Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Hairy Stonecrop (Prometheum pilosum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Hairy Stonecrop, Hairy Rosularia.
More about hairy stonecrop
About Hairy Stonecrop
Prometheum pilosum · also called Hairy Stonecrop, Hairy Rosularia · houseplant
A charming, miniature biennial (or short-lived perennial) succulent from the Caucasus Mountains and northeast Turkey, formerly classified as Sedum pilosum. It forms tight, hairy rosettes resembling a small Sempervivum, flowers in its second year, then dies — but produces offsets if conditions suit. Ideal for alpine troughs, gritty pans, and bright windowsills.
Growth habit: Monocarpic or occasionally short-lived perennial forming a single tight rosette; may produce lateral offsets before or after flowering
What fertiliser hairy stonecrop actually wants — and why
Hairy Stonecrop 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 hairy stonecrop: 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 hairy stonecrop, 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 hairy stonecrop:
Apply a single, very diluted low-nitrogen liquid feed in spring. No further feeding needed; rich soil encourages soft, rot-prone growth that is out of character for this mountain species. 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 hairy stonecrop 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 hairy stonecrop
Half strength is the safe default for hairy stonecrop — 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 hairy stonecrop first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the hairy stonecrop watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding hairy stonecrop
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for hairy stonecrop:
- 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 hairy stonecrop
- 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 hairy stonecrop care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of hairy stonecrop 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 hairy stonecrop
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 hairy stonecrop — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does hairy stonecrop 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. Hairy Stonecrop 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 hairy stonecrop?
Apply a single, very diluted low-nitrogen liquid feed in spring. No further feeding needed; rich soil encourages soft, rot-prone growth that is out of character for this mountain species. Apply a single, very diluted low-nitrogen liquid feed in spring. No further feeding needed; rich soil encourages soft, rot-prone growth that is out of character for this mountain species. 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 hairy stonecrop?
Half strength is the safe default for hairy stonecrop — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding hairy stonecrop 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 hairy stonecrop 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 hairy stonecrop?
Flush the pot of hairy stonecrop 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
- Hairy Stonecrop care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water hairy stonecrop — 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 acorus gramineus 'variegatus'
- How to fertilise aponogeton crispus
- How to fertilise marsilea quadrifolia
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library