Best Overall
Espoma Organic Indoor Plant Food
Best Bang For The Buck
Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All-Purpose Plant Food
Best Organic
Neptune’s Harvest Fish andSeaweed Fertilizer
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fertiliser for indoor plants supply of the essence nutrients for houseplants living in container , helping them stick strong , healthy , and pest - liberal . After research oodles of the most popular indoor houseplant fertilizer products , we tested nine top performing artist for 30 day to discover more about their effectiveness for differentplants , soils , and growing environments . We also get hold of a landscape painting expert with more than 30 years of experience to get sixth sense on the benefits of using a houseplant fertilizer .
Based on our inquiry and test answer , our top recommendation is theEspoma Organic Indoor Plant Food — a balanced formula that ’s easy to apply , effective , and inexpensive . Ahead , follow along with the answer of our tests of the respectable fertilizers for indoor plant before choosing the one that meets your needs .
Fertilizer for Indoor Plants Comparison Chart
Our Top Picks
We tested the best indoor industrial plant fertilizers for a range of specific houseplant need . If you ’re looking for thebest plant foodfor your indoor menage garden , check up on out these reviews .
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.5/5 ; Odor5/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Value4.5/5
In our test , the Espoma constitutional indoor houseplant food proved effective and leisurely to use . As a concentrated fluid plant intellectual nourishment , it requires mixing , which is as unsubdivided as filling the cap midway full ( about 2 teaspoon ) with fertilizer and the ease of the way with water . Its odour is n’t as pungent as other organic fertilizers we ’ve examine and does n’t mess about long after program program .
This natural plant intellectual nourishment ’s ingredients are derive from hydrolyzed poultry manure , hydrolyzed soybean protein , hydrolyzed fish protein , off-white repast , and kelp extract . It also contains bring beneficial microbes examine to enhance nutritive absorption and minimize waste as well as humic acid to baffle soil pH and increase H2O retention . Even at its regular vs. sale Mary Leontyne Price , this is the most low-cost constitutional houseplant fertilizer we tested in terms of both the leverage Mary Leontyne Price and toll per program . If you have a particularly large solicitation of indoor plants , however , you may desire to waitress for a sale as this dressed ore only comes in 8 - snow leopard bottles .
interpret our full review : Espoma Organic Indoor Plant Food
What our quizzer says:“This formula is mild and does n’t deliver fast burst of growth , but by using in on our works twice a calendar month , they stay healthy and attractive , with no obtrusive worm or disease issues . ”—Mark Wolfe , Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Espoma plant food for indoor plants atAmazon , Ace Hardware , Walmart , orTarget .
Best Bang for the Buck
Miracle - Gro has been around for contemporaries , and our psychometric test issue show why . It ’s easy to use and store , produces zero smell , delivers fast results , and is incredibly cheap overall and per coating . To use these highly saturated fertilizer granule , simply measure them with the included scoop and mix with water . They will unfreeze instantly without clunking or stirring .
Since this product is so hard , it ’s crucial to soak the soil when watering but not add so much answer that it flow off . This prevents unused water - soluble nutrients from fall out of the territory ( and perhaps down the drain , depend on your watering process ) , which can bring to contamination . Excess nitrogen and atomic number 15 from private infected systems and municipal sewage discourse facilities can foul groundwater and stimulate unchecked algae growth in streams , lakes , and river . To help prevent this , consider seize and storing any excess piss that drains off after dressing . habituate evident piddle next time your plant postulate a drink , and then apply the stored runoff during subsequent fertilization .
What our quizzer says:“Our plants react really well to us jump Miracle - Gro applications with plain water during examination . They all sent out a flush of fresh young increment about 2 Clarence Day after the first handling and looked levelheaded and potent by the end of the calendar month . ”—Mark Wolfe , Product Reviews tester and writer
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Get the Miracle - Gro plant food for indoor plants atAmazon , Lowe’s , Ace Hardware , The Home Depot , Walmart , orMiracle - Gro .
Neptune’s Harvest Fish and Seaweed Fertilizer
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.5/5 ; Odor3/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Value4/5
This constituent plant food from Neptune ’s harvest home is formulated with a combination of impertinent fish and seaweed from the North Atlantic . It ’s certify by OMRI , so you may remain assured it ’s made exclusively with natural and constitutional constituent . After watering our test plant with it for a month , the results were excellent : plushy new growth and no symptoms of overfertilization or infestation .
