Ohhhhh yeah. It's summer, and you're probably at home just checking out the new growth in your plants and thinking 'how can I get you to grow so big you become a threat?'
While people fertilise in winter and that is totally fine, roots are quite dormant in the cooler weather and they are just waiting for their time to SHINE!
In this bloggo, I am going to go over the products we personally use, as well as sell at TD2M. We have personally been using these products on our own plants, which is why we are so happy to represent them!
Like most watering techniques, the best time to water is when it is cool and relatively shady as to not burn the leaves. This of course, applies to both indoor and outdoor plants, but leans a little more toward the ones you keep outside. As the fertilisers we use are liquid - they aren't slow release but only a small amount is needed in a large amount of water. I am not going to list an pros and cons of these fertilisers, as I find they are really only pros!
-
The Plant Runner - Indoor Plant Food. This stuff is the bomb! It has a dropper in the bottle, so you can measure what you put in the water with ease. They also do large refill bottles now, so you don't have to keep purchasing small bottles if you are a serial fertilising fiend! Designed by 2 awesome horticultural nerds in our homeland of Melbourne, it is an outstanding product, just read the reviews for yourself. At $12 a bottle, you get 100l out of this little beauty!
How often to use: Feeding should be done fortnightly while your plants are actively growing - there is no way you can overdose on this product, but you also don't want to waste it, either.
How much to use: Each 1ml of Indoor Plant Food dropped into a litre of water and apply to plants as required. You can pop the dropper into your watering can, and use it on all plants.
-
The Plant Runner - Soil & Microbe Booster. This is a really new product by the Plant Runner legends, and it is a revolutionary one! Frass holds about 240 million microbial colony forming units per gram. It also holds up to 200 times more nutrients than worm castings or compost, with more diversity of microbes too. At $19 for a 500ml jar, how can you go wrong?
How often to use: Every 3 months, and you can combine it with fertiliser routines, too.
How much to use: Simply sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons around the base of the plant, near the root zone. Alternatively, you can mix it into your potting mix as well! You can mix it with the potting mix also made by these guys, or create your own. Add between 0.1 and 1 parts Soil and Microbe Booster to 10 parts potting mix. Make sure you give it a great toss before you plant it up!
-
We The Wild - Grow Plant Food & Tonic. Made by fellow Aussies, relatively new and Covid born into the market, we big love this product. The bottle are $14.95 and 150ml, which means you get 150L from one bottle! If you're just looking for a tester, you can find all 3 of their products in the Mini Essentials Kit for $14.95 as well. This product is a little different than other fertilisers, as it contains live microbes. This means it needs to remain stored in the bottle it comes in, and if it is mixed with water it needs to be used within 24 hours to get the benefits of these live organisms. It is made by worms (not from worms, the worms are happy!) and comes in a recyclable plastic bottle.
How often to use: You can't overdose your plants on this product and it is pet safe. It can also be used ALL year round! We have been using it every second week, but not for cuttings. (see 'Support Pellets" below) It dilutes clear and has no odour.
How much to use: Shake well and dilute 1 squirt (1-2ml) per litre of water. Don't squeeze too hard, or you'll have to dilute more. If you want a little kick with your fertiliser, combine 1/4 teaspoon of sugar for every 1-2ml of concentrate, then add water. BAM, watch them roots grow.
-
We The Wild - Support Pellets. Recently having had a packaging makeover, these are sick little pellets. We use these for root support, and for our cuttings. The dissolve into the water, and continue to nourish the roots of the plants. They now come in this nifty little resealable bag, making it very easy to scoop out what you need. $14.95 for months and months of root care? Yes, please!
How often to use: Whilst it takes 6-8 weeks to see the changes, this is slow release. You can use it every 2 months, watering with Grow Concentrate for best results. When using it to repot new plants, you can use it the same way.
How much to use: Mix 1-2 tbsp per plant into the topsoil. You can liberally mix into store bought or old soil, ensuring contact with roots.
These are our faves! We aren't bias, we love them both and would never get behind them if we didn't. I don't even remember what existed before these products existed. Support Aussie, pet safe and environmentally friendly and your plants will thank you for it.
Thanks for reading! Email us at hello@talkdirt2me.com.au or through the website if you have any questions or would like to chat.
K