1 week Ago By Millie Bull
After months of dormancy, houseplant owners may notice their plants beginning to perk up and start growing again. When houseplants wake up, it's important to restart their care routine, which includes regular watering, repotting, pruning and repositioning. Another important task gardeners need to do once their houseplants wake up is feed them to help them thrive and produce healthy new growth.
With this in mind, gardening expert Liam Cleary at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre , an award-winning garden centre, has shared how to ensure your houseplants "bounce back for spring". Mr Cleary suggested feeding plants with fertiliser every two to four weeks to give them a "nutrient boost". If you don't have a shop-bought fertiliser, the expert suggested using coffee grounds instead.
He explained: "Houseplants need a nutrient boost after their winter dormancy. Feeding them with fertiliser every two to four weeks, along with slightly increasing watering, will help them bounce back for the spring. Just be careful not to overfeed, as this can lead to leggy, weak growth.
"You can use homemade fertilisers like used coffee grounds or compost, or opt for a pre-bought fertiliser. In that case, go for a liquid fertiliser rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to ensure your plants get the balanced nutrients they need to thrive." Coffee grounds are high in nitrogen but also contain potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals.
Coffee grounds are also a slow-release fertiliser, which means plants won't need to be fed that often. Firstly, mix the coffee grounds into some compost. Just sprinkling on the coffee grounds can create a barrier which can stop water and other nutrients reaching the plant.
Once well incorporated, simply mix it into the plant's compost or sprinkle the coffee ground and compost mix onto the houseplant's soil. Keira Kay, a plant expert from Bloom & Wild, said spring is when houseplants begin to grow, which is why they need to be fed. The gardening expert explained: “The compost your plants are potted in will only provide the essential nutrients they need to thrive for so long so throughout spring I recommend using organic fertiliser on your house plants at least once a month.
" In addition to fertilising houseplants, it's important that plant owners adjust their watering routines in the spring. Ms Kay explained: "The amount you water your plants will need to change as temperatures rise. Check your soil at least once or twice a week.
"By testing the soil, you can avoid overwatering your plants – stick your finger around two inches deep. "If you feel no moisture, your plants need water. Be delicate when performing this test, as you don't want to damage any of your plant's roots.
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