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Most plants grow larger and fuller, have better color, and produce more flowers when they are well fed. Well-fed plants always reflect well on the gardener, because they look healthy and robust.
Many sources of gardening advice admonish that one must ‘feed the soil, not the plant.’ And this is generally true for trees, shrubs, and perennials. Anything planted directly into the ground performs better in fertile, well prepared soil. Compost is the most important thing to dig into a bed or planting hole to enrich the soil. Adding an organic mulch, which attracts earthworms, further enriches and improves the soil. The more worms, the better the soil. Additional fertilizer rarely is needed once one ‘gets the soil right.’ That said, heavy bloomers benefit from an annual application of an organic fertilizer such as Espoma’s Rose Tone.
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However, most potting soils are basically sterile mixes of coir or peat, perlite and/or vermiculite. There isn’t enough nutrition to support healthy plant growth. Some potting soils come fortified with worm castings or pelletized fertilizer and advertise that they will feed a plant for several months. Some gardeners recommend mixing a little compost into the pot; but this is generally not enough to encourage lush growth.
To support vibrant growth coming from a relatively small pot, there needs to be a lot of minerals available for those crowded roots to absorb. When preparing a pot for a fresh planting, I thoroughly mix some balanced organic fertilizer, like Espoma’s Plant Tone, into the potting soil before adding any plants. This feeds the plants long-term, but is released very slowly. It also includes helpful strains of microorganisms to help plants use the minerals. After adding the plants, I sprinkle the smoothed soil with a timed-release pelletized fertilizer like Osmocote, which also includes important trace minerals. Some soil mixes already have the Osmocote mixed in. This is a timed release fertilizer which is activated whenever the pot is watered.
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Finally, I’ll mix some very quick release Neptune’s Harvest in a watering can to water the plants into the soil. This is a foliar feed, easily absorbed, and offers some protection while the plants establish. It truly does ‘feed the soil,’ and improves soil texture and its ability to retain water. It is also a good ‘pick me up’ if a plant ever starts to look a little dull. Now, you might think that feeding a potted plant so much fertilizer might burn or kill it. I’ve never had any problem, probably because these are organic products and have relatively low nitrogen. The plants begin growing quickly, have good leaf color and produce sturdy new growth.
Why it works: Although plants make their own ‘food/fuel’ from water, oxygen and sunlight, they need nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous for healthy growth. Lacking any of these, the plant will be stunted and sickly. In addition, plants also benefit from a variety of trace minerals like copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. These can be absorbed from many garden soils, but are lacking in potting soil. Access to these important minerals is essential to productive plant growth. Think of a plant as a living chemistry lab. Many elements are needed to keep the bio-chemistry of life fueled.
Woodland Gnome’s Caveat: My guilty secret for abundant flowers, especially on indoor plants during winter, is water soluble Miracle Grow Orchid Food. This is not an organic product, but a tiny bit mixed into the usual water, every month or so, produces fabulous results! Our ‘Christmas’ Cactus, Schlumbergera, bloomed non-stop from November through May with monthly feeding.
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“Green Thumb” Tips: Many of you who visit Forest Garden are amazing gardeners with years of experience to share. Others are just getting started, and are looking for a few ‘tips and tricks’ to help you grow the garden of your dreams.
I believe the only difference between a “Green Thumb” and a “Brown Thumb” is a little bit of know-how and a lot of passion for our plants. If you feel inclined to share a little bit of what YOU KNOW from your years of gardening experience, please create a new post titled: “Green Thumb” Tip: (topic) and include a link back to this page. I will update this page with a clear link back to your post in a listing by topic, so others can find your post, and will include the link in all future “Green Thumb” Tip posts.
Let’s work together to build an online resource of helpful tips for all of those who are passionate about plants, and who would like to learn more about how to grow them well.
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‘Green Thumb’ Tip: Release Those Pot Bound Roots! by J. Peggy Taylor
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #1: Pinch!
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #3: Deadhead!
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #4 Get the Light Right!
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #5: Keep Planting!
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #6: Size Matters!
‘Green Thumb’ Tip # 7: Experiment!
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #8 Observe
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #9 Plan Ahead
‘Green Thumb’ Tip #10: Understand the Rhythm
Forest Garden 
This is a great idea to share all your hard-earned knowledge! I still refer to your deer plant list. 🙂
So Eliza, will you post a ‘green thumb’ tip and share some of YOUR hard earned knowledge with the rest of us? You are one of the ‘Amazing gardeners’ I’m hoping will join in ❤ ❤ ❤
Thanks for the praise. 🙂 I have the experience, but do I have the time is more the question! I feel I am SO behind on my Reader, barely able to post and respond, because of gardening taking so much time. But I will put my thinking cap on. Any subject in particular you think might be good?
I have always admired how you start so much of your garden from seeds. But I would also enjoy a post about how you handle cuttings and how you extend your growing season . Maybe you have another topic in mind ? This is certainly the time for gardening , but many days it’s too hot here to work outside in the afternoon . … leaving some time to write 😊
Funny you should mention that. I was thinking about how I utilize self-sowing annuals a lot. Unfortunately, I’ve already thinned them, so there is no messy ‘before’ shots.
That’s OK…. I am sure we’ll get the idea . Self sown annuals are such fun , like little presents .
Oh, I like that – they are like little presents!
I appreciate your tips, WG, since I’m still learning as I go. Thank you. 🙂
Aren’t we all? I’m hoping you’ll post a tip or two, too, Robin ❤ ❤ ❤
I’m still pretty new at this, WG, and flying by the seat of my gardening pants, so to speak. lol! But if I come up with a good tip, I’ll be sure to join in. 🙂
Well Robin, you sure don’t give the impression of a neophyte! It is the love for the plants and creatures which shines through ❤ I hope you will come up with a good tip to share…. perhaps if we were having a chat over coffee ? 😉
Awwww. Thanks. 😀 Maybe “new” isn’t quite right, but this is only my fourth year gardening with the exception of the asparagus bed I planted in Ohio years ago. That required almost no care once it was established so I don’t count it as major gardening experience.
Well, you have had an Herculean task at your present site. Maybe a tip on editing and cleaning out the extraneous to find the ‘hidden gems’ beneath?