Signs Your Houseplant Needs Fertilizer

What You Need to Know

Signs of under-fertilization include: pale or yellowing older leaves (nitrogen deficiency), slow or stunted growth, smaller-than-normal new leaves, reduced or absent flowering, faded variegation, and purple-tinged leaves (phosphorus deficiency). These symptoms develop gradually over weeks or months. Before fertilizing, rule out other causes, overwatering, insufficient light, and root-bound conditions can mimic nutrient deficiency symptoms.

For personalized recommendations based on your specific garden size and fertilizer, use our fertilizer calculator.