Why it’s important to feed your plants

A guide to feeding your plants

Many people think that by putting their plants in a container filled with compost or a garden border and then making sure they are watered is all that’s needed to keep a plant healthy. To start with yes, that is the right thing to do, but as the growing season progresses and plants start blooming and fruiting then they will also need supplementary feeding.

Author

Kate Turner

Horticulturalist

Plants don’t just get thirsty, they get hungry, especially those planted in containers and baskets – even if a really good compost has been used that contains a feed, as after a while all those nutrients get used up and the plant will then depend on you to provide more.

Why feed plants?

Just as humans need food to survive, plants also need feeding and like us the correct nutrients will help plants not just survive but thrive.

Essentially, plants need 3 main nutrients:

Nitrogen (N) – for shoots
Phosphorous(P) – for roots
Potassium (K) – for fruits

These 3 key nutrients help support the major development of all plants including glossy green leaves, strong roots and stems, fruit and flower production and resistance to disease.

There are other vital nutrients that plants need that are generally supplied in smaller quantities including magnesium, manganese, iron and zinc.

When should I feed my plants?

If you are using a good quality compost that contains feed then you will need to see how long the bag states the feed lasts for. Compost feed levels can vary between 6-8 weeks up to 3 months so always check the pack.

Don’t always rely on the bag though as some conditions mean nutrients can be used up more quickly such as very wet weather, very hungry plants such as courgettes and roses as well as if the bag has been stored for a long time before use.

Plants grown in peat free compost can use up the nutrients slightly more quickly so always keep an eye out on your plants and if you see any signs of yellowing leaves, slow growth or heavy flowering and fruiting then start feeding straight away.

For plants growing in borders or beds then feeding in early spring and then autumn for winter flowering plants is a must and it’s also a great idea to apply a mulch on top of the soil at these times of year too.

Summer is a vital time to start supplementary feeding your plants as usually it’s when they are working their hardest, can be stressed due to weather conditions such as drought and will most likely have used up the nutrients in the soil or compost.

Autumn is a time when many plants are still flowering and fruiting so keep up with the feeding whilst the plant is still producing.

Using continuous release plant food in a flower pot

What type of feed should I use?

If growing in pots, baskets and containers then it’s a great idea to use a concentrated liquid plant food such as Miracle-Gro^® All Purpose Concentrated Liquid Plant Food. Simply add to your watering can, following the instructions on the bottle and pour on to the base of the plant. Using this weekly during the summer months will give your plants the boost they need as being in a liquid form it means the plant can take up the nutrients really quickly and you will see the benefits within 7 days.

If it’s a wet summer then you can use a granular fertiliser such as Miracle-Gro^® Performance Organics^™ All Purpose Organic Granular Plant Food. Sprinkle every 10-14 days around the base and either water in or let the rain do it for you. This will take slightly longer to work but it will provide the nutrients your plants need in a steady supply.

If you prefer to feed less often then adding a controlled release fertiliser at planting time or early spring for established plants is a great idea as this feed has a coating that controls and regulates the release of nutrients, only releasing them when conditions are right for plant growth and when the plants need them. This release ensures steady, even growth and is a good way of feeding plants in borders when during the summer it may be difficult to easily get to the plants. Miracle-Gro^® Premium All Purpose Continuous Release Plant Food is perfect for this type of feeding.

Miracle-Gro^® All Purpose Concentrated Liquid Plant Food

Feeding your plants is not just about providing the essential nutrients though. By using a good quality feed your plants will be bigger, healthier more bountiful and will give you pleasure for longer.