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Free Printable Plant Fertilizer Schedule (PDF)
| Plant | Fertilizer / strength | Feed every | Last fed | Next due | Pause from | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The seasonal pattern most houseplants follow
Houseplants feed when they grow, and most grow with the light. The usual pattern indoors in the northern hemisphere is to begin feeding when new leaves appear in early spring, feed at a steady interval through summer, taper in early autumn, and stop by late autumn. Plants under strong grow lights may keep growing — and keep needing food — all year.
Dilution matters more than brand. A balanced liquid fertilizer at half the label strength is a safe default for most tropical foliage; a quarter strength suits ferns, calathea, and anything with sensitive roots. Salt buildup from feeding too strong shows up as white crust on the soil and brown leaf edges. If you see either, flush the pot with plenty of plain water and skip the next feeding.
- Feed moist soil, never bone-dry soil — water first, then fertilize an hour or a day later.
- Freshly repotted plants usually need no fertilizer for a month or two; fresh mix carries nutrients.
- Slow-release granules replace liquid feeding for the period on the label; do not stack both.
Feeding guide by plant group
Starting points for the Fertilizer and Feed every columns. Always follow the label on the product you use, and lean toward less.
| Plant group | Typical fertilizer | Growing-season interval | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical foliage (pothos, monstera, philodendron, dracaena) | Balanced liquid, half strength | Every 2–4 weeks | Pause, or monthly under grow lights |
| Succulents & cacti | Low-nitrogen or cactus fertilizer, quarter to half strength | 2–3 times per season | None |
| Flowering (peace lily, anthurium, African violet) | Balanced or bloom formula, half strength | Every 2–4 weeks while growing | Pause unless in bud |
| Orchids (phalaenopsis) | Orchid fertilizer, 'weakly, weekly' — quarter strength | Every 1–2 weeks, flush monthly | Reduce |
| Ferns & calathea | Balanced liquid, quarter strength | Monthly | Pause |
| Citrus & fruiting plants indoors | Citrus or high-nitrogen formula per label | Every 2–4 weeks | Reduce |
Ranges are deliberately wide: pot size, light, and how often you water all change how much food a plant can use.
How to use this sheet
- Print the PDF and keep it with your fertilizer so the bottle and the schedule live together.
- List each plant with the fertilizer you use and the dilution — '½ strength balanced liquid' is enough detail.
- Fill in Feed every from the guide table, then write the date each time you feed and add the interval for Next due.
- In the Pause from column, write the month you plan to stop (usually October or November) and start again when spring growth shows.
- If a plant develops brown tips or white crust on the soil, note it, flush the pot, and lengthen the interval.
Questions
Is this sheet really free?
Yes. The PDF is free to download and print — no sign-up, no email, no watermark.
How often should I fertilize houseplants?
For most tropical foliage, every two to four weeks at half strength during spring and summer, and not at all in winter. Succulents and cacti need only a few feedings a year. The guide table above gives a starting point by plant group.
What do the three numbers on fertilizer mean?
N-P-K: the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. A 'balanced' fertilizer has roughly equal numbers (10-10-10, 20-20-20) and suits most houseplants. Bloom formulas raise the middle number; cactus formulas lower the first.
Can too much fertilizer hurt a plant?
Yes — it is a more common problem indoors than too little. Signs include brown leaf tips and edges, white crust on the soil, and wilting even when the soil is moist. Flush with plain water and feed less often.
Is there an app version?
Yes — PlantLog for iPhone tracks watering, fertilizing, and repotting per plant with reminders, so the schedule maintains itself. Core is free, no account needed, and your data stays on your device.
Want the log to analyze itself?
PlantLog for iPhone tracks the same things in seconds and shows you the patterns — free core, no account, and everything stays on your device.