How to buy the best fertiliser Nutrients for house plants

Like any container-grown plant, house plants will need feeding to keep them healthy. Light levels are usually lower, unless artificial lighting is used, so it is important to feed only when the plant is actively growing. Compost has some disadvantages indoors, so hydroponics are often used for foliage specimen plants.

Plant feeds

House plant feeds are usually sold in small bottles and watered onto the compost; alternatively, small sticks or tubes of feed are inserted. Like garden fertilisers, there are feeds to promote leafy growth for foliage plants and feeds to promote flowering. Specialist plants, such as orchids and citrus plants, often have their own feeds, too.

Hydroponics

The plant roots are held in place with an inert material, such as rock wool or lightweight expanded granules or beads. All the nutrients are then supplied dissolved in water. Sometimes the water is pumped through or held in a reservoir, or dripped in through an irrigation system. Hydroponic systems are usually expensive to set up but the results often impressive, as the nutrients can be tailor-made to the plant.