an indispensable household item that adds comfort and decorativeness to any exterior. Often, at home, plants quickly wither, grow slowly, and sometimes flowering does not occur for several years.

To improve the health and development of plants, various fertilizers are used. Mineral and biological compositions are considered the most effective, but they can also be noticed with home remedies. These are completely organic products, the effectiveness of which is based on natural biochemical processes. They will be discussed in this article.

In apartment conditions, plants especially need feeding. They receive a limited amount of sunlight, the roots are very limited by the space of the pot, and it is difficult to regulate air flow in the room. The problems intensify in winter, when the central heating system worsens the humidity and, consequently, the microclimate.

All this leads to a delay in the development of flowers, a decrease in the abundance and quality of flowering. This can be partially solved by replanting into fresh nutrient soil, but such a procedure has a detrimental effect on the condition of the root system. This is why it is so important to apply fertilizers in a timely manner. You can understand that a plant needs to be fed by the following signs:

• the plant grows slowly;
• the stems become elongated and thin;
• the leaves droop, their color fades;
• there is no flowering for a long time;
• diseases, infections and pests appear.

If effective measures are not taken in time, the indoor flower begins to wither and eventually dies. As an emergency measure, only chemical compounds help, but in the early stages you can also use our grandmothers’ recipes.

The best homemade feeding recipes

The use of traditional feeding methods is based on a biochemical reaction similar to what occurs in the natural environment. When certain food products and familiar ingredients get into the soil, the active proliferation of beneficial bacteria begins. They normalize the microflora in the soil, and also accelerate the production of nutrients important for plants (nitrogen, phosphorus, macro- and microelements).

A similar process is used in biofertilizers. This principle has been used by humans since ancient times; today dozens of different effective home feeding methods are known.

Yeast

Feeding indoor flowers with yeast is one of the most well-known methods. They contain beneficial bacteria that have a positive effect on microflora, as well as hormones and components that regulate turgor in plant cells.

Yeast accelerates the mineralization of organic substances and actively produces nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. This feeding is useful for all plants, but is undesirable during the period of active flowering. Fertilizer recipe:

1. Place 10 grams of dry yeast in 10 liters of warm water, add 2-3 tbsp. spoons of sugar.
2. Mix until smooth and let sit for 3 hours.
3. Before feeding, stir with cold water in a ratio of 1:5, and then pour under the root.

To enhance the active action of yeast bacteria, a lot of oxygen is required. Within 2-5 days after applying the composition, you should ventilate the room more often, avoiding drafts. It is recommended to use yeast three times a year - in autumn, spring and summer.

Wood ash

It is used for feeding both indoor and outdoor ornamental plants. Wood ash contains a large amount of macro- and microelements (phosphorus, iron, sulfur, zinc and others), and it also reduces the risk of developing dangerous diseases in flowers.

The compounds in the ash are in an easily accessible form; they are quickly incorporated into the soil and then enter the plant tissue.

To feed, you need to dissolve 25 g of wood ash in 1 liter of cold water, then leave the solution for 5-7 days. The finished composition can be used for root application or spraying. Begonia, fuchsia, violet, cyclamen and geranium respond best to ash.

It is highly recommended not to use cigarette ash, as it contains a large amount of carcinogens and other harmful substances. Ash from hardwood trees is considered healthier because it contains fewer resin compounds.

succinic acid

It can be purchased at any pharmacy; it is a biologically active food supplement obtained by chemical-thermal processing of amber. Used as a prophylactic agent to enhance the growth of seedlings, improve seed germination and rooting of cuttings before planting.

Prepare the solution yourself at the rate of 1 tablet of succinic acid (1 g when used in powder form) per 1 liter of water. The composition can be sprayed on the stem, shoots or applied at the root. Exotic indoor plants - citrus fruits, chlorophytum, haworthia and arrowroot - respond best to this remedy. You can use the composition to work with cacti.

Eggshell

Shells are actively used as a natural fertilizer for plants, but this method has pros and cons. The shell contains large amounts of calcium and sulfur, but the compounds do not dissolve well in the soil. In addition, a high concentration of fertilizer can lead to a decrease in the acidity level of the substrate and the development of certain fungal diseases. It is not recommended to use as a regular feeding.

It is advisable to add crushed eggshells to the soil when replanting. The second popular method is preparing an infusion. To do this, you need to fill the crushed shells with water and let it brew for 4 days. The plants are watered with the resulting mixture once a month. The specific smell of the product appears due to sulfur compounds in the composition.

Aquarium water

In the water where aquarium fish live, a harmonious biological balance is established over time, thanks to which the life of aquatic inhabitants is maintained. It is largely due to the presence of beneficial bacteria.

