Best Fertilizers for Houseplants and Garden Plants

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Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food — Photo: Courtesy of Home Depot

Sun, water, and tender love and care—this trifecta is considered necessary for healthy plants, whether they reside indoors or out. It's a good idea to also tack nourishment onto that list; feeding your houseplants or garden varieties at the appropriate time is integral to their continuous growth. Choosing the correct plant food is key. Curious about which fertilizer varieties add the most nutrients, micronutrients, and more to plants' soil? Read on for the brands that get the job done. Your plants will happier after each treatment, guaranteed.

Top Picks

All-Purpose Indoor and Outdoor Plant Fertilizer: Miracle-Gro All Purpose Food
Smart-Release Plant Fertilizer: Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food
Acidic Soil Plant Fertilizer: Espoma Organic Holly Tone Fertilizer
Organic Plant Fertilizer: Jobe's Organics All-Purpose Fertilizer Spikes
Container Plant Fertilizer: Osmocote "PotShots" Plant Food

All-Purpose

during the growing season

This water-soluble plant food is an all-purpose variety that will boost your plants' soil with all the nutrients it needs during the growing season. Add it to a watering can every one or two weeks to give your blooms a boost. It's safe for flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and houseplants.

Shop Now: Miracle-Gro All Purpose Food, $9.48, walmart.com.

Smart Release

your plants and veggies

This formula—designed for your plants and veggies—promotes top growth and root development. It's best utilized on perennials in and around your garden. One application can feed plants for up to four months.

Shop Now: Osmocote Smart-Release Plant Food, from $7.59, amazon.com.

Acidic Environment

Espoma Organic Holly Tone Fertilizer — Courtesy of Home Depot

acidic soil environment

Plants like hollies, azaleas, and dogwoods prefer an acidic soil environment, which is what this fertilizer creates. The slow-release option is organic and promises better blooms and leaves when applied twice yearly to your camellias, rhododendron, evergreens, and more.

Shop Now: Espoma Organic Holly Tone Fertilizer, $21.98, homedepot.com.

Biozomes

Jobe's Organics All-Purpose Fertilizer Spikes — Courtesy of Amazon

pre-measured fertilizer

Here's an organic all-purpose option; the spikes consist of pre-measured fertilizer and promise perfect delivery every time (and you won't have to worry about runoff). The format is ideal for every plant variety, since the biozomes are implanted towards the roots of your botanicals.

Shop Now: Jobe's Organics All-Purpose Fertilizer Spikes, $10.99, amazon.com.

Succulents

For succulents

For succulents, a slow-release formula works best. Enter Miracle-Gro's iteration, specially designed for cacti, jade, and other common succulents. Apply it every two weeks for the best results.

Shop Now: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food, $4.98, homedepot.com.

Houseplant Shaker

Joyful Dirt Houseplant Food — Courtesy of Joyful Dirt

houseplants look larger

If you're looking for a fast, easy way to give your houseplants a boost, look no further than this three-ounce organic plant food shaker, which contains the equivalent of three gallons of liquid plant food—and will make your houseplants look larger and more vibrant.

Shop Now: Joyful Dirt Houseplant Food, $14.95, joyfuldirt.com.

Container Plants

Osmocote PotShots Plant Food — Courtesy of Amazon

Container plants

Container plants have specific needs on the fertilizer front, which is why Osmocote created these nuggets for potted plants. Each pod contains enough nutrients to give your plants a boost for six months. The all-purpose formula means that it works across a variety of plants—just adjust the number of nuggets you use based on the size of your containers.

Shop Now: Osmocote "PotShots" Plant Food, $14.99, amazon.com.

Organic Granules

This quick releasing fertilizer gets nutrients to your plants fast, and then continues to feed them for months after each application. The formula provides both your indoor and garden plants with nutrients, micronutrients, and multi-minerals.

Shop Now: Dr. Earth Premium Gold All Purpose Granules, $11.99, acehardware.com.

Spikes

Treat your flowering and foliage-heavy indoor plants to an added boost of nutrients with these targeted, easy-to-use spikes from Miracle-Gro. The continuous feeding spikes provide micronutrients for two months after each application.

Shop Now: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Spikes, $2.78, amazon.com.

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