I recently cringed when someone described me as a “plant mom.” Not a phrase I’d ever use for myself, but I’ll admit, I’m a recent convert to houseplants.
In the past, my attempts were a disaster. I overwatered, underwatered, potted too big, potted too small, gave too much light, or not enough. After killing far too many plants, I gave up and filled the house with fresh flowers instead. They were beautiful—but the waste of throwing them out weekly started to weigh on me.
So, I decided to try houseplants again. This time, with a bit more patience plus one major secret weapon – Mara Seaweed Fertiliser, which a friend recommended to me.
When I bumped into Patrick Courtney, the man behind Mara, at the Mallow Show, I told him how impressed I was with my indoor plants since using it. He didn’t seem surprised as he explained:
“Seaweed has been surviving on the shoreline for millions of years. It’s constantly hit by saltwater, then dried out by sun, then frozen, then battered by storms. Over time, it has developed natural compounds to deal with stress and when we extract those compounds into a fertiliser, we’re giving that same stress-resistance to plants.”
He explained that seaweed isn’t just a fertiliser, it’s more like a plant health tonic.
“We’re not pushing the plant to flower,” he said. “We’re helping it build up strength so that when it’s ready to bloom, it does it properly and it lasts longer. When flowers enter their blooming phase, they shift all their energy from growing leaves and stems to producing petals and reproductive structures. This process places huge demands on the plant and makes it highly sensitive to stress, especially from unpredictable weather. The seaweed extract helps ease this transition, as its unique seaweed-derived compounds support the plant through these energy-intensive changes and reduce the impact of environmental stress.
It made perfect sense. My plants weren’t just surviving, they were thriving and for once, I wasn’t second guessing every move. I wasn’t having to overthink the watering, the light, or the pot size. They were stronger, greener, and flowering way better in terms of quality and quantity.
I told Patrick I had started using the fertiliser outdoors too.
“That’s where you’ll really see the magic,” he continued. “Seaweed is packed with trace minerals you don’t get in synthetic feeds. It improves soil structure, boosts root health, and helps plants take up nutrients more efficiently. You’ll see more blooms and better colour, even in tough conditions.”
That clicked with me. My outdoor garden gets hit with everything wind, rain and even occasional sun! It it any wonder that it is often a struggle to keep it looking good. But while it is still early days, I am already seeing the improvements outdoors too.
And because it’s 100% natural, there’s no guilt in using it regularly. As Patrick put it:
“You wouldn’t give your kids fast food every day and expect them to be healthy, so why do that to your plants? Seaweed is slow, natural, and nourishing.”
So no, I still wouldn’t describe myself as a “plant mom” – but I will admit that for the first time ever, my house is full of healthy, flowering plants. And while I am learning more generally, the improvement is thanks in no small part to a little bottle of liquid seaweed and some very sound advice too from Patrick.
Patrick explains why Mara Seaweed Fertiliser Works:
- Mimics nature: Seaweed survives extreme conditions, and passes on those traits to plants.
- Stress-busting: Helps plants thrive during stressful times like blooming, repotting, and weather changes.
- Rich in trace minerals: Promotes root health, colour, and longer blooms.
- 100% natural: No harsh chemicals or synthetic growth boosters.
- Versatile: Works equally well indoors and out.
It promotes strong roots, healthy foliage, and more resilient blooms.
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