Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Dove's-Foot Cranesbill (Geranium molle)— schedule & NPK
Also called Dove's-Foot Cranesbill, Dovesfoot Geranium, Soft Cranesbill.
More about dove's-foot cranesbill
About Dove's-Foot Cranesbill
Geranium molle · also called Dove's-Foot Cranesbill, Dovesfoot Geranium · flowering
Geranium molle is a low-growing, softly hairy annual wildflower native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia and now widely naturalised worldwide, including across North America. It forms a spreading rosette of rounded, softly lobed leaves with a distinctive velvety texture, producing a long succession of small, deep to pale pink notched flowers from March to September. It thrives in dry, poor, sunny soils and is especially tolerant of drought once established. True cranesbill Geranium species are not listed as toxic to pets by the ASPCA, and this species is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Growth habit: Spreading, low-growing annual with softly hairy, rounded and shallowly lobed grey-green leaves; highly branched stems radiate from a central taproot and can spread to 40 cm.
What fertiliser dove's-foot cranesbill actually wants — and why
Dove's-Foot Cranesbill 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 dove's-foot cranesbill: 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 dove's-foot cranesbill, 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 dove's-foot cranesbill:
No feeding required — performs best in lean conditions; fertiliser promotes excessive leafy growth and weakens the trailing 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 dove's-foot cranesbill 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 dove's-foot cranesbill
Half strength is the safe default for dove's-foot cranesbill — 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 dove's-foot cranesbill first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the dove's-foot cranesbill watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding dove's-foot cranesbill
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for dove's-foot cranesbill:
- 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 dove's-foot cranesbill
- 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 dove's-foot cranesbill care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of dove's-foot cranesbill 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 dove's-foot cranesbill
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 dove's-foot cranesbill — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does dove's-foot cranesbill 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. Dove's-Foot Cranesbill 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 dove's-foot cranesbill?
No feeding required — performs best in lean conditions; fertiliser promotes excessive leafy growth and weakens the trailing habit. No feeding required — performs best in lean conditions; fertiliser promotes excessive leafy growth and weakens the trailing 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 dove's-foot cranesbill?
Half strength is the safe default for dove's-foot cranesbill — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding dove's-foot cranesbill 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 dove's-foot cranesbill 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 dove's-foot cranesbill?
Flush the pot of dove's-foot cranesbill 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
- Dove's-Foot Cranesbill care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water dove's-foot cranesbill — 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 sesse's sage
- How to fertilise sinaloa sage
- How to fertilise pitcher sage
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library