What to do if your plant hasn’t had enough fertilizer
Want to learn more about Diagnosis: Under fertilized
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Why is this happening?
If your plant is in ideal growing conditions but has stunted or weak growth, it might be underfertilized. If you don't fertilize your houseplants for an extended period, they may start to show signs of nutrient deficiencies in the foliage. While overfertilizing do more harm than underfertilizing, regular and even additions are best for the plant in the long run.
Symptoms
Slow and/or stunted growth
Leaves may turn pale or unevenly pale
Regularly flowering plants stop flowering even when given good light and watering
What to do now
Use a liquid fertilizer as Planta recommends
Don't give it extra fertilizer to compensate, this can severely harm the plant
In the future, make sure to follow the schedule, which will calculate the best possible fertilizing routine for each of your plants to ensure that they receive just the right amount of nutrients
Common questions
How do I know which fertilizer I should use?
When fertilizing, you should make sure you are using a product that is suitable for your plant - this can vary from plant to plant. You can find more info on what type to use on the Info tab on your Plant’s profile page.
What is N-P-K ratio?
When choosing fertilizer the most important thing to keep in mind is the N-P-K ratio (Nitrogen- Phosphorus - Potassium) as these are the key nutrients that your plant needs. Some fertilizers also contain additional micronutrients - these are called ‘complete’ fertilizers. If your fertilizer does not contain any micronutrients you can supplement with another fertilizer and alternate fertilizers every other time.
How much fertilizer should I use?
Make sure to only use the recommended amount of fertilizer - which will be specified in the instructions on the package. Applying too much fertilizer can be harmful to your plant. For this same reason, it’s important to dilute your liquid fertilizer in water and apply it as you water - never apply liquid fertilizer directly to your plant! This is far too strong and can cause real damage. On days where your plant requires fertilizer, the fertilizing and watering tasks will be combined in order to avoid overwatering.