Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Alpine Mouse-ear (Cerastium alpinum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Alpine Mouse-ear, Alpine Chickweed.
More about alpine mouse-ear
About Alpine Mouse-ear
Cerastium alpinum · also called Alpine Mouse-ear, Alpine Chickweed · flowering
A delicate, cushion-forming perennial native to Arctic and alpine zones across the Northern Hemisphere, including mountain ranges of Europe and North America. Produces small, pristine white flowers with notched petals above a compact mat of hairy, grey-green leaves in late spring. Best suited to troughs, alpine houses, or specialist rock gardens requiring excellent drainage.
Growth habit: Compact, cushion- to mat-forming perennial
What fertiliser alpine mouse-ear actually wants — and why
Alpine Mouse-ear is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for alpine mouse-ear: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed alpine mouse-ear, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For alpine mouse-ear:
Minimal fertilisation. A very light top-dressing of alpine grit with a small amount of slow-release balanced fertiliser in spring is the most that should be applied. Over-feeding produces untypical, weak growth inconsistent with the compact alpine habit. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when alpine mouse-ear is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for alpine mouse-ear
Half strength is the safe default for alpine mouse-ear — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water alpine mouse-ear first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the alpine mouse-ear watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding alpine mouse-ear
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for alpine mouse-ear:
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding alpine mouse-ear
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full alpine mouse-ear care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of alpine mouse-ear with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for alpine mouse-ear
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising alpine mouse-ear — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does alpine mouse-ear need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Alpine Mouse-ear is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed alpine mouse-ear?
Minimal fertilisation. A very light top-dressing of alpine grit with a small amount of slow-release balanced fertiliser in spring is the most that should be applied. Over-feeding produces untypical, weak growth inconsistent with the compact alpine habit. Minimal fertilisation. A very light top-dressing of alpine grit with a small amount of slow-release balanced fertiliser in spring is the most that should be applied. Over-feeding produces untypical, weak growth inconsistent with the compact alpine habit. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for alpine mouse-ear?
Half strength is the safe default for alpine mouse-ear — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding alpine mouse-ear look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding alpine mouse-ear year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of alpine mouse-ear?
Flush the pot of alpine mouse-ear with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Alpine Mouse-ear care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water alpine mouse-ear — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
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- How to fertilise deodar cedar 'karl fuchs'
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- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library