Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Flame vine (Pyrostegia venusta)— schedule & NPK
Also called Flame vine, Orange trumpet vine, Golden shower, Flamevine.
More about flame vine
About Flame vine
Pyrostegia venusta · also called Flame vine, Orange trumpet vine · tropical
One of the most spectacular flowering climbers for warm climates, Pyrostegia venusta produces brilliant orange tubular flower clusters from autumn through winter — a standout feature when little else blooms in frost-free gardens. Native to Brazil and Paraguay, it thrives in full sun, withstands drought once established, and grows vigorously to cover fences and pergolas in USDA zones 9–11.
Growth habit: Vigorous evergreen tendril climber
Watch for — Failure to flower: Usually caused by insufficient direct sunlight or excessive nitrogen fertiliser promoting foliage at the expense of blooms. Move to a sunnier position and switch to a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser.
What fertiliser flame vine actually wants — and why
Flame vine 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 flame vine: 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 flame vine, 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 flame vine:
Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. Supplement with a potassium-rich liquid feed every 2 weeks during active growth to encourage prolific flowering. Prune after flowering then fertilise to encourage a new flush. Treat that as every 2 weeks 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 flame vine 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 flame vine
Half strength is the safe default for flame vine — 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 flame vine first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the flame vine watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding flame vine
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for flame vine:
- 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 flame vine
- 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 flame vine care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of flame vine 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 flame vine
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 flame vine — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does flame vine 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. Flame vine 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 flame vine?
Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. Supplement with a potassium-rich liquid feed every 2 weeks during active growth to encourage prolific flowering. Prune after flowering then fertilise to encourage a new flush. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. Supplement with a potassium-rich liquid feed every 2 weeks during active growth to encourage prolific flowering. Prune after flowering then fertilise to encourage a new flush. Treat that as every 2 weeks 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 flame vine?
Half strength is the safe default for flame vine — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding flame vine 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 flame vine 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 flame vine?
Flush the pot of flame vine 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
- Flame vine care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water flame vine — 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 teddy bear palm
- How to fertilise baron's palm
- How to fertilise cabada palm
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library