Miracle GroW Succulent Plant Food
Extremely resilient and delightfully pretty, succulent plants are unsurprisingly loved by novice and veteran plant parents alike. This plant group has evolved to store large amounts of water in the leaves and stems. So, they don’t really mind when you forget to water them for some time. However, like all living things, they do need some sort of sustenance. So, join us as we take you through the best foods for succulent plants in 2022 that are sure to keep your greens healthy and happy.
These plant foods, also called fertilizers, are a blend of organic and/or natural nutrients that sustain the plant and enhance its growth. We will be giving you a complete 101 to these plants’ nutrition and describe the elements of good succulent fertilizer. For now, let’s start things off with our team’s review of the top-rated foods for succulents that are currently available.
Succulents are great for both people that are new to growing plants, as well as veteran plant parents. Because they are so low maintenance, they are easy for almost anyone to keep alive. However, even though they are low maintenance, they still require some level of care. Let’s now look at how you can go about buying the food necessary for the sustenance and growth of your succulents.
What Do Succulent Foods Contain?
Succulent fertilizers, like any other plant food, consist of three main ingredients:
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
These components are labeled on the Miracle GroW Succulent Plant Food as NPK. Those are their chemical formulas written together (N for nitrogen, P for phosphorus, and K for potassium.) Fertilizer manufacturers will list the NPK ratio, which signifies the proportion of N, P, and K in the plant food. Let’s now take a brief look at the three main ingredients and how they enhance the growth of succulent plants:
Nitrogen
Good ol’ nitrogen helps stimulate leaf and stem growth and is a vital nutrient for your succulent. If your plant’s leaves are turning yellow, you should look for a fertilizer with a relatively high ‘N’ ratio. If the leaves of your plant do not appear to be yellowing, anything from 5-15 should be a safe bet.
Phosphorus
A deficiency of phosphorus in plants is usually signified by greenish-purple leaves. This nutrient helps with stem and flower growth, and should be in the range of 5-15%. It’s also completely fine if the ‘P’ ratio is more than the ‘N’ and ‘K’.
Potassium
Potassium, or ‘K’, helps your little succulent fight off germs and protects it from diseases. As a general rule of thumb, you should seek out the same ratio of potassium as nitrogen. However, it’s worth getting more potassium-focused fertilizer if your leaves are turning brown on the edges.
Buying Tips for the Premium Quality Succulent Foods
Now that you know all about the main components of succulent food, here are two tips to help you make a more informed decision when in the market for one:
A healthy blend
NPK aren’t the only substances that plant foods contain. The best ones, like the ones in our best-of list, also boast rich nutrients such as microbes, minerals, and humic acid, that work phenomenally alongside NPK to promote plant health and growth.
Safety
Do you know that some fertilizer blends are pretty toxic for your plant’s leaves, even though their sole purpose is to… well, promote their growth? Intrigued? Well, it’s all about direct exposure.
If you apply such plant foods directly to your succulents, their leaves may be harmed. So, make sure that either your new plant nutrient will not cause damage upon contact with the leaves, or be careful when applying it and put it only on the potting soil. Moreover, you should also choose fertilizers that are safe for the environment and come in recyclable packaging.
