Can I use bonsai liquid fertilizer on my regular houseplants?

Question

I have 0.5 liter bonsai liquid fertilizer that has outlived my bonsai. I have tried to give it away for free in my local Facebook plant groups, but as it seems no one is really into bonsai in my area. So I was wondering if I could use them on my regular houseplants.

These are the ingredients (NPK 3,8,5?):

• N (3.0 m/v%)
• P₂O₅ (7.8 m/v%)
• K₂O (5.1 m/v%)
• Cu (0.002 m/v%)
• Fe (0.02 m/v%)
• Mn (0.01 m/v%)
• Zn (0.002 m/v%)

These are the type of plants that I have:

• Pothos
• Chinese evergreens
• Dracena
• Monstera
• Philodendron hederaceum (regular green and Brasil), Rojo congo and a Golden dragon.

Apart from these I have a ZZ plant, a Yucca, a Pandanus and an Aloe vera.

Which plants and how often could I fertilize during a growing season without worrying of over fertilizing or other problems?

My Pothos are still growing could I use the fertilizer on them during the winter?

Answer 1

The formulation of your bonsai fertiliser isn't much use to the type of plants you mention; they will require higher levels of nitrogen. For instance, Baby Bio is a good liquid houseplant fertiliser, and its NPK is roughly 10-4-7, so you can easily see the difference in the NPK value between that and your bonsai fertiliser. Whatever you decide to do with the fertiliser you have, I'm afraid I would not recommend it for your other houseplants.