The days are getting long enough now that houseplants- unless they are getting very little light- are starting to come out of dormancy, which means you can start fertilizing them again.
Before their first feeding of the year is a good time for a little maintenance. House plants commonly get build ups of salt on the soil surface; this needs to be leached out or the soil will stop absorbing nutrients. To get rid of it, place the plant in the bathtub or sink and pour water through it several times, allowing it to drain out well. This should wash the salts through the soil and on out. If the soil is still hard and lumpy, some of it needs replacing. Remove the top inch or so and replace it with fresh bagged potting soil.
Check the plant for insects. If you find bugs, give the plant a washing down with lukewarm water- a hand held sprayer is ideal for this- followed by a spray sold for houseplants if the infestation was bad. Do not use any spray that is not sold for houseplants; other types may have chemicals too toxic for the plant and for you to have in your house where it can’t dissipate and where children and pets may handle the plant with it on it.
Remove any dead or damaged leaves. If you have plants that live outside in summer but come in for winter, like coleus, pelargoniums (geraniums), or sweet potato vines, they are almost certainly leggy and will need a hard cutting back. Now is when you can get bonus plants- you can put the cuttings in potting soil or perlite and root them!
Now, while the soil is still damp, the plants are ready for feeding. Never fertilize the plants when the soil is dry! You can use any style of fertilizer you like- liquid, stakes or time release beads- but read the label to see what the nutrient ratio is. For foliage plants, a balanced fertilizer is best- 10-10-10, for instance which means that there is the same amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in it. If the plant is being grown for blooms, however, you’ll want more phosphorus –the middle number. A 10-15-10 or 10-20-10 is good for those blooming plants.
A fertilizer stake or time release beads will last most of the growing season, while using a liquid will mean that you have to reapply it periodically. With a low amount of fertilizer per feeding, like the 10-10-10, you can use it a couple of times a month. If you go with a stronger fertilizer, like 20-20-20, you’ll only want to use it once a month. Remember that plants in lower light situations need less nutrients, and that too much fertilizer can cause the plant to become leggy and can, in large amounts, burn the plant and even kill it. Never use more fertilizer than the label advises.
Now your plants are ready to face spring! It may still be cold, gray and foggy out there, but the lengthening days tell us that winter is slipping away.
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