To expend this concentrated formula , blend it according to the recording label ’s instructions and apply every two week . regrettably , Neptune ’s Harvest does n’t come with any type of measure gadget for this appendage . While one detonating gadget gauge the required tablespoon per gallon of water , the crownwork is n’t designed for that function , which construct it very hard to clean house . Still , we had to figure out a path because the cheating detonating machine made the feeding bottle a smelly mussiness — and the olfactory sensation is acute , especially in its undiluted DoS . It is not horrible like lousy Pisces , but it give off an intense Pisces the Fishes feeling that linger for a day after feeding . Odor away , the nutrient analysis is just proper for stimulating radical and bud development , so this could be an excellent choice for civilise seedlings , reducing transplant shock , and boosting flowering flora . shock , and boosting blossoming plants .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Get the Neptune ’s Harvest fertilizer for indoor plants atAmazonorNeptune’sHarvest .
Best Slow-Release
Osmocote Plus Smart-Release Plant Food
Our evaluation : rest of Use5/5 ; Odor5/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Value5/5
We anticipated some difficulty gauging the effectualness of a sluggish - dismissal fertilizer in just a few workweek , but we were sunnily surprised . Within a calendar month , our exam plants perked up and began read additional growth . Each had a gracious new flush of foliation that look healthy and strong . The best part was that we did n’t need to mix up fertilizer or follow a hebdomadal or biweekly program — we but used the included measuring max to get the appropriate measure of fertilizer pellets , pushed them down into the soil ’s airfoil with a little stick , and watered each mickle as common .
Although the purchase Leontyne Price of the Osmocote is slightly higher than some of the other fertilizers we used , the production ’s note value polish through in the season - long eating it furnish . In fact , on a per - app basis , it ’s really one of the least expensive choice we advocate ( roughly $ .32 per diligence for 2 gallons of soil ) . It also eliminates the rough-and-tumble of mixing solutions and keeping up with a feeding agenda .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Osmocote fertiliser for indoor plants atAmazon , Lowe’s , Ace Hardware , orThe Home Depot .
Best Liquid
Dyna-Gro SuperThrive Grow 7-9-5 Liquid Plant Food
Our rating : Ease of Use4/5 ; Odor5/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Value4/5
The most difficult part of work out with the Dyna - Gro fertilizer was measuring the minuscule amount of concentrate needed for a quart of plant food ( a quarter of a quarter teaspoonful , or .042 oz. ) . To plow this , we amalgamate up a gallon of fertilizer solution and stored the extra three quarts until require . Now , each time we apply it , we appreciate that this well - balanced fertilizer provides both micronutrients and a good NPK capacity , delivering 2 percentage Ca along with traces of Mg , boron , chlorine , Co , copper , iron , manganese , molybdenum , sodium , and zinc — all of which are require for longsighted - terminal figure plant health .
Our results with Dyna - Gro were similar to those using Osmocote but not as speedy as with Miracle - Gro . The plant produced a sizable flower of new foliage with no symptom of tension , disease , or insect plague . This was the only synthetic plant food we apply with each watering , so our long - term concern was that residue could amass in the ground and cause job with extended use . When using this product long - condition , buyers should supervise their plants for signs of stress and purge the soil with clear water .
Photo: Amazon
Dyna - Gro offer recommendations for different program rates to fit a variety of growing situations . you could feed at each tearing with a answer of ¼ or ½ teaspoon per Imperial gallon of water or increase the ratio to 1 teaspoon per congius for a biweekly or monthly eating schedule . They also provide instructions for use in aquicultural systems , siphon feeder , irrigation injector , or foliar nebuliser .
Get the Dyna - Gro fertilizer for indoor plants atAmazonorWalmart .
Best for Cactus
Grow More Cactus Juice Cacti & Succulents Fertilizer
It was much more difficult to gauge our winner with Cactus Juice equate to the other fertiliser we tested . The test cacti just did n’t grow as quickly as other eccentric of houseplants , and we did n’t expect them to . But they looked great and continued to ameliorate throughout the calendar month of examination . The colouration of the foliation deepened perceptibly , and the first speck of prime bud began to appear by the closing of the month . In short , everything come on as it should .
Like most of the other fluid fertilizers we tested , this one did not admit a measure twist . Using a measure spoon to gauge the bottleful cap volume , we found that half a capful approximates a teaspoonful , so we used it to assess afterward . But then we had to clean it soundly before replacing it on the nursing bottle . The tall , narrow 16 - snow leopard bottle itself was loose to handle and pour flawlessly .
Get the Grow More fertilizer for indoor plants atLowe’sorAmazon .
Photo: Amazon
Best for Flowering Plants
JR Peters Jack’s Classic 10-30-20 Blossom Booster
Our military rank : Ease of Use4.5/5 ; Odor5/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Value5/5
We feed Jack ’s Classic Blossom Booster to two African violet , two Reiger begonia , and a genus Phalaenopsis orchid . All of these plant life had just make out a resting form when we started the feeding mental test , and by the death of the month , both the reddish blue and begonias had get to produce an teemingness of new flower , while the orchid was starting to mail up a newfangled flower ear .
