How to Add Zinc to House Plants
Many house plants, especially those that are not re-potted often, do not get enough zinc from their soil. Zinc deficiencies in the soil can inhibit plant growth, so for the best health of your house plants, it is important to supplement their nutrient diet by fertilizing the soil. There are several methods of fertilization that are appropriate for houseplants, some of which are outlined below. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Water-soluble plant fertilizer
- Zinc chelate supplement pill for humans (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Examine your house plant carefully for yellowing, thin leaves, and determine how severe the problem is by noting whether there are a lot of leaves that are thinning and yellowing or just a few.
-
2
Mix the house plant fertilizer with water according to the manufacturer's directions. Pour the fertilizer directly onto the soil, avoiding leaves, stems and any exposed roots.
-
-
3
After four to five days, re-evaluate the plant. If the leaves seem to be returning to a normal green color, continue fertilizing the plant according to the fertilizer manufacturer's recommendations. If there seems to be no change in the plant, proceed to Step 4.
-
4
Crush one or two zinc chelate supplement pills, and dissolve them in about 16 ounces of water.
-
5
Pour this mixture directly onto the soil, avoiding the plant's leaves, stems and exposed roots.
-
6
Continue to water the plant normally, and re-evaluate the plant after four to five days. If the yellowing seems to be getting better, repeat this zinc treatment every two to three weeks until the plant is restored to health. If the plant does not show any change, re-pot the plant with pre-fertilized potting soil and repeat the zinc treatment about two weeks after re-potting.
-
1
