Growli
Let's go

Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Basketgrass (Oplismenus hirtellus 'Variegatus')— schedule & NPK

Also called Basketgrass, Variegated Basket Grass, Ribbon Grass.

More about basketgrass

About Basketgrass

Oplismenus hirtellus 'Variegatus' · also called Basketgrass, Variegated Basket Grass · houseplant

A fast-growing, trailing ornamental grass with narrow leaves striped in white, green, and rose-pink. Excellent in hanging baskets or as ground cover in conservatories. Needs bright indirect light to maintain its vivid variegation, regular watering during growth, and periodic hard cutting back as it becomes straggly after one to two years.

Growth habit: Trailing, mat-forming annual/short-lived perennial grass; vigorous spreader

What fertiliser basketgrass actually wants — and why

Basketgrass 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 basketgrass: 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 basketgrass, 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 basketgrass:

Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 2–3 weeks during the growing season (spring through early autumn). No feeding needed in winter. 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 basketgrass 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 basketgrass

Half strength is the safe default for basketgrass — 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 basketgrass first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the basketgrass watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding basketgrass

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for basketgrass:

Signs you are under-feeding basketgrass

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full basketgrass care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of basketgrass 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 basketgrass

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 basketgrass — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does basketgrass 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. Basketgrass 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 basketgrass?

Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 2–3 weeks during the growing season (spring through early autumn). No feeding needed in winter. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 2–3 weeks during the growing season (spring through early autumn). No feeding needed in winter. 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 basketgrass?

Half strength is the safe default for basketgrass — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding basketgrass 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 basketgrass 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 basketgrass?

Flush the pot of basketgrass 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