Okay, here’s my blog post about fertilizing houseplants in winter, written from my personal experience and in a casual, conversational tone:
So, it’s the middle of winter, and my houseplants were looking a little…blah. Not dead, just…not thriving. I’ve killed my fair share of plants in the past (RIP, my first succulent), so I was determined to do things right this time. I did some digging and figured I’d share my little experiment with fertilizing in the winter.
My Game Plan
First, I gathered my supplies. I already had some basic liquid houseplant fertilizer, but I wanted to try something a bit more gentle. So, I grabbed:
- My trusty liquid fertilizer (a balanced one, something like a 10-10-10)
- Some worm castings (because, why not? They’re like nature’s superfood!)
- A watering can
- Spray bottle.
I started by checking my plants for any signs of active growth. Were there any new leaves unfurling? Any buds starting to form? If the plant was totally dormant (like, zero new growth), I held off on fertilizing. My thinking was, “Why feed it if it’s not hungry?”
For the plants that did show some signs of life, I mixed up a VERY diluted solution of my liquid fertilizer. I’m talking like, half or even a quarter of the recommended strength. I figured it’s better to under-fertilize than to burn the roots with too much.
I watered my plants with the diluted solution, making sure to thoroughly soak the soil. I did not use a special routine, and keep the watering routine as my usual.
Then, I took a small handful of worm castings and sprinkled it around the base of each plant. I gently worked it into the top inch or so of soil. This felt like a little extra boost of slow-release goodness.
The Waiting Game (and the Results!)
I kept a close eye on my plants over the next few weeks. I didn’t want to overwater, so I stuck to my usual watering schedule (when the top inch of soil felt dry). And, I’m happy to report, they all respond so well!
The key, at least for me, was moderation. Diluted fertilizer, a light hand with the worm castings, and paying attention to what my plants were telling me. So, while I’m no plant pro, I do feel good that I found a good winter fertilizer routine.