When used for watering plants, the quality of the soil improves and the process of processing complex compounds is accelerated. This fertilizer should be used only during the vegetative phase, no more than once a month, so that the plants grow well and quickly.

Citrus fruit

The peels of citrus fruits (tangerines, oranges or lemons) contain large amounts of nitrogen, as well as beneficial substances for promoting resistance, plant health and rapid growth. Thanks to the disinfectant properties of citric acid, the risk of infection with viral and bacterial diseases and some harmful insects is reduced.

To feed, you need to take only fresh zest, which is filled into a container with a volume of up to 1 liter and filled with water. The composition should be left to stand for no more than 24 hours, and then the product is diluted with clean water for irrigation in a ratio of 1:3. The composition should be applied only at the root, avoiding contact with the foliage. In summer, fertilizing is applied twice, once in winter. It is not advisable to use citrus peels on succulents, cacti and orchids.

Available folk feeding methods for abundant flowering

As an effective fertilizer for indoor plants, you can use very simple ingredients available in every home. Below is a list of simple recipes that are beneficial to plants for abundant and long-lasting flowering.

Sugar

The most affordable fertilizer for indoor plants. It is known that during the decomposition process, sugar breaks down into glucose and fructose. Glucose is important for flowers; it participates in metabolic processes and also contributes to the rapid development of tissues, which is important during flowering.

To create fertilizing you need to dilute 1 tbsp. spoon of sugar in 500 ml of water, and then pour these mixtures over the soil. It is not recommended to use this method in winter, as the reaction requires carbon dioxide, which is very little in the apartment during the heating season. You can resort to such fertilizing no more than once a month; it is not recommended to fertilize cacti and succulents with sweet water.

Onion peel

Onion peels contain a huge amount of useful elements, as well as natural phytoncides that have a preventive effect against many infectious diseases. Onion tincture is suitable for most plants as a regular spray. Scheme for creating the tool:

1. A handful of fresh onion peels is poured into 1 liter of cold water and boiled over low heat for 7-8 minutes.
2. The decoction must be left for 3 hours and then strained.
3. Feeding with this product can be done quite often - 1-2 times a month.

Be sure to check the freshness of the onions before preparing the broth. The husk of this plant may contain bacteria that are dangerous to some plants, as well as insect larvae. It is not advisable to use this procedure for violets, geraniums and cyclamens.

Aloe juice

It is a strong growth stimulator and also improves the quality of flowering of most ornamental plants. In addition, aloe juice strengthens the immunity of flowers, reduces the risk of fungal and bacterial infections.

To prepare a solution for feeding, you need to add 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed juice to 1 liter of water and apply it under the root of the plant, or spray the leaves and stem. This method is not recommended for any type of orchid.

Tea brewing

A simple and affordable method of feeding, known since ancient times. Indoor ferns respond especially well to tea leaves. Tea can be used as mulch, drainage, or watered with a weak brew of the plant at the root. To enhance the effect, you can add sugar at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 200 ml of tea leaves.

Banana peel

Banana peel contains a huge amount of useful substances, as well as potassium, which plants need in large quantities during the flowering period. To prepare the fertilizer, you need to wash fresh banana peels, then dry and grind them into a powder.

The product is mixed with soil during a planned replanting, or diluted in water and the plants are fed with this composition once every 14 days. This feeding is suitable even for fancy decorative flowers, cacti and succulents.

Aspirin

It is used as an emergency measure to save a weakened plant, but it is useful to use acetylsalicylic acid during the flowering period. Aspirin is diluted in clean cold water at the rate of 1 tablet per 1 liter. The resulting composition is watered at the roots of the flowers, or sprayed on the leaves. To enhance the effect, you can add 2-3 drops of castor oil to the fertilizer.

Iodine

An alcohol solution of iodine is available in every home medicine cabinet. In moderate quantities, it has a positive effect on the flowering process, and also helps to activate potassium and nitrogen compounds in the soil. However, it is practically never found in its pure form in the natural environment.

Geranium responds especially well to iodine, but this method is not recommended for succulents. To feed, you need to mix 1 drop of iodine in 1 liter of water. The composition should be poured onto the soil along the edge of the pot, avoiding getting the product on the leaves and shoots.

1. When plants are infected, not only onion peels are used, but also garlic, which also contains a large amount of phytoncides.
2. Coffee grounds can be used as drainage, but they increase the acidity of the soil, which can be detrimental to the health of some plants.
3. It is not recommended to water indoor flowers with water after defrosting fish or meat. It may contain pathogenic microorganisms.
4. During the growing season, to enhance flowering, it is advisable to add 1-2 drops of castor oil to the soil. It has a beneficial effect on the budding process.
5. Many gardeners water their plants with water after cooking vegetables, but this is not recommended. This product does not in any way affect the health of the flowers; on the contrary, it can lead to acidification of the soil.

