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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Curio Citriformis (Curio citriformis)— schedule & NPK

Also called string of teardrops, lemon bean plant.

More about curio citriformis

About Curio Citriformis

Curio citriformis · also called string of teardrops, lemon bean plant · houseplant

Curio citriformis, the string of teardrops (formerly Senecio citriformis), is a compact South African trailing succulent with plump, lemon- or teardrop-shaped blue-green leaves dusted in a fine waxy bloom and marked with faint translucent lines. Slower and tidier than string of bananas, it spills gently from hanging pots and needs bright light, lean draining soil and careful watering.

Growth habit: Compact, moderately trailing succulent with stems of teardrop leaves that spill over a pot edge; roots at nodes and forms tidy cascades over time.

What fertiliser curio citriformis actually wants — and why

Curio Citriformis 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 curio citriformis: 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 curio citriformis, 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 curio citriformis:

Feed sparingly with a dilute, low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser at half strength once a month in spring and summer. Avoid feeding in the cooler, dormant months. Treat that as once a month 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 curio citriformis 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 curio citriformis

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

Signs you are over-feeding curio citriformis

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

Signs you are under-feeding curio citriformis

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

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of curio citriformis 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 curio citriformis

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 curio citriformis — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does curio citriformis 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. Curio Citriformis 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 curio citriformis?

Feed sparingly with a dilute, low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser at half strength once a month in spring and summer. Avoid feeding in the cooler, dormant months. Feed sparingly with a dilute, low-nitrogen succulent fertiliser at half strength once a month in spring and summer. Avoid feeding in the cooler, dormant months. Treat that as once a month 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 curio citriformis?

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

What does over-feeding curio citriformis 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 curio citriformis 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 curio citriformis?

Flush the pot of curio citriformis 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.

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