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Homemade Plant Food

Description: Readers' tips for making homemade plant food for your indoor plants.

Q: Does anyone have any ideas on making plant food from ordinary household products? I've used a popular commercial product, but don't think it's that great.

Tip #1: I have always heard giving your plants cold coffee will perk them up...it really helps my Ivies...I am not sure if that is what you are looking for but I hope it helps.

Tip #2: A very good plant food that I have done many times is to take my eggshells after baking and placing them in a glass jar covered with water. I don't put the lid on tight. I let it sit for about a month and all the while I add other egg shells. This solution really stinks so make sure it doesn't spill or isn't available for kids or pets to drink (not that I think they would because of the smell). It can continue to be refreshed (oxymoron) by adding more water and eggshells at any time. I dilute it (1 Cup solution to 1 Gallon plain water) and water all plants and my garden. Works fantastic and is super cheap.

Tip #3: Coffee is good for acid-loving plants. I have always heard that Knox unflavored gelatin is really good for houseplants. Another thing that works really well is if you mix in finely crushed rinsed eggshells with your potting soil. The eggshells act much in the same way as bonemeal. Sometimes in the winter, I cut my plants back a little bit, try to keep them in filtered light, and rotate them whenever I think of it.

Tip #4: I mix up this and water my plants outdoors/indoors once a month...Caroylnn

1 tablespoon Epson Salts
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. household ammonia

Add to 1 gallon of water.

Tip #5: I know this works quite well...all my plants seem to do really well on it. If you have fish always save the water when you clean or change your tank. Water your plants with this. Great fertilizer!...Dawn

Tip #6: Have large bottle of filtered water which stands on far corner of kitchen counter. Have been told all my life that water kept at room temperature is most appropriate for plants. Sadly, tap water that is too warm or too cold can actually be a shock to plants and could harm them. Found the mention of rinsed egg shells quite interesting as a homemade fertilizer for plants. Thank you kindly for this article...Cecilia