Introduction
No matter how much love and water you provide your fern plants, they’re bound to hit a stump at one point or the other.
When that happens, you’ll need to give them a hand by using the best fertilizer for ferns. But finding the perfect match isn’t a simple task.
If that sounds like your woe, you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve done the job for you. From the depths of the fertilizer plant, we have extracted the top 5 fertilizers that you must have in your life.
As a cherry on the top, we’ve included a compact buying guide, to help you make your choice. So without further ado, let’s unwrap the present we have in store for you.
Comparison Table
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| RECOMMENDATION | Bloom City Professional Grade Cal-Mag Growing Fertilizer | Fertilizer: Type: Liquid Weight: 32 ounces | Check Price |
| EDITOR’S CHOICE | Jobe’s 05101 Fern & Palm Fertilizer Spikes | Fertilizer: Type: Spike Weight: 1.41 ounces | Check Price |
| PREMIUM CHOICE | EarthPods Premium Plant Food | Fertilizer Type: Capsule Weight: 2.6 ounces | Check Price |
| TOP PICK | Indoor Plant Food Fertilizer For Houseplants | Fertilizer Type: Liquid Weight: 10.4 ounces | Check Price |
| BUDGET PICK | Lilly Miller Planting And Growing Food | Fertilizer Type: Capsule Weight: 16 ounces | Check Price |
1. Bloom City Professional Grade Cal-Mag Growing Fertilizer
Product Overview
Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran in gardening, you should aim for providing the best for your plants.
That’s why we’ve started our list with the undefeatable king; the Cal-Mag fertilizer from Bloom City.
First of all, this fertilizer contains all the nutrients you could possibly think of. If you dig a little, you’ll find that it incorporates micronutrients more than any other fertilizer brand.
Not only is it a powerhouse of nutrients, but it also comes with a Biactivated formula, which helps the plant absorb these nutrients better.
The best part about this fertilizer is that it contains fulvic acid. In case you didn’t know, this is extremely beneficial for soil and the plant.
Despite the name, fulvic acid is non-toxic. It increases the plant’s oxygen intake capacity and also helps it intake nutrients. This results in bright green leaves, and stronger plants in general.
It also doesn’t contain any harmful toxins or chemicals or EDTA which could harm your plants. Instead, it uses a blend of organic components, so that you dilute some in the water you give the plants.
Hence, you can think of it more like a plant supplement rather than a chemical fertilizer.
With the regular use of the CalMag, you’ll have a lesser risk of facing any common growth deficiency. That’s because the plant is getting all that it needs.
2. Jobe’s 05101 Fern & Palm Fertilizer Spikes
Product Overview
A fertilizer list isn’t complete if there’s not a mention of some good old fertilizer spikes. If you’re not aware of what they are, we’re here to help.
Fertilizer spikes or sticks contain all the essential nutrients needed for your plant inside them. All you have to do is insert the spike in the soil near the root of the tree. Then, nutrients are easily absorbed.
So you can assume that they’re pretty easy to use, other than being quite efficient.
Another perk of using spikes over traditional liquid fertilizers is that you don’t have to worry about any fertilizer leak offs or waste. Although the spikes are compact in size, you don’t need a whole lot of fertilizer when there’s zero waste.
Since the Jobe’s fern spikes incorporate a slow-release system, all of the fertilizer isn’t soaked up in the soil at once. Thus the plant gets time to use all of the fertilizer.
Plus, each spike has a premeasured amount of fertilizer, all ready for you. Thus you don’t have to worry about anything at all!
3. EarthPods Premium Plant Food
Product Overview
Time for an interesting twist. Are you tired of fertilizing your plants the usual way? Then you could try using some EarthPods to spice things up.
Just like in a video game, you have to dig an EarthPod near your plant roots and then water the plant as usual. The EarthPod capsule will slowly break down and your plant will get all the essential nutrients that it needs.
Since this is super easy to use, it’s a great way to get your children involved in gardening. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about any mess, or fertilizer leak offs. But that’s not it.
Not only are the EarthPods convenient to use, but they also contain organic nutrients for your ferns. This promotes root growth, and you’ll also notice your fern leaves turning into a vibrant shade of green.
Another great point is that a pack comes with 100 EarthPods which is premeasured. That will last you for quite a while.
In fact, all the essential components required for plant growth are calculated and provided to you. Thus, there’s no measuring or fuss required.
Don’t be fooled by the small size of this packet. Not only is it compact and easy to store, but each capsule also is a concentrate of plant nutrients.
