Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum)— schedule & NPK
Also called donkey tail, horse tail, lamb tail.
About Burro's tail
Sedum morganianum · also called donkey tail, horse tail · houseplant
Burro's tail is a Mexican trailing succulent with plump blue-green leaves arranged in dense braided strands. Leaves drop at the slightest touch, so it is best kept where it will not be brushed. Pet-safe and drought-tolerant.
Sedum morganianum (Crassulaceae), native to southern Mexico, recorded wild on vertical igneous cliffs in ravines of central Veracruz within tropical deciduous forest, an origin that explains its pendulous, hanging habit.
Very light appetite; feed only once or twice across the entire growing season rather than on a regular schedule.
Growth habit: Trailing succulent
Watch for — Pale washed-out colour: Too little light.
Sources: hort.extension.wisc.edu, plants.ces.ncsu.edu, en.wikipedia.org
What fertiliser burro's tail actually wants — and why
Burro's tail 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 burro's tail: 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 burro's tail, 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 burro's tail:
Quarter-strength succulent feed every 6-8 weeks in spring and summer. Keep that to every 6-8 weeks 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 burro's tail 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 burro's tail
Quarter to half strength at most for burro's tail. 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 burro's tail first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the burro's tail watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding burro's tail
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for burro's tail:
- 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 burro's tail
- 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 burro's tail 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 burro's tail until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for burro's tail
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 burro's tail — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does burro's tail 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. Burro's tail 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 burro's tail?
Quarter-strength succulent feed every 6-8 weeks in spring and summer. Quarter-strength succulent feed every 6-8 weeks in spring and summer. Keep that to every 6-8 weeks between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
What strength of feed for burro's tail?
Quarter to half strength at most for burro's tail. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
What does over-feeding burro's tail 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 burro's tail 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 burro's tail?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of burro's tail until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- Burro's tail care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water burro's tail — 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 200 fertilising guides in the Growli library