Houseplants, buying guide
The best plant food for houseplants.
What actually matters when you are choosing a feed, where a specialist one is worth it, and where Tend fits.
- FormLiquid or granules
- CheckThe label
- SpecialistsOrchids, cacti, flowering
Five things worth checking on a houseplant feed
Houseplants live in a small pot of compost, indoors, in less light. So the useful questions are simple.
- Made for houseplantsNot a general garden feed.
- Easy to useA form you will keep up with, without fiddly mixing.
- A traceable sourceWhere it comes from, not just "plant food" on the label.
- Peat-freeAnd free from synthetic chemicals, if that matters to you.
- Clear directionsThe label should say how much, how often and on what.
Two common forms, compared
General distinctions in line with the RHS. Every product has its own directions.
| What is being compared | Liquid feeddiluted or applied with the water | Slow-release granulescoated, metered out over time |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Goes on with the water, or by pump, straight to the roots. | Coated granules meter nutrients into the compost over time. |
| Speed | The fastest acting, so it suits containers and correcting a shortage. | Slower and steadier. |
| How often | Regularly through the growing season, by the label. | Less often, so it saves labour. The label says how long a dose lasts. |
| Good for | Most houseplants in pots, and correcting a shortage. | A steadier, less frequent routine. |
When a specialist feed is worth it
General guidance from the RHS. If you want to be sure, check the label of the feed against the plant.
- Orchids
- Moth orchids like a light feed, given regularly while they are growing, with a feed made for orchids. Feed sparingly, if at all, in winter.
- Cacti and succulents
- Slow growers. The RHS suggests a potash-rich feed, such as a tomato-type feed or a cactus feed, about monthly in the growing season, and none over winter.
- Flowering houseplants
- The usual advice is a feed made for flowering plants, richer in potash, while they are in growth and in bud.
- Leafy foliage plants
- A general houseplant feed does the job through spring to early autumn.
When feeding is the wrong move
Feeding helps a plant that is short on nutrients. It will not fix a plant that is struggling because of too little light, inconsistent watering or a pot with poor drainage. If a houseplant looks unwell, rule those out first.
A freshly potted plant does not need feeding for a while, and a plant that is resting over winter cannot use it. More feed does not mean faster growth: it is worth following the label rather than feeding extra to be safe.
Not sure when to feed?
Our guide to feeding houseplants covers when to start, how often and when to stop.
We make one houseplant food. Here is an honest view.
Tend is our liquid houseplant food, with a pump on top, made on our family farm at Linstock in Cumbria from what the farm's renewable energy process leaves behind. It is for the plants on your sills, shelves and side tables, and the label says a splash around the base, watered in.
It is not a specialist feed for orchids, cacti or flowering plants, and we do not have side-by-side trial results to share, so we will not say it beats other feeds. What we can tell you is where it comes from and how to use it.
Tend: Houseplant Food
Liquid houseplant food with a pump on top, for the plants on your sills, shelves and side tables.
- How to useA splash around the base of the plant, then water it in. That is the direction on the back of the bottle.
- Size250ml bottle with a pump
- Also good to know100% natural, peat-free and made without synthetic chemicals.
Questions people ask
Do houseplants need their own feed?
They need feeding in a way that suits life in a pot indoors: a little, while they are growing, and not much over winter. Tend is the one we make for houseplants, and the label directions are on its product page.
How do I know if my houseplant needs feeding rather than something else?
Look for older leaves yellowing while new growth stays small, or noticeably slower growth in what should be the active season. If watering, light and pot size all look right and the plant still seems tired, feeding is a reasonable next step.
Should I feed my houseplants in winter?
Generally little or none. Most houseplants rest over winter as the light fades, so there is less use for extra nutrient.
What should I know about pets and children?
Keep the bottle where children and pets cannot get at it, and follow the safety notes on the label. The label is the place to check for anything specific.
What size does Tend come in?
See the current size and price on the product page, which always reflects what is in stock.
