Potted plants bring life and colour to patios, balconies, and doorsteps – but unlike plants in the ground, they’re entirely dependent on you for water and nutrients. Feeding your container plants properly is one of the most important (and most overlooked) ways to keep them looking their best.
Whether you’re growing flowers, fruit, veg or evergreens, here are our top tips to help your potted plants thrive:
1. Understand Why Feeding Matters
Compost only contains a limited amount of nutrients – and in a pot, those nutrients get used up quickly. Plus, every time you water or it rains, some goodness is washed away. Peat-free compost in particular, does not hold onto nutrients well.
Regular feeding replenishes those lost nutrients and helps with:
- Healthier roots
- Lusher foliage
- Bigger, brighter flowers
- More fruit and veg
🌿 Think of feeding like topping up the fridge—it keeps your plants going strong!
2. Choose the Right Feed for the Right Plant
Not all plants want the same meal. Choosing the right fertiliser makes a big difference.
The three major nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium -also referred to as potash (K)
Tomato Feed (High in Potassium -K)
Potassium promotes flowering, so this is great for flowering and fruiting plants like tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, strawberries, hanging baskets and general summer bedding.
Balanced Liquid Feed (e.g. Miracle-Gro, Growmore & Seaweed Feeds)
They have roughly equal quantities of N, P & K or a higher nitrogen content. These feeds are ideal for leafy ornamentals, leafy vegetables and general potted plants.
Ericaceous Feed & Sequestered Iron
A must for acid-loving plants like blueberries, rhododendrons, and camellias. These plants cannot access some nutrients due to the soil pH. If the leaves of your acid-loving plant look yellow and sickly, give them a boost with sequestered iron. They will green up again very quickly.
Slow-release & Controlled-release Fertilisers
Handy for busy gardeners. Mix into your compost when planting or use as a top dressing for established containerised plants. One application can last months.
🧪 Top Tip: Always read the label and use the correct dilution—overfeeding can be worse than underfeeding.
3. Use Liquid Feeds Little & Often
It’s better to feed your plants lightly with a liquid feed on a regular basis rather than giving them a heavy dose now and again.
- Liquid feed: Apply every 1–2 weeks during the growing season (usually spring to late summer).
- Slow-release fertilisers: Apply once in spring, and again mid-season if needed.
🕒 Set a reminder or add it to your watering routine to make it easy to remember. ‘Feedy Friday’ is a good mantra
4. Water Before You Feed
Never feed a thirsty plant! Dry roots can be damaged by concentrated fertiliser.
Always:
- Water first if the compost is dry and allow it to sink in. If the plant is stressed and wilting allow it to recover before feeding.
- Feed afterwards using your chosen liquid fertiliser mixed according to the instructions on the bottle.
- Avoid feeding during very hot or dry weather to prevent scorching.
💧 Plants can’t absorb nutrients without moisture—think of it as the transport system.
5. Stop Feeding at the Right Time
As summer draws to a close, it’s important to ease off on feeding. For most plants, stop feeding in late summer or early autumn—especially perennials and shrubs—as they need to slow down and prepare for dormancy.
Exceptions:
- Winter bedding may benefit from a light feed into autumn.
- Houseplants may need feeding through winter, especially if actively growing in a warm room.
- Spring flowering ericaceous shrubs like Camellias and Rhododendrons should not be fed after the end of July, as it can cause next year’s buds to drop and excess leafy growth, which is vulnerable to frosts.
🍂 Too much late-season feeding can lead to weak, leggy growth that struggles in winter.
Let Your Pots Shine
Feeding your potted plants is one of the simplest ways to make a big impact. Healthy, well-fed plants are not only more beautiful—they’re also more resilient to pests, diseases, and changing weather.
At Tates of Sussex Garden Centres, we stock a full range of plant feeds to suit every garden need. Not sure which one to choose? Pop in and speak to one of our team—we’re always happy to help.
