Stop the guess-work and watch your lounge-room jungle explode with colour and new leaves. This no-fluff guide gives you a clear feeding roadmap plus two hero solutions tested in real Aussie homes.
Why nutrition matters indoors
Potted plants rely entirely on you for food. Without a steady trickle of nitrogen (leaf colour), phosphorus (root strength) and potassium (overall resilience) they stall, yellow or drop foliage. Unlike garden beds, potting mixes leach nutrients fast with every watering—so topping up is non-negotiable.
If you’re feeding plants that are stagnating despite good fertiliser, your potting mix may be holding them back. Our Indoor Potting Mix in Australia guide shows how to fix drainage, aeration and compaction so nutrients can actually be absorbed.
Comparing fertiliser types
|
Type |
Pros |
Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
|
Liquid concentrates |
Fast uptake; easy to adjust dose; great for foliage revives |
Needs mixing each week |
|
Slow-release pellets |
Set-and-forget for 2–3 months; perfect for busy folks or holiday periods |
Can’t tweak mid-cycle |
|
DIY teas/compost |
Cheap, eco-friendly |
Inconsistent N-P-K, messy smell |
You’ll get the best of both worlds by pairing a weekly liquid top-up with a background slow-release.
Indoor fertilising considerations
Indoor spaces come with their own challenges.
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Some organic fertilisers (like fish-based products) can be smelly indoors
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Always store fertilisers out of reach of pets
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Avoid splashing fertiliser on floors, furniture or leaves
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Ventilation matters — open windows when feeding where possible
Choosing a fertiliser designed for indoor use makes feeding easier, cleaner and more enjoyable.
Does fresh potting mix already contain fertiliser?
Most quality indoor potting mixes in Australia already contain a starter charge of fertiliser. This is usually a slow-release blend designed to feed your plant for the first 3–6 months after repotting.
That means if you’ve recently repotted, your plant may not need additional fertiliser straight away.
Once that built-in nutrition is used up, growth can slow, leaves may lose colour, and that’s when regular feeding becomes important again.
A good rule of thumb:
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Repotted within the last 3 months? → Go easy on extra fertiliser
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Repotted 3–6 months ago? → Start light feeding
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Over 6 months? → Resume a regular feeding routine
This is one of the most common reasons indoor plants get over-fertilised — feeding too soon, rather than too late.
What does NPK actually mean for indoor plants?
You’ll often see fertilisers labelled with three numbers — N-P-K — which represent:
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N (Nitrogen): leafy growth and green colour
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P (Phosphorus): roots, flowers and buds
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K (Potassium): overall plant health and resilience
For most indoor plants, you don’t need anything complicated.
As a general guide:
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Leafy houseplants (monsteras, pothos, ficus): slightly higher nitrogen
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Flowering plants (peace lilies, hoyas): balanced nutrients
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All-round indoor care: a balanced fertiliser works perfectly well
What matters more than chasing exact ratios is using the right strength and feeding consistently during active growth.
Feed for lush growth with GreenSpace Liquid Fertiliser
GreenSpace Liquid Fertiliser is our #1 pick for rapid, eye-popping foliage. It delivers a balanced 4-3-3 NPK profile blended from seaweed, worm castings and plant-based nutrients, then super-charges uptake with beneficial microbes. A single 1 L bottle makes up to 500 L of feed—enough for an entire apartment jungle for months.
How to use
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Shake well.
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Mix 2 ml per litre of water for healthy plants (dial up to 4 ml if they look tired).
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Water weekly during active growth; fortnightly in winter.
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Bonus: Foliar-spray at 1–2 ml /L for an instant green-up.
Why it shines
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Visible greening in as little as seven days.
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Gentle enough for orchids and delicate aroids.
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Safe for kids, pets and the planet thanks to natural inputs.
For heavy-rooted aroids like Anthuriums or Philodendrons, pairing this fertiliser with the 4-2-2-1 blend in the Anthurium Potting Mix Recipe ensures nutrients hit an oxygen-rich, fast-draining root zone.
Set-and-forget nutrition for busy plant parents
Running flat-out? Bury a scoop of GreenSpace Slow Release Fertiliser and let it drip-feed for up to three months. Its 12-8-8 NPK prill is loaded with 60+ trace elements and microbes that reduce leaching and keep mixes biologically active.
