How To Save An Over-Fertilized Houseplant

Everyone knows that fertilizer encourages healthy growth and flowering of plants. However, too much fertilizer will definitely lead to problems. Since there is no general rule for fertilizing houseplants, because they have different needs, it’s good to be familiar with some basic rules about houseplant fertilizer.

  • all houseplants require fertilizer that contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)
  • using houseplant fertilizer in liquid form usually makes this task easier when watering plants
  • to prevent over fertilization, it’s usually better to cut the recommended dosage on the label

However, if your plants become over-fertilized, don’t worry! Most over-fertilized plants can be saved with some basic rules. Read Here About The Signs Of Over-fertilized Houseplants

Revive An Over-fertilized Plant

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Remove any visible fertilizer

1. If there is any visible fertilized on topsoil, you can remove it to prevent further overfertilization.
2. If salt fertilizers have formed a crust on the surface you also have to remove it.
Tip: when scooping the fertilizer, be careful not to damage or stress the plant.

Leach the soil with water

1. This procedure will move the fertilizer further away from the plant’s root system, helping to prevent additional overfertilization and permitting the plant’s roots healing.
Tip: it’s better to use distilled water to leach nutrient from soil.

Allow the water to drain away

1. Fill the pot with water and allow it to drain out the bottom.
2. Repeat this step four times in order to make sure all the fertilizer is washed, or leached, away from the plant’s roots.

Remove damaged foliage

1. Using a pair of scissors, cut off damaged, misshapen, or wilting leaves.
2. Even though you can rescue an overfed plant, the damaged leaves cannot be revived.
3. Removing them is important to ensuring the plant’s future health, and if they are permitted to remain, your plant may become a victim of pests or diseases.

Replant if possible

1. If the plant was severely overfed, transferring it to new, fresh soil after the leaching process is complete will provide your plant and its roots an opportunity to heal.
Tip: if your plant is too large to move or you don’t have any available space left, add new soil to pot instead

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