Despite the huge number of purchased products for feeding and fertilizing plants, many gardeners prefer to use old and proven folk methods. They have a weak effect, but if you use different methods, you can achieve a visible result, saving your budget. To select fertilizer, you need to take into account the stage of the plant’s growing season, as well as the species of the flower.

Growing indoor flowers is a favorite pastime for many. This is good for your health, and you have a natural decoration for your home. But in order to have a real flower garden in your apartment, you need to carefully care for it. Moreover, care must certainly include not only regular watering, lighting and replanting, but also high-quality flower feeding. Knowing how to feed indoor flowers at home, you can take care of your favorite greenery at the proper level.

Some gardeners are convinced that there is no need to purchase nutritional compounds too often for indoor plants at home. It would seem that you water them often, and the lighting in the apartment is not bad. However, in fact, homemade greens need feeding much more than you might think at first glance.

Feeding indoor plants should be done from time to time. And all because the flower grows in a limited space. It gradually absorbs everything useful that it finds in the soil, thereby depleting it. Sooner or later, the supply of nutrients in the substrate becomes very scarce, and the plants no longer have enough of it. That's when you need to feed the soil. Remember: even if your home shrub or other ornamental plant is planted in a large, spacious pot, one day it will not have enough minerals. And this deficiency must be filled by you.

There are also other experts who believe that indoor plants are quite simple sometimes, and feeding is not necessary. Perhaps, for the first time, this procedure will be able to prolong the active life of the flower. However, it still will not give the desired result if you neglect the need to apply fertilizer.

You can make sure that your home flower is already suffering from a poor supply of nutrients in the soil by the following signs:

• the plant develops too slowly or its growth has slowed down;
• flower stems become weak;
• leaves lose color and elasticity;
• the flowering process stops;
• the plant turns yellow and becomes much more susceptible to pest invasion.

Watering your houseplants with nutrient mixtures is essential if you want to keep them alive.

When not to feed flowers

It would seem that any fertilizing is always useful and necessary for your indoor flower garden. But provided that you apply fertilizer at the right time. If you feed home flowers at the wrong time, you can get the opposite effect. That is, you will only harm your indoor plants. In what situations is it recommended to delay feeding your home flower garden? First of all, forget about fertilizers for a while when the plant is damaged or simply sick. First, you need to rid it of such a scourge, and only after that begin to restore the weakened greenery.

Immediately after purchasing a new flower specimen, it is also worth postponing the addition of nutrient mixtures to the soil for a while. The thing is that in the store the plant is abundantly watered with various growth stimulants and other compounds. Therefore, the flower first needs to “digest” the existing beneficial substances.

Another period during which it is undesirable to fertilize is immediately after transplantation. By updating the soil mixture, you have already supplied the plant with vitamins.

Homemade recipes for natural fertilizers

Feeding home flowers with folk remedies is the best solution for any gardener. Firstly, it is much cheaper than purchasing store-bought nutritional mixtures. Secondly, home methods will bring much more benefits. That is why domestic flower growers for the most part prefer to supplement indoor plants with proven homemade decoctions and mashes.

It's time to consider what folk remedies can quickly stimulate the development and growth of an indoor flower. Among the effective fertilizers prepared for indoor flowers at home, it is worth highlighting the following possible options:

• dry yeast and cigarette ash. Yeast is generally considered a useful organic product, ideal for feeding almost any plant, indoor or garden. As for cigarette ash, it is simply scattered at the root of the flower. It is not only able to saturate greens with vitamins, but also perfectly protects against the appearance of various ailments. Domestic flower growers appreciate both the effectiveness of using cigarette ash and the ease of its use. To feed the plant, it is not necessary to dilute the powder with liquid or mix it with other ingredients. It is enough just to sprinkle the substrate in the pot with ash from time to time and then water on top;

• sugar and banana peel. Fertilizing plants with folk remedies is always simple and inexpensive. But the result is what is needed. Since sugar contains a huge amount of glucose, it is very beneficial for indoor flowers. This product stimulates the formation of molecules and has a beneficial effect on plant development. It is not difficult to use. Simply sprinkle sugar on the top layer of soil and then water thoroughly. – another useful fertilizer for flowers. It contains potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. A tincture can be prepared from this product. To do this, fill the peel with water and leave until foam appears. The finished solution can be used for irrigation;
• . Another useful remedy for flower growth. Succinic acid is obtained by processing fossilized resin. It is enough to take one gram of the substance and mix it with five liters of water. Prepare such a solution at home, and you can not only water the plant with it, but also spray its leaves and stems.

Houseplants should be fed following basic rules. Only in this case can you count on full results.

Video “Natural fertilizers for indoor plants”

In this video you will learn about several of the best natural food for indoor plants.