How to Feed Plants Different Water Solutions

Overview

Container grown plants, whether in a vegetable garden or indoor houseplants, require proper fertilization to survive. The soil in pots quickly drains away any fertilizer in it due to the constant watering required. Feeding plants water solutions that include the proper nutrients keeps them healthy and helps them produce fruit, foliage or flowers abundantly. Whether the plant is an edible or an ornamental will determine the best way to water with nutrients.

Step 1

Dissolve 2 cups of complete fertilizer in 1 gallon of warm water for vegetables. Use 2 cups of nitrogen rich fertilizer for ornamental foliage plants or phosphorous rich fertilizer for ornamental flowering plants.

Step 2

Mix 2 tablespoons of the fertilizer solution with 1 gallon of water in a watering can. Water vegetable and outdoor plants with this dilute solution once daily and houseplants once weekly.

Step 3

Water all containers from the top once weekly with plain water to wash out excess fertilizer salts. Water until it drips out the bottom drainage holes.

Step 4

Use distilled water once weekly if excessive fertilizer salts are accumulating on top the soil. This is visible by a white substance on the soil.