There are many brands of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the market. If you prefer an organic type, I suggest fish emulsion, or liquid manure. You can prepare your own homemade liquid manure by placing a half bushel of cow manure in a burlap bag and steeping it in a half tub of water for 2 to 3 weeks. Dilute this “brew” with water—to the color of weak tea—and then apply to your green¬house plants. If you prefer the inorganic fertilizers, choose MiracleGrow, Rapid-gro, Hyponex, or something similar.
When plants are resting, they do not need fertilizer. Bulbs— amaryllis, haemanthus, other amaryllids, and tuberous or rhizomatous gesneriads—need no fertilizer and a minimum of water during their dormant period

A complete commercial fertilizer includes proper proportions. The three main plant foods—nitrogen, phosphorus or phos¬phoric acid, and potash or potassium (N, P, and K). Percent¬ages are numbered on the container in that order. A favorite with many growers is 5-10-5. This means the fertilizer contains 5 per cent nitrogen, 10 per cent phosphorus, and 5 per cent potash.

Nitrogen helps plants produce heavy stems and good foliage. When soil is deficient in nitrogen, stems are short and weak and leaves turn a sickly greenish yellow.

Phosphorus aids plants in ripening tissues and seed. If you are planning for choice seed lots, include phosphorus (or super¬phosphate, as it is usually sold in seed stores) in your fertilizer. Some gardeners add super phosphate, a layer a month, to the compost pile.

Potash is to plants what vitamins are to humans. Included in the plant diet, it aids in the formation and transference of starch. Potash helps plants grow huskier with sturdy stems and foliage, full fruits, and strong roots. It is especially desir¬able for root crops and such potted plants as gloxinias and amaryllis. If you use a 5-10-5 fertilizer, you can give your bulbous plants an additional weekly watering of muriate of potash, teaspoonful to a quart of water.