Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Indoor plants

HappySprout may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best organic plant foods to thrive naturally

HappySprout Contributor
By

Plants get most of their nutrients from the soil and the sun, but they’ll need a boost in some cases. Whether you’re amending soil outside or boosting plants in your home, the right nutrients are key to long health. Natural plant foods are best, and these top choices for best plant foods will help give your plants a new lease on life.

Instead of using synthetic fertilizers that can have unintended side effects for your plants or the surrounding environment, a natural plant food uses simple, gentle ingredients for better performance. They’re safer to use and help keep your plants thriving naturally. Let’s find the right one for your plants.

Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Plant Food

Best Plant Food Overall

This plant food provides all-around fertilizer for multiple types of plants. It's an 11-3-8 mixture and enhanced with micronutrients in an easy to measure formula. You only need to deliver this once a week to have thriving plants even indoors.

Joyful Dirt All Purpose Organic Plant Food And Fertilizer

Best Plant Food Shaker

This shakable fertilizer provides a simple way to ensure your plants have continuous food. You can also mix it with water to add some simple nutrients to your indoor plants. It contains Mycorrhizae and other nutrients to bolster the roots and ensure that they use water efficiently and remain healthy.

Espoma Company Organic Indoor Plant Food

Best for Indoor Plants

For an easy-to-use indoor plant food, this simple solution uses a handy dispenser for just the right amounts. It's organic and designed as an all-purpose fertilizer specifically for the needs of indoor plants. It's a 2-2-2 blend and mixes with your water to make dosing easy. Use every two to four weeks for healthy, thriving plants.

FoxFarm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula

Best Multi-stage Pack

Fox Farm's liquid nutrients provide all-stage feeding for thriving, mature house plants. It offers a blend to support green growth, one to support during blooming season, and one to help root repairs and encourage overall health. They're easy to use and come in a complete set so that your plants always have what they need.

Plant food doesn’t have to be complicated. Using naturally sourced nutrients for your plant foods help them grow and repair while ensuring there are no unintended side effects from harsh, synthetic fertilizers. These choices on our list are the best place to start for ensuring your plants thrive.

HappySprout Contributor
HappySprout Contributor
Will your cactus survive the winter? What you need to know
Help your cactus thrive through winter
A woman holding a potted cactus

Cacti are notoriously hardy plants, but winter conditions can definitely pose a challenge for them, especially if they live outside during most of the year. This leaves many gardeners wondering, "Can cactus survive winter?" Don't give up on your cactus just yet! Cacti can survive the winter, and it's easier than you might think to help them thrive. This guide will answer all your questions so you can keep your cactus alive through this winter -- and many more after that!

Factors to consider when caring for your cacti during the winter
Temperature
Certain cacti can handle temperatures as low as 20 degrees below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, as some varieties hail from cold desert regions. These plants might have spines or hairs that keep out frost, or they may expel water (which will make them look slightly deflated) to avoid stem freeze. Many cacti, however, can't handle frost or subzero temperatures. Whenever you consider buying a cactus, check its hardiness zone. If you live in an area below its range, bring your cactus indoors as a houseplant. To counter freezing temperatures outside, you can also insulate your cactus with row covers, tents, and frost cloths.
Humidity
Humidity, as a refresher, refers to the concentration of water vapor in the air. While they appreciate water after drying out, cacti generally prefer low humidity and good airflow. Winter is often dry, and if you keep your cactus near a heater inside, it won't be a problem. Because of wind chill, the air outside tends to be dry as well. If you live in an area where cold weather is humid, do keep an eye on the humidity. Most cacti prefer a relative humidity of 40 to 60 percent, so you may want to bring your cactus inside if the humidity rises above those levels.
Precipitation
Related to humidity is precipitation; clouds fill with water vapor, which can lead to rain or snow. Heavy precipitation can be problematic because a cactus that receives too much moisture will experience root or stem rot. To rescue an overwatered cactus, cut off rotting parts immediately and add drainage to your soil. You can offer your cacti physical protection when it rains—the most obvious is to bring them inside your house. If you keep your plants outside, propping a tent over your cacti or covering them with a plastic tarp keeps water out during rain or snow.

Read more
Can you grow onions in containers? What you need to know
Tips on growing onions indoors
Onion with roots showing

Onions grow large, round bulbs that seem to take up a lot of space, which leaves many gardeners wondering if you can grow onions in a container. The good news is you can, and fairly easily! Growing onions in a container is a great way to extend your harvest time, since containers can be brought indoors. They're also the perfect solution for people who want to garden but don't have access to outdoor space, such as those living in apartment buildings. An indoor vegetable garden is simple to care for, and onions are a great plant to start with.

If you’re growing onions in a container for the first time, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know for a successful harvest.

Read more
Everything you need to know about indoor anthurium care
Easy anthurium care tips for beautiful blooms and leaves
Anthurium blooms
Read more