When fertilizing your house plants, less is more. Dumping the prescribed amount manufacturers request is nothing more than a waste of fertilizer. Why?.. Well, a plant can only take so much fertilizer before it starts to surrender to the ill effects. Most indoor plants on average do not receive in totality an adequate amount of light and humidity to synthesize the fertilizer. Therefore, all you get is a build-up mixed, unused potting soil. Now, if you are certain your plant(s) live in an optimal environment, never apply more than half of the prescribed amount. If your indoor plants have less than a healthy look, fertilizer will not have the desired effect until the plants health has returned and is able to properly absorb the nutrient.

Not all plants are created equal. Some plants like fruit and flowers plants need more humidity, light, and water. So due to an increase in the essentials to grow, so does the demand in fertilizer. However, moderation, again is key. There is a limit: Remember it's always better to error with less, then more. You can always add more if need be, but over fertilization will poison your plant.

So when is the best time to fertilize your plants? Well, if you have just purchased a plant, I would wait a month. Most plants already come with a mixture of fertilizer. The best time to fertilize is during a plants most active growing phase which is from spring through summertime. As the weather gets cooler, so should the amount of fertilizer you use. In fact, during the winter months, no fertilizer is required if your plants are dormant.

I hope that the next time you feel the need to fertilize your indoor plant(s), that you remember that less is more. And the more you know, the better off your plants will be.