Are you a Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) plant lover looking for organic ways to boost their growth and vibrancy? If so, you’re in the right place! We’ll show you all the DIY homemade fertilizers tailored explicitly for your plant, offering natural solutions for a greener, lusher indoor jungle.
Uncover the magic of these natural fertilizers, learn how to make them at home, and discover how they can transform your indoor plants into the thriving centerpiece of your living space.
Key Takeaways: Making Homemade Fertilizer For Pothos Diy Style
Make your own homemade fertilizer for pothos with eco-friendly and DIY options such as aquarium water, eggshell tea, and boiled vegetable water. These natural solutions provide essential nutrients for vibrant growth, but be careful not to over-fertilize.
Homemade Fertilizer Recipes For Pothos Plants
Now, let’s dive into DIY homemade fertilizer recipes for Pothos plants. With these eco-friendly ideas, your pothos will have bright, full leaves. In addition, you’ll help the earth and your plants by using everyday items found at home. So let’s learn these fun, green ways to care for your pothos and make a happy indoor garden.
Note: You only want to fertilize during the growing season in spring and summer. Avoid fertilizing during the winter months. Also, if you’re unsure how to use any of the fertilizers below, consult a plant professional before using them.
Aquarium Water Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
When cleaning your fish tank, save the old water. Let it sit for one hour so dirt sinks to the bottom. Then, gently pour the clear water from the top into a jug, not getting any dirt. Give this rich water to your Pothos plants every 1-2 weeks. Change how often you do this based on how your plant grows.
Why It Works
Aquarium water has phosphorus, ammonia, and key minerals ¹ that help your pothos grow fast and turn a deep green color. It also has tiny helpers that make the soil healthy and help plants take in more food.
Potato or Rice Cooking Water Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
After you boil potatoes or rice, keep the cooking water. Let the water cool, then use it to water your Pothos plants. Based on your plant needs, you can do this once every 2-4 weeks.
Why It Works
Potato and rice water have potassium, calcium, and other vital minerals ² which make is an excellent natural fertilizer. These minerals help restore the lost food in your pothos’ soil. If you use this water often, your plants will grow fast, be healthy, and have more leaves. It also helps roots grow and makes plants strong.
Eggshell Tea Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
Save the shells from 4-6 eggs, wash them well, and let them dry. Crush the shells into tiny bits and let them sit in a gallon of water for a day. Strain the water and use it on your houseplant once or twice a month. Change how often you do this based on the pot size and how fast your plant grows.
Why It Works
Eggshell tea has lots of calcium, which makes Pothos plants stronger. As a result, your plants will have more leaves and thicker stems and be healthier.
Worm Compost Tea Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
Put worm compost in a cloth or mesh bag and tie it closed. Put the bag in a bucket with 2 gallons of water. Let it sit overnight so the food mixes with the water. When the water is light brown, it’s ready to use! Give your pothos this rich tea every 3-4 weeks, based on your plants’ needs.
Why It Works
Worm compost tea is an earth-friendly, food-rich way to help your pothos have greener leaves and bigger stems and grow healthy. As a plus, worm castings also add tiny helpers to the soil, making it better and more able to grow plants.
Gelatin Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
Melt 1 cup of plain gelatin in a cup of hot water. Next, mix in 6-10 cups of cold water. When the mix is cool, put it on your Pothos plants’ soil once a month. To make this work even better, add cut-up banana peels.
Why It Works
Plain gelatin has nitrogen ³ , which helps your Pothos plants grow over time. Be patient, though, as seeing a significant change may take a few tries.
Leftover Black Coffee or Tea Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
Save used tea leaves or black coffee in a bowl and mix with water. Put this mix in an airtight jug and water your pothos once a month. Which will help make the leaves bright green.
You can also use used coffee grounds with pothos.
Why It Works
Leftover tea leaves or black coffee have nitrogen, which helps grow healthy leaves.
Green Tea Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
Soak 1 green tea bag in 1 gallon of water, then take out the tea bag. Use the green tea water on your Devil’s ivy plants every 3-4 weeks for the best results.
Why It Works
Green tea has calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, which all help pothos grow. It also adds food to the soil and helps roots get more air.
Boiled Vegetable Water Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
After boiling veggies, save the cooking water and let it cool. Use this food-rich water once every 7-10 days for the best results. You can also use pasta water in the same way.
Why It Works
Boiled veggie water contains vital minerals and vitamins that make pothos plants grow healthy and have many leaves.
Epsom Salt Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
Mix 1-2 tablespoons of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of water and fill a spray bottle. Spray it on your plant once or twice a month.
Why It Works
Epsom salt has magnesium and sulfur, which plants need to grow and make green food. Magnesium helps plants take in food and hold water, making your pothos plants greener and more full. Epsom salt also helps plants grow more leaves and prevents bugs and sickness.
Banana Peel Foliar Spray Fertilizer
Recipe and Use
Dry some banana peels for a few days. Grind them into a fine powder using a blender or coffee grinder. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of the banana peel powder with 1 gallon of water in a spray bottle. Spray this mix on your plants once a month.
Why It Works
Banana peels have a lot of potassium, which pothos need to grow healthy. Feeding them dried banana peel powder gives them the food they need, making your plants look bright and full of color.
Use these DIY homemade fertilizers for pothos plants to help them grow in a green, earth-friendly way. Your plants will love the natural, food-rich help, and you’ll make less trash using things you find at home.
Tips & Precautions For Using Pothos Fertilizer Diy
Use the Right Amount Of Fertilizers
Using the right amount of homemade fertilizers on your Pothos plants is essential. However, using too much or too little can cause problems. Follow the directions for each fertilizer recipe. Remember, your plants may need different amounts based on light, potting soil, temperature, and humidity.
Look For Signs Of Over-Fertilization
Even if you use the best fertilizer available, too much can hurt your plants. Watch for these signs:
- Leaves are turning yellow, brown, or looking burnt.
- Plants wilting, even with enough water.
- Lots of foliage is falling off.
- Plants are not growing well.
- Damaged or rotten roots (root rot could also be from lack of drainage holes).
If you see these signs, use less fertilizer or apply it less often.
Fix Nutrient Imbalances
If your pothos has nutrient problems, do these things:
- Look at the plant’s signs to determine which nutrient is causing trouble.
- Change the type or amount of fertilizer you use based on what you find.
- Rinse the soil with water to remove extra nutrients. Let the plant recover before using more fertilizer.
- Keep a close eye on your plants and change your fertilizer routine as needed.
Store and Handle Homemade Fertilizers Safely
To keep your homemade fertilizers working well and safe, follow these steps:
- Put fertilizers in airtight containers with labels that show what’s inside and when it was made.
- Keep fertilizers away from sunlight, heat, kids, and pets.
- Use clean containers and tools when creating and using homemade fertilizers to keep out harmful germs.
- Throw away any leftover or old homemade fertilizers the right way. Follow the rules in your area.
So, there you have it. These organic fertilizers will do the trick if you want to avoid traditional pothos fertilizer (liquid slow-release fertilizer with a balanced n-p-k ratio).
References
1: Important Water Quality Parameters in Aquaponics Systems | New Mexico State University – BE BOLD. Shape the Future. (n.d.). Important Water Quality Parameters in Aquaponics Systems | New Mexico State University – BE BOLD. Shape the Future. https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_circulars/CR680/
2: Essential Nutrients for Plant Growth: Nutrient Functions and Deficiency Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2023, from https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/pnm3.pdf
3: Unflavored gelatin makes for an excellent fertilizer. (2012, May 2). Cape Gazette. https://www.capegazette.com/node/26790
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.