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Nitrogen.
That first number means nitrogen.
If you're growing lettuce or collard greens, you want plenty of nitrogen. Such as 20-20-20.
24-8-16 will get you Adenium vines that will never flower, and will fall over and rot easily. "House plants" are normally just foliage, leafy things, hey? Ferns, vines, coleus.
I use a bloom booster type of fertilizer with the big middle number. I add about an equal amount of Muriate of Potash. Five pound bag is a bit pricey, maybe $12, but by the spoonful, it'll last years. I'll make a gallon, then put just a little, two cups? in another gallon jug and top that off with plain water. So, almost every time I water, I'm lightly feeding, also.
See if you can find a fertilizer with micro nutrients, Boron, zinc and copper. Deficiencies can make flowers that have ribbons instead of petals.
Feed and water when you see new baby leaves. LOOK at your plants closely, regularly. 3/4 of a plant grower's talent is observation. If you don't have new leaves growing, just water sparingly. Flowers don't count, they don't respire (breathe and loose water) like leaves do.
Whew, a lot of typing and thinking all at once!
