To keep your indoor plants happy and healthy, you need to provide them with all the nutrients and minerals they need to grow big and strong. Potted house plants don't have the same access to the naturally occurring organic materials that outside plants do, so you'll need to make sure the soil is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
Whether you have a collection of succulents or yukkas, an indoor spider plant jungle, or some simple flowerbeds to brighten up a room, we've picked the best indoor plant foods available in the UK to keep them healthy. We've included options from some of the top brands in the business, like Miracle-Gro, Baby Bio, and Marphyl, in liquid powder and pellet forms so that you can make the right choice for your plants!
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of indoor plant foods available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Miracle-Gro | 2 ![]() Miracle-Gro | 3 ![]() Baby Bio | 4 ![]() Marphyl | 5 ![]() Gro-Sure | 6 ![]() Miracle-Gro | 7 ![]() Flower Power | 8 ![]() Miracle-Gro | 9 ![]() Miracle-Gro | 10 ![]() Phostrogen |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food | All Purpose Continuous Release Plant Food | Houseplant Food | Marine Phytoplankton | 6 Month Slow Release Plant Food | Performance Organics All Purpose Liquid Plant Food | Richard Jackson's Premium Plant Food | All Purpose Concentrated Liquid Plant Food | Pump & Feed All Purpose Plant Food | All Purpose Plant Food |
Features | The Water Soluble Food From the Nation’s Best Selling Brand That Will Last for Ages | A Slow Release Pellet Option With a Balanced NPK That’s Suitable for All Types of Plants | One of the Best Budget-Friendly Liquid Concentrates for Promoting Greener Leaves | Non-Toxic and Sustainably Made Option Featuring Microalgae That's Great for Heathers and Ferns | An Affordable 2 kg Tub of Slow Release Pellets That Will Last You for Years | An Organic Option that's Great for Indoor Fruit and Veg and Is Child, Bee and Pet-Safe | A Large Tub of the Award-Winning Premium Powder That’s Fantastic for Flowers | A Great All-Purpose, Highly-Balanced Option Suitable for All Different Types of Plants | A Pump Option That Feeds Directly to the Soil and Is Quick, Convenient and Easy-To-Use | A Bargain Offering That Promotes a Healthy Root System and Is Great for Sick Plants |
Price | £5.99 | £13.90 | £0.97 | £9.90 | £12.00 | £5.40 | £29.99 | £7.00 | £3.75 | £6.39 |
Type | Powder | Pellets | Liquid | Liquid | Pellets | Liquid | Powder | Liquid | Liquid | Powder |
NPK | 24-8-16 | 17-9-11 | 10.6-4.4-1.7 | - | 12-7-19 | - | 12-12-36 | 6-3-6 | - | 16-20-24 |
Best For | Leafy plants, flowers | All | Leafy plants | Heathers, ferns, air plants | Flowers, fruits | Fruits, vegetables | Flowers, fruits | All | Convenience | All plants |
Volume | 2 kg | 990 g | 175 ml | 500 ml | 2 kg | 1000 ml | 1.5 kg | 1000 ml | 200 ml | 400 g |
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As liquid plant food penetrates the soil straight away, your plants will have immediate access to the nutrients, making it an excellent choice for plants that show visible signs of drooping when they need feeding. It's extremely easy to apply by simply adding a little food to the watering can when you water your plants.
Just make sure to follow the instructions carefully and check whether the plant food is a liquid concentrate that has to be diluted or can be directly applied. The strength of different liquid fertilizers can vary dramatically, and the amount will often depend on the types of plants you own, so getting the balance right can take a little getting used to.
Powered plant feed is similar to liquid concentrate due to the fact that you have to measure out the right amount, add it to some water, and then water your plants with it. It also tends to be the most economically beneficial option as they're often sold in large boxes and tubs that last a long time and can be easily tucked away in a cupboard.
The main drawback is that powdered plant food is an irritant and is more fiddly to prepare than the other options. It's recommended to use gloves when scooping out the powder, but you also have to make sure the correct amount is added and dissolved properly. However, if you have a lot of plants and are looking to save some money, it's the best way to go.
If you don't fancy the hassle of mixing a liquid or powder into a watering can or are a little forgetful when it comes to watering your plants, you could opt for slow-release food pellets instead. This type of plant food is the most convenient as you just mix the pellets in with the soil, and you're done! These pellets also often last an entire season, from spring to spring, taking away the need for regular feeding.
With many things in life, this convenience does come with an added cost upfront, but when you consider how long they last, it's really not too bad. This works especially well for plants that don't need to be regularly watered, like succulents, air plants, snake plants, and cacti.
If you have a feline friend, consider picking up some cat-safe plants to brighten up your home!
One of the most confusing things about buying indoor plant food is trying to decipher the NPK ratio, which is the amount of Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), and Potassium (K) found in plant food. All plants require these three elements as they serve different purposes:
Find the right home for your plant with an indoor plant pot!
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£5.99
Type | Powder |
---|---|
NPK | 24-8-16 |
Best For | Leafy plants, flowers |
Volume | 2 kg |
£13.90
Type | Pellets |
---|---|
NPK | 17-9-11 |
Best For | All |
Volume | 990 g |
£0.97
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
NPK | 10.6-4.4-1.7 |
Best For | Leafy plants |
Volume | 175 ml |
£9.90
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
NPK | - |
Best For | Heathers, ferns, air plants |
Volume | 500 ml |
£12.00
Type | Pellets |
---|---|
NPK | 12-7-19 |
Best For | Flowers, fruits |
Volume | 2 kg |
£5.40
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
NPK | - |
Best For | Fruits, vegetables |
Volume | 1000 ml |
£29.99
Type | Powder |
---|---|
NPK | 12-12-36 |
Best For | Flowers, fruits |
Volume | 1.5 kg |
£7.00
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
NPK | 6-3-6 |
Best For | All |
Volume | 1000 ml |
£3.75
Type | Liquid |
---|---|
NPK | - |
Best For | Convenience |
Volume | 200 ml |
£6.39
Type | Powder |
---|---|
NPK | 16-20-24 |
Best For | All plants |
Volume | 400 g |
Written and researched by David Sexton
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