Although cacti and succulents are one of the easier plants to grow and take care of, there are still some extra steps you can take to make your cacti or succulent be the best it can be! One of those things is fertilizing. Fertilizing any plant can be overwhelming to think about, but don’t worry! We have broken down the top tips you need to fertilize your cacti and succulent plants so you can feel confident your plant is getting exactly what it needs.

First up, let's talk about why we fertilize our succulent plants and cacti! It is true that fertilizers are not mandatory for these plants. Cacti and succulent plants are very sturdy and can live years with no fertilization, so why should we bother? Fertilizing can help your plant grow faster, and in many cases can brighten the colour of your plant too! Fertilizing is about making your plant grow stronger and faster, so it can live the healthiest life possible. Fertilizer is just a way of boosting them by making them healthier and more colorful. 

Next, we need to decide when we are going to fertilize our plants. Since Cacti and succulents soak up nutrients as they need them, fertilizing once a year is totally fine. It’s recommended that the time you choose to fertilize your plants is in late spring or early summer as it is right before their peak growing season. That way your plant can make the most out of the fertilizer you give them! Be mindful though, too much fertilizer fed too often may lead to poor root growth and slow development. Make sure you are reading the label of your fertilizer and not giving fertilizer too often. Many recommend once a year for indoor cacti and succulents, possibly more for outdoor plants. Once you feed them, it is recommended that you take them out under a shade in a bright place. This helps the plant get the extra nutrients from the sun that the fertilizer likes! Feel free to bring him back into his regular spot after a couple hours.

Lastly, let's talk about how to give them their fertilizer. If you are using a liquid fertilizer like the ones we sell at Plant Vitamins, Dilute the allotted amount and slowly pour into the pot. The key is to pour slowly, letting all the water absorb before pouring more, letting the excess drain out the holes in the bottom of the pot. Cacti and succulents don’t need much water so to be sure you are not over watering them, check to make sure the top soil is completely dry before you go to water your cacti or succulent again. Overwatering may have negative side effects on your plant.

Now that we have broken down the basics of fertilizing cacti and succulents, we hope you are feeling more confident with your skills and are ready to try! Don’t get stressed, these plants are tough and resilient, perfect for beginners! Let us know how your plant fertilizing goes in the comments below and feel free to ask any more questions you may have.