Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue')— schedule & NPK
Also called Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar, Blue Deodar Cedar.
More about feelin' blue deodar cedar
About Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara 'Feelin' Blue' · also called Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar, Weeping Blue Himalayan Cedar · houseplant
A prostrate to low-spreading dwarf cultivar of the Deodar Cedar, native to the western Himalayas, selected for its striking steel-blue, pendulous foliage. Left unsupported it spreads as a ground-hugging mat; when staked it forms a small weeping standard with gracefully arching branches. Full sun and excellent drainage are non-negotiable — this cultivar is drought-tolerant once established but will not tolerate wet roots. True Cedrus deodara is not toxic to cats or dogs.
Growth habit: Prostrate spreading groundcover when unsupported; can be trained as a weeping standard by staking the leader, growing 15–20 cm per year in width.
What fertiliser feelin' blue deodar cedar actually wants — and why
Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar: 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar, 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar:
Apply a balanced granular slow-release fertiliser in early spring; established plants need little feeding as excess nitrogen promotes soft growth susceptible to disease. 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar
Half strength is the safe default for feelin' blue deodar cedar — 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the feelin' blue deodar cedar watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding feelin' blue deodar cedar
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for feelin' blue deodar cedar:
- 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar
- 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of feelin' blue deodar cedar 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar
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 feelin' blue deodar cedar — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does feelin' blue deodar cedar 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. Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar?
Apply a balanced granular slow-release fertiliser in early spring; established plants need little feeding as excess nitrogen promotes soft growth susceptible to disease. Apply a balanced granular slow-release fertiliser in early spring; established plants need little feeding as excess nitrogen promotes soft growth susceptible to disease. 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar?
Half strength is the safe default for feelin' blue deodar cedar — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding feelin' blue deodar cedar 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar 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 feelin' blue deodar cedar?
Flush the pot of feelin' blue deodar cedar 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
- Feelin' Blue Deodar Cedar care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water feelin' blue deodar cedar — 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 kalanchoe fedtschenkoi
- How to fertilise kalanchoe pumila
- How to fertilise kalanchoe orgyalis
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library