This fertilizer comes with its own measure scoop , and its granules dissolve instantly without clumping . While the 1.5 - pounding size of it could be a chip much for those with just one or two indoor plants , its value increases since it ’s label for habit on “ all indoor and outdoor unfolding plant . ” At about $ .04 per alimentation , this specialty plant food is very cost - effective and produces calibre results across a range of dissimilar type of flowering plants .
Photo: Amazon
Get the JR Peters Blossom Booster fertilizer for indoor plants atAmazonorJR Peters .
Best for Herbs
Dr. Earth Organic Life All-Purpose Fertilizer
Our Ratings : Ease of Use5/5 ; Odor4/5 ; Effectiveness4/5 ; Value4/5
This Dr. Earth fertilizer smells gently like a hayfield , credibly due to the high Medicago sativa repast content , and also contain Pisces the Fishes bone repast , Pisces the Fishes meal , and kelp meal that ( gratefully ) does not emit a noticeable fishy tone . It ’s gentle to employ ( although no measuring scoop is included ) , and because it turn back no animal manure , it does n’t produce any of the “ off ” smells often associated with organics .
In our trial , we used this Dr. Earth fertilizer for potted plants on potted herbaceous plant . As with the Osmocote product , it only need utilise it once and watering as necessary . By the final stage of the calendar month , our plants looked great and had beautiful new flushes of invigorated foliation and buds . As much as we like this constitutive option , it is a piece more costly and bulky than other houseplant food intersection we tested . The 4 - Ezra Pound bag we used was relatively large and inconvenient for depot , and more product ( by volume ) is needed per feeding . Also , at $ .32 per software program , it was the 2d most expensive plant food we quiz . However , for shoppers interested in working with nature to improve the soil and develop edible flora with a decoct risk of nutrient runoff , this Dr. Earth product is one of the honorable houseplant fertilizers available .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Dr. Earth plant food for indoor plants atAmazonorAce computer hardware .
Best All-Purpose
JR Peters Jack’s Classic 20-20-20 Plant Food
This pee - soluble plant solid food comes in a pliant tub and includes a measuring scoop , relieve oneself it very easy to store and coalesce . As with Miracle - Gro and the other JR Peters product we tested , the granule dissolve instantly in piddle and are easy to sweep up if a few spillage . But more importantly , our plant love this plant food for the ready fit of nutrients each eating provide .
After the first software , we noted mysterious rejuvenation of the leafage within 3 day and novel bud development within a calendar week . The 2d program was less like flip-flop on a light switch and more like nudge a rattling - go - stave already in motility . Growth stay progressing , culminating in a lush fresh foliage show by calendar month ’s ending . Just be careful to mix and utilise this ware strictly agree to the recording label directions to avoid overfertilizing , waste product , and excessive nutrient runoff .
Get the JR Peters 20 - 20 - 20 plant food for indoor plants atAmazon .
Photo: Amazon
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Fertilizers for Indoor Plants
Our tests looked at constitutional and synthetic fertilizer as well as smooth concentrates , water supply - soluble granule , and ironical - software program rule . To prevail comparable results , we set up a tribulation with nine group of five houseplants each , all goodly and growing in 6 - column inch sens . Seven of the groups were made up of common leaf plants like pothos , dracaena , ophidian flora , and croton , and two specialty chemical group featured cacti and succulents in improver to efflorescence houseplant .
We tested these fertilizers from early February through early March , start up as the plants complete a semi - hibernating phase angle . Throughout examination , we monitor them for changes in health and vigor , leaf color , new ontogenesis , and infestation by insects or diseases . We also compared the up - front price of the product along with the app rates , storage , intermixture , and user convenience . We recorded our reflection , scored each product on a marking rubric , and give awarding to worthy products based on execution .
Our Ratings: Fertilizers for Indoor Plants
What to Consider When Choosing a Fertilizer for Indoor Plants
While it ’s well-off to assume that all indoor plant fertilizers offer similar performance , several factors affect their functionality . Keep learn to learn about several of the most important lineament to consider when choosing the good fertilizer for indoor plant life .
Types of Fertilizers for Indoor Plants
The three primarytypes of fertilizerare liquid , granular , and slow - sack pellet . Each kind has advantages and disadvantages .
Before applying it to a plant ’s leaves or soil , fluid fertilizers for plants must be conflate with piddle , which need some extra measuring . However , the water makes liquid plant foods soft to employ sparingly and fend off overfertilization . Liquid houseplantfertilizer and foodare typically best for those with many houseplant because a large amount of water must be used to thin out very minuscule fertilizer . However , liquid indoor plant fertilizers move through soil and plant life system rapidly and must be applied frequently — every 1 to 2 week .
coarse-grained fertiliser are low-priced and in effect . Simply dust the fertiliser on top of the land , then blend or water it in . man-made plant food granules gradually dissolve as the plant is watered , typically within about 30 Day . Organic flora food nutrient are released by soil microbic activity , also within about a month . apply a granular houseplant plant food when initially plant or repot a plant so it can be thoroughly mixed into the grease . It typically must be reapplied after 4 to 6 workweek .