Application guide
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Potted plants: 2–4 g per litre of potting mix—scratch into the top 2 cm.
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Lawns & ornamentals: 30 g per m².
Pro tip: Combine with the weekly liquid regimen above for complete, balanced nutrition.
Seasonal feeding calendar (AEST)
|
Season |
GreenSpace Liquid |
GreenSpace Slow Release |
|---|---|---|
|
Summer |
Weekly @ 2 ml /L |
Top-dress start of Dec |
|
Autumn |
Fortnightly @ 2 ml /L |
– |
|
Winter |
Monthly @ 1 ml /L |
– |
|
Spring |
Weekly @ 2 ml /L |
Top-dress start of Sep |
Increase liquid dose to 4 ml /L if new leaves look pale or growth slows despite good light.
If you’ve just repotted into a fresh chunky blend, the Best Peace Lily Potting Mix for Aussie Homes guide explains how watering frequency changes—helpful when balancing liquid feed strength during summer.
Different indoor plants have different feeding needs
Not all houseplants eat the same way.
As a simple guide:
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Foliage plants grow steadily and enjoy regular, light feeding
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Flowering plants use more energy and benefit from consistent nutrition during bloom periods
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Succulents and cacti need very little fertiliser — less is definitely more
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Indoor herbs or edible plants may need more frequent feeding due to faster growth
When in doubt, it’s safer to under-feed rather than over-feed, especially in lower light or cooler months.
Troubleshooting rapid-fire
Yellow leaves? Bump the liquid dose for two weeks and check light.
Burnt tips? You’re over-feeding—flush with plain water and halve the rate.
Crusty white salts on soil? Leaching issue; switch one watering a month to plain water.
Heading on holiday? Load up with Slow Release before you go and drop liquids to fortnightly on your return.
How to tell if your indoor plant needs feeding
Indoor plants don’t always shout — they hint.
Common signs your plant may need fertiliser:
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Pale or yellowing leaves (especially older ones)
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Slow or stalled growth during spring or summer
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Smaller new leaves than usual
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Poor flowering or no flowers at all
Just as important is knowing when you’ve gone too far.
Signs of over-fertilising include:
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Brown or crispy leaf tips
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White crust on the soil surface (salt build-up)
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Sudden wilting despite regular watering
If this happens, stop feeding, flush the soil with water, and let the plant recover before resuming at a lower strength.
Common indoor plant fertilising mistakes
Even experienced plant parents make these mistakes — the good news is they’re easy to fix.
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Feeding too often: more fertiliser doesn’t mean faster growth
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Feeding in winter: most indoor plants slow down and need less
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Using full-strength fertiliser: diluted feeds are safer indoors
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Trying to fix light or watering issues with fertiliser: nutrition won’t help a plant in the wrong spot
Healthy feeding starts with the basics — good light, proper watering, then fertiliser as support.
A simple rescue plan for struggling indoor plants
If your indoor plant looks unhappy, strip things back before adding more products.
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Check light — bright, indirect light suits most houseplants
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Review watering — let excess water drain freely
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Pause fertiliser for 2–3 weeks
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Resume feeding gently with a diluted liquid fertiliser
Often, simplifying care is what allows a plant to bounce back.
FAQ
How long before I see results?
Most users report deeper greens within a week of switching to GreenSpace Liquid.
Is it safe for edible herbs?
Yes. The inputs are natural and garden-safe; just rinse foliage before eating.
Can I combine pellets and liquid?
Absolutely—the liquid tops up what the pellets slowly drip out, ensuring no gaps.
What about native house-plants?
Use half-strength liquid and avoid overdoing phosphorus-heavy feeds.
Ready to grow a living room jungle?
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Grab the Liquid: Shop GreenSpace Liquid Fertiliser →
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Lock in the pellets: Shop GreenSpace Slow Release Fertiliser →
Key takeaways
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Weekly liquid + quarterly pellets = fool-proof nutrition.
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Balanced 4-3-3 NPK plus microbes drives fast, sustainable growth.
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Set-and-forget pellets keep plants thriving while you’re busy living life.
Feed smart, and watch your indoor oasis thrive—no horticulture degree required.
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