I’ve recently discovered some DIY plant food for indoor plants, and want to share them with y’all.
Indoor plants are a great way to bring life and color into your home. Not only do they look great, but they can also act as natural air purifiers by removing toxins from the air.
Since plants are meant to live outside, keeping your indoor plants healthy can be a challenge. Especially if you are not great with plants.
Indoor plants need the right amount of sunlight, the right temperature, the right humidity, and regular watering and fertilizing to stay healthy. They also need to be regularly pruned, have their leaves cleaned, and have their soil monitored for moisture levels and nutrients.
If you’re new to caring for plants or just not good at keeping them alive, you can use a free plant care app to help you identify your plants and understand the specific needs of each one.
Giving your plants the essential nutrients they need is critical to their health. Unfortunately, store-bought chemical fertilizers can contain harsh chemicals and can be expensive.
To keep your plants healthy without breaking the bank or even needing a green thumb, you can make your own DIY plant food for indoor plants.
Homemade Plant Food vs Synthetic Plant Food for House Plants
Homemade organic fertilizers are generally considered to be better for houseplants. This is because they provide the necessary nutrients while also improving the overall soil structure and fertility.
Organic homemade fertilizers are typically made from plant, animal, and mineral sources, and can be made in both liquid and granular forms.
They release their nutrients slowly and provide a more balanced nutrient supply than synthetic fertilizers.
Homemade fertilizers also contain micronutrients and beneficial soil microorganisms that can help to improve soil structure and fertility.
Homemade plant food is often more nutrient-rich and less likely to burn plants than synthetic fertilizer.
Synthetic fertilizer is typically fast-acting and can provide a boost of nutrients to plants quickly. It, too, can be more likely to burn plants if over-applied or used in excess.
Also an issue, synthetic fertilizer is made from chemical compounds that can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of the right way.
DIY Plant Food for Indoor Plants
DIY plant food is easy to make and can provide your plants with the nutrients they need to thrive indoors.
The most common ingredients used to make DIY homemade fertilizer are Epsom salts, baking soda, and ammonia. All of these ingredients can be found in your home and they’re relatively inexpensive. For example, a pound of Epsom salts can cost as little as $2.
To make your own liquid fertilizer, just mix two tablespoons of Epsom salts, one teaspoon of baking soda, and one teaspoon of ammonia in a gallon of water. Make sure to mix the ingredients well so they don’t settle at the bottom of the container.
DIY Liquid Fertilizer for Indoor Plants
- 2 Tablespoons Epsom Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Ammonia
- 1 Gallon of Water
- Mix well and water your plants
That’s it, it’s that simple! This homemade plant food recipe is one of the best organic fertilizers you can use.
Epsom salts provide your plants with magnesium and sulfur, both of which are essential for healthy plant growth.
Baking soda helps to neutralize the soil’s pH levels and helps to keep the soil from becoming too acidic or too alkaline.
Ammonia gives your plants nitrogen, which your plants would get from the soil outdoors.
How Often to Use DIY Plant Food for Indoor Plants
Homemade plant fertilizers are simple to make, inexpensive, and can help to keep your plants healthy. However, it is important to remember that too much of any nutrient can be detrimental to your plants.
How often you fertilize your plants will depend on the specific type of plant you have, the soil type, the climate, and your watering schedule.
In general, most plants need to be fertilized every two to four weeks. It’s important to get to know your specific plants in order to know their different needs and the best fertilizer for each one.
Make sure to carefully monitor the health of your plants and adjust the dosage of nutrients accordingly.
You can use the free plant care app I mentioned above to diagnose any issues your plants are having. Simply taking a picture of the plant with the app will give you a diagnosis and a solution.
It’s also important to remember that DIY plant food should not be used as a substitute for regular watering. As with any fertilizer, it is important to use it in moderation.
Other DIY Plant Food for Indoor Plants
There are lots of other options you can use to feed your plants, other than synthetic fertilizers.
Without buying anything you wouldn’t already have around the house, you can make your own fertilizer.
All of the natural houseplant fertilizers below will help make your indoor plants happy and healthy plants.
Compost Tea
A simple mixture of water and compost that can be used to water houseplants.
Make your own compost by creating a compost pile outside or using a compost bin. This gives you a great natural fertilizer! You can put all kinds of things in compost.
- Kitchen waste like fruit and vegetable scraps
- Garden waste like vegetables that are overripe
- Coffee grounds and filters
- Eggshells
- Shredded newspaper
- Grass clippings
- Leaves
- Manure from herbivorous animals
- Hay and straw
- Wood ash
- Bown Cardboard and paper
- Sawdust
- Green plant prunings and trimmings
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are high in nitrogen, and can be used as a top dressing on potting soil for houseplants – or made into a liquid fertilizer.
Spread your used grounds across the top of the soil occasionally.
Cold coffee or even a premade coffee fertilizer can perk your plants right up!
Add 1/4 cup of coffee grounds to one gallon of water and stir until the grounds are evenly distributed. Let the mixture sit for 24-48 hours before using it to water your plants.
The leftover grounds can also be sprinkled around the plants as mulch, which will help retain moisture in the soil.
Banana Peels
Banana peels are an excellent source of potassium and can be used to fertilize houseplants.
Make a banana peel plant fertilizer by cutting your banana peels into small pieces and putting them in a container.
Cover the peels with water and leave them for two to three days.
Stir them occasionally and then strain and use the liquid to water your plants.
Eggshells
Eggshells are a great source of calcium and can be used to give your houseplants a calcium boost.
Simply crush the shells and sprinkle them around the base of the plant.
The shells contain important nutrients for healthy plant growth. You can also place the crushed shells at the bottom of the pot before you add soil, which will help with drainage and aeration.
Egg shells can even help deter pests.
Green Tea
Did you know green tea is full of beneficial nutrients, and can be used in several different ways to feed houseplants?
Green tea is best for acid-loving plants, so be sure to do your research on your specific plants before choosing this plant food.
- Use green tea to water your plants – this is especially helpful for plants that require high humidity levels. Simply brew a few green tea bags in 2-3 cups of boiling water and let it cool before you water your plants with it.
- Create a green tea spray – combine 3-4 green tea bags with 2 cups of boiling water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Once cooled, strain the tea bags and use the liquid as a spray on your plants’ leaves.
- Use green tea grounds for mulching – use dried green tea leaves as a mulch for your plants as it can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Molasses
Molasses is a natural source of sugar and can be used to feed houseplants.
Mix one tablespoon of molasses with one gallon of water and water your plants with the solution.
You can also add one teaspoon of Epsom salts to the mixture to further boost the nutrient content.
Be sure to only use this solution once a month, as it can burn your plants if used too often.
You can also mix one tablespoon of molasses with one quart of warm water and use it as a foliar spray.
Spray the solution directly onto the leaves and stems of your plants every few weeks.
Seaweed
Seaweed is high in trace minerals and can be used to fertilize houseplants.
Prepare a seaweed tea by adding 2-3 tablespoons of dried seaweed to a quart of boiling water and letting the mixture steep overnight.
Strain the mixture and dilute it with an equal amount of water. Then, pour the seaweed tea around the base of your plants, ensuring that the roots are getting some of the solution.
Yogurt Water
Yogurt water is a great source of beneficial bacteria and can be used to water houseplants.
To use it, simply mix a few tablespoons of plain yogurt with a few cups of water and mix until blended. Then, water your plants with the yogurt water once or twice a month.
Making your own DIY plant food is an easy and cost-effective way to keep your indoor plants healthy. With the right ingredients and a little bit of patience, your plants can thrive in your home for many years to come.
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