Pothos is a low-maintenance houseplant that is known for its hardy nature. It requires minimal care and has a high tolerance for low light. Hence, we can see that pothos is a very adaptive plant. So, does pothos need fertilizers to help them grow well?
Do pothos need fertilizers?
Yes, pothos does need fertilizers to survive well. It is a fast-growing plant, and it needs regular fertilization to enable it to grow well. Fertilizing the plant helps it receive the essential nutrients that it requires to carry out the day-to-day life processes. It helps keep the plant healthy and enables it to resist pests and infections.
Different types of fertilizers suitable for Pothos
So, let us explore the different types of fertilizers and find which is ideally suited for your pothos –
- Coffee Grounds Compost
- Granular Fertilizer
- Liquid Fertilizer
- Slow-Release Fertilizer
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds are a very effective fertilizer as it helps in maintaining the pH balance of the soil due to their acidic character. It is also rich in essential nitrogen and helps to enrich the soil. Generally, coffee grounds are mixed with compost or liquid fertilizer to allow more comprehensive fertilization.
Compost
Compost is an excellent source of nutrients for plants due to the high content of organic compounds. However, the problem with compost is that the nutrient release is not balanced, and assimilation is slower than chemical fertilizers. It is generally used as an organic alternative to chemical fertilizers.
Granular Fertilizer
Granular fertilizer is a pellet-based fertilizer that is usually mixed with potting soil or directly added to the pot. While it is great for outdoor plants, it is not the best for your pothos. It tends to release all the nutrients in one go, which might lead to oversaturation of fertilizers and cause fertilization burns in your pothos.
So, it is best to avoid using this type of fertilizer in your pothos.
Liquid Fertilizer
Liquid fertilizer is the most popular type of fertilizer that is usually added to pothos plants. It is easy to use and handle. It comes in the form of liquid or powder concentrate that needs to be diluted by adding water as per the label directions. However, it is suggested to use a weak solution as concentrated solutions can lead to fertilization burns in your pothos.
Slow-Release Fertilizer
It is an indoor form of granular fertilizer that has a special coating on the pellets. This special coating releases a small number of nutrients each time the plant is watered. However, this type of fertilizer is not ideal as the concentrations of the nutrients cannot be controlled. Thus, such fertilizers should be avoided for your pothos.
Frequency of Application of Fertilizers on Pothos
Fertilizers should be applied every four to six weeks during the spring and summer when the plant is growing. However, avoid fertilizing your pothos during winters when it enters the dormant phase.
So, we can see that pothos does need fertilizers to help them grow well. Liquid fertilizers are the best suited for the ideal care for your pothos.
