When and what do indoor plants grow in the spring?
A long and difficult winter for all houseplants usually ends with the resumption of normal regular care. But in order for the plants to realize themselves again abundantly, it is not necessary to start regular fertilization either. Spring – The period of transition from complete, conditional or forced dormancy to active growth. And if you focus only on the condition of the plants themselves, their development and signals, you can find the perfect time and care strategy. The most dangerous thing to do in spring is to start fertilizing when the plants are not yet ready for it.
When and what to grow houseplants in the spring?
An individual approach is the best strategy for resumption of feeding
The main rule of thumb for all houseplants in the spring is to follow only individual recommendations for feeding (and descent in general). At a time of difficult plant adaptation to changing conditions and the beginning of a new growth cycle, any improvisation with feeding can be more stressful than temperature changes. In spring, you should not ignore even a plant’s “little” demands for conditions and care.
Before resuming spring feeding, research the recommendations for all your houseplants. Remember the old charts. In order to properly feed your houseplants in the spring, you need to know for sure:
- The types of fertilizer that are more appropriate for a particular type of houseplant;
- The recommended standard frequency of fertilization;
- The optimal form of fertilizer and the possibility of using fertilizer in a non-liquid form (including knowing whether the plant tolerates long-acting fertilizers and fuel feeders);
- the plant’s preferred timing – periods of active fertilization and their reduction or cessation. The traditional “from March” in the recommendations means that the March plant should be watched carefully and choose the date of the first feeding depending on its condition.
The only thing to decide accurately and quickly is what to feed the plants in the spring. Only use the fertilizer recommended for this kind of houseplant.
Only use the fertiliser recommended for this kind of houseplant
Start fertilising house plants in spring
If you want to avoid problems in the spring and help the plants adapt to the changing conditions you should not fertilise marigolds. The first signs of renewed vegetation on all plants appear at the end of February or in March. It is not as important exactly how the plants will overwinter or when they will bloom as it is the signs of “awakening.”
It would be a big mistake to resume feeding on March 1. The starting point can only be found by observing the plants and noting when they wake up under the influence of increasing daylight hours and light intensity.
Resume care of houseplants in the spring at the first signs of leaf growth or prostrate growth – but not with feeding, but by transplanting and watering. Only after changing the container or replacing the top of the substrate, adaptation and the beginning of the usual “summer” goosefoot will be time to feed again. No earlier than 2-3 weeks after reaching the standard watering frequency (or changing the top of the substrate). And no earlier than 4 weeks after transplanting (5-6 weeks is best).
Simple rules for resuming spring feeding
For plants that prefer a standard liquid fertilizer (fertilizer along with water for watering), there are almost no tricks when resuming fertilization. The main thing is not to create a situation in which the roots can suffer from an unusually high concentration of fertilizer in the soil. And for this, just a few precautionary measures are enough:
- Before the first feeding, water the plant abundantly a day or at least a few hours in advance and drain the excess water from the trays.
- Use soft water at a temperature slightly warmer than the ambient air.
- If the instructions for a certain type of plant do not show otherwise, start feeding gradually, reducing the first dose by a factor of 2 to 3.
- Distribute the water evenly around the circumference of the pot, don’t get carried away with the stems and leaves, as gently as possible.
- Do not leave water in the palette after watering, but make sure that the substrate on which the moisture has fallen is well dried before the next treatment.
In short, all you need to do is be careful and considerate, follow standard watering rules, and treat each plant according to its mood and hypersensitivity.
The only thing to pay attention to when using fertilizer for a long time is moderate watering and extremely decent watering until growth resumes. © Bigamart
How to use long-lasting fertilizer in the spring
It’s even easier with these simplified sticks, capsules and pellets. The long-acting fertilizer that the manufacturer recommends along with the substrate is simply added to the floor in the specified proportion when replanting the system or replacing the top layer.
The only thing you’ll have to worry about is moderate moisture and very decent watering before you start growing. If long-lasting fertilizer is simply applied to the container, it is not applied before 5-6 weeks after transplanting, which avoids contact with the roots.
How to resume feeding?
To ensure that the plant does not suffer from too drastic leaf feeding, it is worth determining the first leaf feeding 2-4 weeks after the beginning of the main feeding. It is extremely important to conduct the first treatment with a very weak, low-concentration formulation and gradually return to the usual dosage.
