How to Fertilize Outdoor Plants

Fertilizing established plants in pots or containers outside keeps plants healthy and promotes lush growth. Because nutrients leach from the soil through the bottom of the pot with repeated watering, container-grown plants require more frequent fertilizer than their counterparts grown directly in the soil. Many gardeners prefer to use a liquid foliar feeder to keep outdoor plants healthy. The key to success is choosing the appropriate formula and following the recommended application rate.

Visit your local garden supply center or hardware store to purchase foliar feeder for your plants. Read the label carefully to determine the correct formula for your specific plants. Foliar feeder is typically sold as a granular fertilizer designed to mix with water, but it may be available as a concentrated liquid.

Look for fertilizer formulas designed for blooming plants if your primary plants are flowers. Purchase a general formula for vegetables if you have a selection of vegetable plants. Buy a specific formula designed for one type of vegetable, like tomato food, if you are only growing one kind of vegetable.

Mix the foliar feeder granules (or liquid) with water in a bucket or watering can, following the recommended strength. Stir to dissolve. You can also use a feed sprayer that attaches to your hose. Follow the directions with the sprayer to fill the reservoir with the proper amount of fertilizer formula. Attach the feed sprayer to the hose as instructed by the manufacturer.

Fertilize plants with foliar feeder by sprinkling, or spraying, the solution onto the foliage, allowing the excess to drain into the soil beneath the plant. Foliar feeder penetrates the leaves, giving plants an instant burst of nutrients. Solution that drains into the soil provides nutrients for the roots.

Apply foliar feeder following the recommendations on the package. Typically, it is applied every 10 to 14 days during periods of active growth. Some prefer to mix fertilizer to 1/2 strength and apply with each watering.