Go from plant newbie to plant pro by giving your succulents an extra power-up!
One of the best ways to give your succulents a boost is by using a little natural fertilizer. We chatted with our Chief Farmer at the Succulent Studios Nursery and got his top tips for keeping your succulent babies happy, healthy, and growing strong!
Why fertilize?
A little bit of fertilizer can go a long way in helping your succulents to grow and stay bug-free. Mealybugs are a common nuisance that can interfere with the health of your baby succulents, and fertilizer helps prevent and get rid of ’em! Fertilizer for the win! 💪
When should I fertilize?
Succulents don’t need frequent fertilization. In fact, twice a year—once in fall and once in spring–will do the trick. A great time to use granular fertilizer is when you’re repotting your succulent. Just be careful that your succulents have spent at least a few weeks in their original pots before repotting them in cactus soil so they’ve had enough time to settle in and acclimate to their new home. Repotting them too soon can lead to weakness and damage, like root breakage. If you’re not ready to repot your succulent but ARE ready to fertilize them, get a liquid fertilizer or compost tea to mix in with water.
SOIL PRO TIP: Although not a fertilizer, perlite is an important ingredient to add to your soil. It promotes aeration, keeping soil well-draining and loose.
How to fertilize:
Granular Fertilizer: Mix the granulated fertilizer into your cactus soil if you are repotting your succulents. This time-release granular fertilizer is great.
Liquid Fertilizer: Add liquid fertilizer to your watering can if you’re not ready to repot your succulents but still want them to get a little boost! This Indoor Plant Food by Houseplant Resource Center is perfect and also works well to fend off bugs and dark spots.
Compost Tea: Giving your succulents a compost tea is a truly down-to-earth way to fertilize them (as long as you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty.)
PRO TIP: Whichever method you choose, be sure to only use 50% of the recommended dose of fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can harm your succulents, so a little goes a long way!
As always, tag us @sucstu with all your repotting masterpieces and shoot us an email at hello@succulent.studio if you have questions!
