Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Argyroderma delaetii (Argyroderma delaetii)— schedule & NPK
Also called silver skin plant, bum plant.
More about argyroderma delaetii
About Argyroderma delaetii
Argyroderma delaetii · also called silver skin plant, bum plant · houseplant
Argyroderma delaetii, nicknamed the bum plant for its smooth, paired silver-green leaves cleft down the middle, is a winter-growing mesemb from the Knersvlakte quartz fields of South Africa. It opens magenta, yellow or white daisy-like flowers from late autumn into winter. It needs very bright light, a pure mineral mix and water timed to its cool-season growth.
Growth habit: Dwarf, slow, clump-forming mesemb. Forms one to several pairs of fused, near-spherical to egg-shaped silvery leaves on a short stem, slowly building into a small mound.
Watch for — Burst or split leaves: Overwatering swells the leaf pair until it splits open, inviting rot. Water only when fully dry and keep feeding minimal.
What fertiliser argyroderma delaetii actually wants — and why
Argyroderma delaetii is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue.
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 argyroderma delaetii: 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 argyroderma delaetii, 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 argyroderma delaetii:
Minimal. At most one weak, low-nitrogen cactus feed at quarter strength during the autumn-to-winter growth period. Too much feed swells the leaves and makes them prone to splitting and rot. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when argyroderma delaetii 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 argyroderma delaetii
Quarter to half strength at most for argyroderma delaetii. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water argyroderma delaetii first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the argyroderma delaetii watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding argyroderma delaetii
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for argyroderma delaetii:
- Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves.
- A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim.
- Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges.
- Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it.
Signs you are under-feeding argyroderma delaetii
- Uncommon — succulents tolerate lean conditions well.
- Very slow growth and dull, faded colour over a long period.
- Older leaves shed faster than new ones replace them in a tired old mix.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full argyroderma delaetii care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of argyroderma delaetii until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for argyroderma delaetii
Organic options
A heavily diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed once or twice in summer. UK: a drop of Westland seaweed feed; US: quarter-strength Espoma Cactus! or Dr. Earth liquid. Fresh free-draining mix matters more than any feed.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A dedicated cactus/succulent liquid at quarter to half strength — UK: Baby Bio Cacti & Succulent Drip Feeders or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food or Schultz Cactus Plus.
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 argyroderma delaetii — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does argyroderma delaetii need?
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue. Argyroderma delaetii is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
How often should I feed argyroderma delaetii?
Minimal. At most one weak, low-nitrogen cactus feed at quarter strength during the autumn-to-winter growth period. Too much feed swells the leaves and makes them prone to splitting and rot. Minimal. At most one weak, low-nitrogen cactus feed at quarter strength during the autumn-to-winter growth period. Too much feed swells the leaves and makes them prone to splitting and rot. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
What strength of feed for argyroderma delaetii?
Quarter to half strength at most for argyroderma delaetii. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
What does over-feeding argyroderma delaetii look like?
Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim. Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges. Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it. Feeding argyroderma delaetii like a leafy houseplant is the classic error — it produces a flush of pale, stretched, floppy growth that never firms up and is prone to rot at the base.
Should I flush the soil of argyroderma delaetii?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of argyroderma delaetii until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- Argyroderma delaetii care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water argyroderma delaetii — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library