Photo: Amazon
Slow - liberation indoor plant life fertilizers add up in several data formatting , include shot , spikes , cod , and capsules . Because they emit nutrients gradually , they can last 3 to 6 calendar month . They ’re typically only usable in traditional — not constitutive — formulas .
NPK Ratio and Plant Species
The best fertiliser contain a mixture of macronutrients — nitrogen ( N ) , phosphorus ( phosphorus ) , and atomic number 19 ( K)—along with traces of micronutrient . The equaliser of these three macronutrients is represented by its NPK guarantee analytic thinking , which is listed on the fertiliser ’s packaging .
For good example , a guaranteed analysis of 10 - 10 - 10 have in mind that 10 percent of the fertiliser , by weight , is nitrogen ; 10 percent is Lucifer ; and 10 percent is atomic number 19 . The stay 70 percent can be made up of any compounding of micronutrients and inert ingredients . Explicit details are shown on the back of the houseplant fertilizer recording label .
The guaranteed analysis is sometimes convince to an NPK proportion . For instance , 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer has a ratio of 1 - 1 - 1 , whereas 10 - 30 - 20 fertilizer has an NPK ratio of 1 - 3 - 2 . The NPK ratio is a expert way to compare different brand and formulations of fertilizer . Three different fertilizer may have three different analyses , for exercise , 5 - 5 - 5 , 10 - 10 - 10 , and 20 - 20 - 20 , but the same 1 - 1 - 1 NPK ratio . This equivalence could indicate that the products may work for the same plant types , using different software rates .
Photo: Amazon
Because each plant species has different nutritional needs , a “ perfect ” NPK proportion does n’t exist . in the main , gullible houseplants require a balanced NPK ratio or one that ’s more or less higher in N . A high residue of phosphorus is particularly beneficial for flowering industrial plant such as African violet , oxalis , and peace lily . Phosphorus also aids in fruit production , making it beneficial to edible plants likecitrus treesandtomatoes . Potassium is closely linked to general flora wellness , healthy cellular bodily structure , and drought resistance .
Organic or Traditional
One of the principal decision shoppers must make is choosing between a traditional or an organic fertiliser .
Application
A fertiliser ’s ease of app depends largely on whether it ’s a liquid , coarse-grained , or slow - release formula .
Tips for Using the Best Fertilizer for Indoor Plants
To know how to fertilize plants without risking overfertilization or otherfertilizer mistakes most base gardeners make , follow these tips :
FAQs
While you now know more about select the sound fertilizers for indoor plant life , you might still need more information about how to use them . Here are some answers to some of the most oft expect questions about the proper fertilization of plant .
Houseplants have been withdraw from their natural habitat and therefore miss the macronutrients and micronutrients present in their aboriginal grease that help them continue respectable . Good plant food for houseplant supplement these nutrients .
Houseplant fertilizers contain a motley of macronutrients ( nitrogen , phosphorus , and K ) and micronutrients that affix the nutrients already in the plant ’s soil . These factor can come from a mixture of sources . In fact , you’re able to makehomemade plant foodwith a few quotidian house products .
Photo: amazon.com
The dressing method acting depends on the chosen formula . Add powder and granular fertilizers to the works ’s soil , and then water . Dilute liquid fertilizers with piss before practical program .
The ideal fertilisation schedule depends on the case of fertilizer you choose . melted fertilizer should be apply every 2 to 4 week , whereas a granular fertilizer only needs to be applied every 4 to 6 weeks . Fertilize with a slow - exit formula every 3 to 6 months .
Overfertilization is a uncouth problem with houseplants . The signs of overfertilization vary depending on the works coinage , but they include symptoms like wilt , burnt leave , and dried leaf margins .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
When require about fertilizer lotion , landscape expert Ward Dilmore articulate , “ During the spring and summer , most indoor plants profit from monthly fertilizing . In declivity and winter , when plants infix quiescency it ’s good not to fertilise at all as it will take into account the plants to go into quiescence without it pushing out new growth . ” Start fertilise your houseplant in early spring , about 8 weeks before the last expected icing . In areas that do n’t experience winter frosts , thin applications to half enduringness .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with a background in the baby’s room and landscaping manufacture . For more than 20 years , he cut down , edge , planted , snip , domesticate , irrigated , and animate beautiful landscape . Now he tests and writes reviews about the latest out-of-door power equipment , deal tools , lawn - charge products , and other outdoor - living goods .
extra research provide by Savannah Sher .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
We ’ll help you limit up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised layer , or an in - ground game out back — and choose the right plant for your dirt and region .
