Having plants in your home and garden adds a touch of charm and beauty that isn’t available with other types of décor. Part of the appeal of flowers or other plants is the vibrant colors and differences that come from a living object. However, keeping your living plants thriving can be hard. Just like humans, plants need the right food and nutrition to be as healthy and happy as possible.
Read on to learn about what plants like to eat and how to make your own plant food. For all of your plant food questions, stop by your local florist in San Francisco, CA!
What’s in Plant Food?
Your flowers and other plants need the right combination of nutrients in order to survive and thrive. The most important nutritional elements for plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Each element provides different nutritional values for your plants. For example, potassium helps plants increase the strength of their stems. Nitrogen helps make plant leaves bright and green, and phosphorus helps plants grow new roots, flowers and seeds.
If you buy plant food or fertilizer at the store, you will see a designation on the bag that says “NPK.” This refers to the level of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in that particular bag of fertilizer. You can use those numbers to help determine what type of plant food would be best for your plants, depending on what element they need the most. A plant with low nitrogen levels, for example, will have yellowing leaves and stunted growth.
How to Make Homemade Plant Food
You can buy plant food from your florist in San Francisco, CA that is pre-mixed and ready to be added to your plant’s soil. As long as you know what your plant is missing, most of the store-bought options will work well for various types of plants. However, if you are feeling like mixing up your own plant food, try out this homemade plant food recipe.
Using an old plastic milk jug, mix the ingredients together and then let them sit for about a half hour. This waiting period allows the solid components of the plant food to dissolve into the water:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon Epsom salts
- ½ teaspoon ammonia
- 1 gallon of water
Take care when handling the ammonia and only mix the plant food in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors. Be sure to label your plant food and keep it stored out of reach of children or pets. You can apply your plant food to the soil about once a month. As your plants react, adjust how often or how much plant food you apply.
Due to the presence of ammonia, it’s recommended that this homemade plant food only be used for outdoor plants or for indoor plants in well-ventilated areas.
Your Local Florist in San Francisco, CA
Want to learn more about proper nutrition for your flowers or other plants? Visit the plant experts at The Delicate Daisy – House of Flowers today. We’d be happy to help you find the right plants for your home, as well as the right products and strategies to help them grow and thrive!