Before starting foliar feeding, the plant should be accustomed to regular spraying (if you have not participated in winter maintenance). Initially, leaf feeding plays the role of precautionary measures, such as protection from direct sunlight in the spring.
Before you start leaf feeding, you need to get used to spraying the plant regularly.
A controversial strategy is nitrogen – feeding.
Many flower growers who like to garden with indoor plants prefer to do the same with their favorite outdoor plants. Changing from a nitrogen fertilizer at the beginning of growth to a more specialized one in the summer is a classic strategy for getting more decorative greenery or abundant blooms.
But it is not necessary to convert it to the room format. Of course, all plants need more nitrogen at the beginning of the growing season, when the shoots are touching and the leaves are opening. However, it is no coincidence that indoor Geicheras need complex complex fertilizers that contain not only macronutrients, but also a whole complex of much finer, but no less important microelements. And if during a significant period of the beginning of the growing season the entire fertilization is reduced to nitrogen only, the needs for other elements can be not so modest.
Regardless of whether the plant is growing leaves and stems, when it comes to nutrition (rather than improvising and folk methods), stick strictly to the recommendations for the particular plant species or the instructions when purchasing a particular variety. If there are doubts, or if you still want to try to get more green mass by applying an extra portion of nitrogen, then conduct such feeding with small doses of fertilizer between the main or slightly change the ratio of macronutrients with proven biological preparations.
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How to feed flowers in the spring at the cottage – fertilizer for flowering plants
Spring is the time when all garden plants awaken and come to life. And it’s a time for careful plant care after the winter and the necessary fertilizers. In this article we will consider what to feed the flowers in the spring at the cottage, so that they bloom abundantly throughout the season.
Basic rules of fertilizing flowers in the spring at the country house
Together with the collection of snow and melted water, useful elements necessary for the comfortable life of plants are put out of the ground. Despite the fact that each plant has its own characteristics, there are general rules of fertilization.
With the onset of warming and melting snow, nitrogen compounds come more from the soil. Therefore, the basis of any spring feeding is to apply fertilizers containing this element. It is nitrogen that promotes the proper awakening and development of crops. It participates in the formation of protein molecules, which are the basis for the existence of all life. With a lack of nitrogen, photosynthesis is disrupted, plants get an unhealthy light color, leaves can fall off, and even burns appear. The number of fresh shoots decreases, and existing growth processes are slowed down.
The most popular fertilizers in this segment are: urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate and manure.
When fertilizing garden flowers in the spring, it should be borne in mind that an excess of nitrogen compounds is harmful to plants as well as a lack.
The second no less important macronutrient in the spring is phosphorus. It is necessary for the synthesis of carbohydrates and promotes healthy root growth.
An equally important rule is to choose the right time to do the work. In order for the fertilizer to fully penetrate the soil and properly assimilate, it is better to wait until the snow melts. Regardless of the type of crop, the soil should be mulched after fertilizing.
Liquid or granular fertilizers are best for annual crops. Although the scope of their application is not limited.
The best fertilizer for sandy floors is compost. And fertilizer should be applied just to such floors, because sandstone has a poor ability to accumulate moisture and nutrients.
When working with clay floors, organic fertilizers should be applied first, and only then mineral fertilizers. This order is necessary in order to bring breathability and moisture to an acceptable level.
How to choose fertilizer for garden flowers
There is a broad range of fertilisers for fertilising flowers in the garden during spring. In order not to get confused in this variety and choose the right options for your garden, it is important to understand the classification and purpose of special means. Depending on the composition, all fertilizers can be divided into three categories:
Light These are preparations based on a key element. They include phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium additives;
Dual – compounds of two active components. The most well-known preparation in this segment is diammophos. Fertilizers have been known for a long time and have proven themselves well. Granulated multicomponent fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in different variations. These three components are the most important for proper growth and flowering.
The most effective spring fertilizer for flowering plants
When it comes to what to fertilise garden flowers, many gardeners choose between organic and mineral fertilisers. In fact, crops need both. To maintain the quality of the soil at the proper level, mineral additives should be used every spring, and organic substances will be enough after a year.
It is believed that the best effect is achieved with organic additives:
Compost is one of the most popular and well-known fertilizers for spring feeding of garden flowers. A mixture of decomposed plant or animal waste has excellent absorbent properties and promotes air circulation. These properties help improve the structure of the top layers of soil for an unobstructed supply of nutrients to the root system of plants.