If you only use it on one specific fern plant, there’s enough product to last you for 5 years. Even if you use it on quite a few plants, you don’t have to fret about it running out in a few days.
4. Indoor Plant Food Fertilizer For Houseplants
Product Overview
In case you’re more of a traditional gardener, then you may gravitate towards liquid fertilizers, despite the new stuff on the market.
The indoor plant food from Houseplant Resource Center is one such fertilizer that simply delivers.
Often liquid fertilizers have a bad rep because of how difficult it is to use. Mixing all the necessary ingredients needed may become a huge hassle. But with the indoor plant food, you simply have to dilute one teaspoon into two cups of water and water your plant.
Moreover, this formula is a perfect blend of all the things that your plant needs.
With an NPK Ratio of 3-1-2, you know that you’re providing your fern tree with all the essential components it needs. After all. 3 parts nitrogen, 1 part phosphorous, and 2 parts potassium are perfect for fern trees.
Other than the usual, this fertilizer also contains a blend of nutrients and can be thought of as a plant multivitamin.
Another great feature that we liked, was that this product is free from any harsh chemicals. With an organic approach, this product is completely safe and natural.
That’s why you can incorporate some in each watering session without the risk of over fertilizing.
5. Lilly Miller Planting And Growing Food
Product Overview
The final product that we’re going to talk about is the Lilly Miller All Purpose Plant Food.
Although we’ve placed this last, it’s not a product that you can overlook. Usually, fertilizers are either fast action, or it takes quite a while to show results.
But with this fertilizer, you can get the best of both worlds. With a blend of natural ingredients and also classic fertilizing components, the plant will start looking better immediately.
On top of that, the slow release components will remain in the soil for up to 6 weeks! This has an NPK ratio of 10-10-10, implying an equal blend of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Thus, it can be used on a variety of plants and the plant roots will have no difficulty in absorbing what it needs. However, watch out for the fertilizer crusting at the top layer of the soil. This is a concern that stands true for most 10-10-10 fertilizers.
Another thing we liked was that there’s a lot of products in the packaging. It comes in 16 ounces packs, which contain enough fertilizer pellets to last you at least a year.
Using this fertilizer is pretty simple. You just have to mix a few pellets in the soil of your fern tree, and then water the plant regularly. However, don’t do this too often or less than 6 weeks apart.
Or else, you could face plant burns due to over fertilizing.
Buying Guide
With that, we concluded our top 5 picks for fern fertilizing. If you’re still a little confused as to which one is best for you, don’t beat yourself up.
To help you make your final decision, we’ve made a simple buying guide for you. So pick your priorities, and by the end of it, we’ll hopefully come to a conclusion.
Liquid, Capsule, or Spike?
With so many options to choose from, you may feel confused as to which type of fertilizer will best suit your concerns.
Although fertilizer spikes are an easy way to help your plants grow, they may not be ideal when you have a lot of plants to grow.
That’s because if you must use a bit of liquid fertilizer in an area, you’ll have to waste an entire spike to do the same job. Thus, it could become expensive.
Pellets or capsules are a no-fuss method, but they too require mixing at times.
Slow-release vs Regular?
Another doubt you have is whether you should go for a slow-release fertilizer that will gradually nourish your plants, or opt for a fast action plant.
This too depends on your circumstance.
If your plants are in need of an urgent hand, we suggest that you go for a fast action fertilizer. Since these contain nutrients that are easily absorbable, you’ll notice immediate results.
But if you’re looking for a gradual boost in your plant’s overall health, using a slow-release fertilizing system may be apt. That way, you can ensure that your plant gets all the nutrients, and there’s no fertilizer leak off.
FAQS
Question: How often do you fertilize ferns?
Answer: If you have fern plants outdoors, you can get away with fertilizing them every 4-6 months. However, indoor plants may require fertilizing every month during their growing season.
Question: What does Epsom salt do for ferns?
Answer: Epsom salts provide a boost of magnesium to fern plants, which promotes healthy growth. Thus Epsom salts can act like a liquid fertilizer which makes your fern leaves look healthy and green.
Question: Are blood and bone good for ferns?
Answer: Although ferns can be of different kinds, most tend to grow better when given a bone or blood meal. However, make sure that you don’t have any pets in your home. Or else, they could dig up the roots of the plant, where the bone meal is applied.
Bottom Line
Phew! That was a long ride.
However, we hope that you could come to a conclusion after skimming through our recommendations and guidelines.
If you have any other questions regarding the best fertilizer for ferns, don’t forget to let us know in the comments below.
Until then, stay happy and safe!
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