How and when to fertilizer Ixora plants

The Ixora is a shrubby plant characterized by its beautiful inflorescences. More precisely, it is a genus of the Rubiaceae family, native to Asian countries. Usually they do not exceed 3 meters in height, with inflorescences that vary in color according to the species, and can be pink, red, yellow, among others. In this article we will see how and when to use fertilizer for Ixora plants, what types to apply and what are the most important care.

Although this post is designed to clarify everything about the fertilization of Ixora plants, we will begin by listing the most important cares for growing it. This given that we want to make sure that you not only know how to fertilize, but that you are able to contribute the best so that your Ixora grows healthy, strong and with the best flowers.

1. Ixora plant care

Although we will make this first section quite brief, with the care that we will see here we can be sure that at least you will not make serious mistakes when growing an Ixora.

Note that the following list has not been ordered under any parameters, but is random. By this I mean that each point is as important as the previous and the next. That is why you should pay attention to all care in the same way.

• Temperature: these are plants used to temperate climates. For this reason, the optimal range for its cultivation is between 18-21 ° C. Although it is capable of withstanding higher temperatures, it suffers a lot of damage when the temperature drops below 15 ° C.

• Location: Although it is possible to grow it outdoors, they are best suited as a houseplant. In general, the Ixoras do not like to change their location, so when you find a place that you like, leave it there.

• Soil and transplant: the ideal is to transplant it once a year, in the first days of spring. Take the opportunity to place a fertile soil, somewhat acidic and well drainable. With each year that passes, I try to change to a larger pot, until it reaches one of about 20 cm in diameter.

• Irrigation: Ixoras require a lot of watering in spring-summer. Make sure that the soil is always moist, although without flooding. In autumn and winter the water needs decrease, but try not to let the soil dry out completely.

• Pruning: since it is a shrub that grows a lot, pruning is convenient to control its size. The best time to do it is in spring, together with the transplant.

• Multiplication: it is carried out by means of the extraction of cuttings. You should make the cut just below a knot, and it should be about 8 or 10 cm long. Then place it in a fertile substrate, previously you can sprinkle some hormone to stimulate the production of roots.

• Fertilization: Ixoras fertilization could not be missing from this list. In the following sections we will take care of delving into this point.

2. What are NPK values?

We cannot start talking about the use of fertilizers for philodendron without first explaining what the NPK values ​​are. You have probably noticed that in each package of fertilizer there are three numbers separated by a hyphen. Those numbers are what are known as NPK values.

The NPK letters represent the three most important nutrients in the development of any plant. N is nitrogen, the most important nutrient in the general development of the plant. P is phosphorous, closely related to root development. And K is potassium, a nutrient that helps transfer nutrients.

On the other hand, each of the three numbers represents the percentage by weight of each nutrient, with respect to the total weight. This explanation may not be entirely clear to you, so I have prepared a short example.

“Suppose you have a 1kg bag of 15-20-15 fertilizer. So 15% is nitrogen, 20% phosphorus and 15% potassium. That is, 150g is nitrogen, 200g phosphorous and 150g is potassium”

I hope that with the previous example this concept has become clear to you, which I think is quite simple. 😉

3. The best fertilizer for Ixora plant

Depending on the gardener you consult, you can find many different recommendations on what fertilizer to use for your Ixora. In this post we will simplify the task of selecting which is the best fertilizer by recommending only a few.

We will divide the fertilizers between the commercial ones and those that you can prepare at home. In general, commercial ones are easier to apply, but sometimes homemade ones are more useful and of course inexpensive.

3.1 Commercial fertilizer

The biggest advantage that commercial fertilizers have is that by applying them we know exactly what proportion of each nutrient we are contributing. Making the process much more controlled. If you also carry out a soil study, you can further optimize the fertilization of your Ixoras.

As we mentioned earlier, the soil in which these plants thrive must be acidic. Therefore, you will need a subscription that takes this detail into account. In general, a 30-10-10 commercial fertilizer mix is ​​a good choice. Since Ixoras are not grown in many places, you can ask the seller at the nursery for fertilizer for gardenias or azaleas. These plants have very similar nutrient requirements to Ixoras.

As you well know (we explained in section 2) the 30-10-10 proportions indicate a higher concentration of nitrogen, above potassium and phosphorus. But your Ixora not only needs these three nutrients, it also needs other microelements such as iron, manganese, copper, zinc, etc. All of them will help the development of leaves and flowers.

Know that most commercial fertilizers contain inorganic chemicals. Therefore, if you want to do ecological gardening, you should opt for homemade organic fertilizers.

3.2 Homemade fertilizer

There are a lot of homemade fertilizers, some more beneficial than others to be applied in an Ixora. Next I will name three that are special since in addition to providing nutrients they help lower the acidity of the soil.

• Coffee based fertilizer: The use of coffee residues is one of the best fertilizers for Ixoras. Spread such debris around the base of the plant and apply good watering. In addition to being an excellent source of nitrogen, the acid in coffee will lower the pH of the surrounding soils, stimulating the roots of the plants.

• Compost Tea: Making what we call compost tea is pretty straightforward. Place 1 cup of decomposed manure or old compost in a cloth bag. Then seal the bag and submerge it in a gallon of water. Let steep three days, then remove the bag and the tea is applied directly to the ground.

• Vinegar based fertilizer: Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar for every gallon of water. Mix well and apply on your plants. It is of great help to increase the acidity of the soil, something very necessary in plants like Ixoras.

Other very common household fertilizers are compost and manure, which are both popular and useful. In both cases it is essential that at the time of application they are well fermented, otherwise it can be harmful to your plants.

4. How and when to fertilize ixora plants

When it comes to fertilizing Ixoras, the first thing to know is that you have to do it consciously. You should not fertilize with any type of fertilizer you can find and at any time of the year. Take into account important aspects such as that it needs acidic soils, and that its development time is spring and summer.

Fertilize from spring to late summer, letting the plant rest through fall and winter. You can use a 30-10-10 mix liquid fertilizer, applying it with a good watering every two to three weeks. Although you should always read and follow the instructions for using the fertilizer, it is generally advisable to slightly dilute the dosage compared to those instructions.

When transplanting your Ixora, it is good to do so in soil rich in organic matter. This, in addition to ensuring a good supply of nutrients, provides better drainage to the soil. To make the mixture, you can add 1/3 of compost or well-fermented manure to the soil.

In case you notice that the leaves of this shrub start to turn yellowish, it may be due to a deficiency of nutrients such as iron and magnesium. Check the health of your leaves frequently.

As a last tip, I can recommend the use of foliar fertilizer. This is usually one of the best solutions to help promote abortion and flowering of your Ixoras.

5. Best fertilizer to maximize Ixora Flowering

To end this article, we have selected a video (Mita Bishnoi Garden Tips channel) where you can see much more graphically some of the concepts discussed so far. You will also learn some helpful tips on how to maximize your Ixonas bloom through fertilization. I have no doubt that it will be more than useful. 🙂

And so far we come, I hope that all the information we have seen has been useful, and have no doubt about fertilizer for Ixora plants.

Source information:

• https://www.elicriso.it/es/como_cultivar/ixora/