Compost can improve soil fertility. In addition, organic fertilizers are easy to digest, so the risk of overfeeding the flower is much lower than with organic fertilizers.
Warning. Another undeniable advantage of compost is its availability.
Such fertilizer can be prepared by every gardener. As components can be used: budget waste in the form of vegetables, fruits, raw wood, ashes, manure in fresh or decomposed form, paper and cardboard; garden waste in the form of branches after pruning trees, bark and part of the roots, last year’s leaves, grass. It is important to make sure that sick and infected plants do not get into the mixture.
Wood ash. Such fertilizer contains a useful tandem of potassium and phosphorus. Fertilizer is simply indispensable for abundant flowering. Prepare the composition is not difficult. It is enough to stir a tablespoon of wood ash in two liters of hot water. The resulting mixture can be boiled for a day, primed and can be used. Ash is also used in a dry form for garden plants.
Some types of ornamental flowers do not accept organic compositions very well, a mineral base is more suitable for them. Choosing fertilizer for such flowers, it is important to consider this criterion.
Especially among the mineral fertilizers have proven themselves:
Sulfatnitrophoska. The classic fertilizer of a granular structure. Use in the garden increases the number of buds and flowers, as well as the condition of the leaves. The fertilizer is suitable for both perennial and annual plants. Most often, you have to prepare a solution by diluting 25 grams of pellets in a bucket of water to get a high quality fertilizer. The mixture is poured into the wells when planting onions.
Nitrophoska as a fertilizer for garden flowers in spring shows particularly impressive results when fertilizing rose bushes. They become strong and large, and flowering is more abundant.
Kemira floral. Mineral fertilizer made in Finland, which has recently been carried out in Russia. It achieved its popularity due to a balanced complex of macro- and microelements. In Kemira you will find magnesium, zinc, selenium and other useful components. Fertilizer is universal for annual and perennial flowers. The action is aimed at increasing the diameter of the flower bowl and enhancing greater brightness, color during the flowering period. Fertilizer is very easy in its application. The ready product should be evenly distributed at the base of the flower. Under the influence of moisture, all the active components get into the ground.
There is also a variety of Kemira in the form of Chelate specifically for roses. After such fertilizer, rose bushes bloom longer and more abundantly. In addition, this composition will help bushes to endure the winter period more firmly.
Urea. A well-known spring fertilizer for outdoor flowers with a maximum concentration of nitrogen in the composition (more than 45%). To ensure that the fertilizer completely hit the ground and acted properly, it is better not only to make it on the edge of the top layer of soil, but also to deepen it to 4 cm.
Important! : To get the job done, it’s important to time it right. In urban conditions, fertilize plants only at the beginning of March. Continued use can inhibit the formation of buds.
And clearance. A modern complex fertilizer that is enriched with iron and manganese. On the market there is a wide range of subspecies, taking into account the peculiarities of different groups of plants. The main types of the drug are divided into three large categories: phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Under the influence of agrotechnics, plants develop their own immunity. So that the buyer is not confused by the large number of guys, the manufacturer has provided for the numbering of tubes of the drug. Thus, the number 7 means suitability for garden plants. There are also varieties of agrocol “Fantasia”, which were developed specifically for flowers.
Introduced in the spring fertilizer: the process of action
To achieve a persistent positive result, it is important not only to choose the right fertilizer for flowers, but also to apply it competently. The general scheme of action has the following points:
Before adding fertilizer, the soil must be cleaned of weeds, spruce and watering.
Mineral fertilizers in the form of granules and powder are to be diluted in water to obtain a ready solution. Organic mixtures are also diluted with water;
Important: Fertilizing is recommended on a cloudy day, preferably in the afternoon, as the sun’s rays can fade the ground. Rainy weather is not a reason to stop feeding.
How often should I fertilize flowers in the spring?
The frequency of feeding depends on both the growth phases of the flower and the length of its life cycle.
For perennial plants, three spring feedings are necessary. Roses, crocuses, tulips and hyacinths need nutrients first. Action can be taken as soon as the snow cover has completely melted. A second feeding is recommended during the flowering season. This time is usually between May and June. The third time is carried out after flowering. It is important not to miss the third feeding, as it becomes the key to the success of flowering plants.
The feeding scheme for annuals differs depending on the time of their life cycle. For annual flowers, there is a two-fold application of nutrient mixtures. The first one is made fourteen days later from the planting date on the selected growth area. Repeated feeding is carried out as soon as the plant begins to bloom.
