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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' (Geum 'Scarlet Tempest')— schedule & NPK

Also called Scarlet Tempest avens.

More about geum 'scarlet tempest'

About Geum 'Scarlet Tempest'

Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' · also called Scarlet Tempest avens · flowering

Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' is a compact, long-blooming avens bearing semi-double, ruffled scarlet flowers with subtle apricot tones over neat mounds of fresh green foliage. Flowering generously from late spring well into summer, it is tidy, weather-resistant and reliable in sunny to lightly shaded borders and containers, and it pairs vividly with cool blues and purples.

Growth habit: Compact, neat clump-forming habit with a tidy mound of foliage and well-held flower stems; more restrained than older avens cultivars.

What fertiliser geum 'scarlet tempest' actually wants — and why

Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest': 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 geum 'scarlet tempest', 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 geum 'scarlet tempest':

Moderate feeder. Mulch with compost and apply a balanced fertiliser in spring; container plants benefit from regular liquid feeding through the growing season to sustain the long bloom. 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 geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'

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

Signs you are over-feeding geum 'scarlet tempest'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for geum 'scarlet tempest':

Signs you are under-feeding geum 'scarlet tempest'

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

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'

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 geum 'scarlet tempest' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does geum 'scarlet tempest' 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. Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'?

Moderate feeder. Mulch with compost and apply a balanced fertiliser in spring; container plants benefit from regular liquid feeding through the growing season to sustain the long bloom. Moderate feeder. Mulch with compost and apply a balanced fertiliser in spring; container plants benefit from regular liquid feeding through the growing season to sustain the long bloom. 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'?

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

What does over-feeding geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'?

Flush the pot of geum 'scarlet tempest' 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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