Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Haworth's Lampranthus (Lampranthus haworthii)— schedule & NPK
Also called Haworth's Lampranthus, Purple Brightfig, Haworth's Ice Plant.
More about haworth's lampranthus
About Haworth's Lampranthus
Lampranthus haworthii · also called Haworth's Lampranthus, Purple Brightfig · flowering
A tall, erect South African subshrub with glaucous, cylindrical leaves and large, showy white to pale mauve or light pink flowers up to 7 cm across, blooming mid-winter to early spring. One of the larger Lampranthus species, suited to Mediterranean gardens, coastal slopes, and frost-free rockeries. Drought-tolerant and fast-growing once established.
Growth habit: Tall, erect, branching subshrub
What fertiliser haworth's lampranthus actually wants — and why
Haworth's Lampranthus 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 haworth's lampranthus: 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 haworth's lampranthus, 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 haworth's lampranthus:
Feed once in late autumn (the start of its growing season) with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser. A second light feed in late winter supports flowering. Avoid overfeeding, which causes excess leafy growth. 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 haworth's lampranthus 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 haworth's lampranthus
Half strength is the safe default for haworth's lampranthus — 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 haworth's lampranthus first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the haworth's lampranthus watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding haworth's lampranthus
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for haworth's lampranthus:
- 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 haworth's lampranthus
- 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 haworth's lampranthus care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of haworth's lampranthus 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 haworth's lampranthus
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 haworth's lampranthus — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does haworth's lampranthus 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. Haworth's Lampranthus 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 haworth's lampranthus?
Feed once in late autumn (the start of its growing season) with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser. A second light feed in late winter supports flowering. Avoid overfeeding, which causes excess leafy growth. Feed once in late autumn (the start of its growing season) with a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser. A second light feed in late winter supports flowering. Avoid overfeeding, which causes excess leafy growth. 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 haworth's lampranthus?
Half strength is the safe default for haworth's lampranthus — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding haworth's lampranthus 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 haworth's lampranthus 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 haworth's lampranthus?
Flush the pot of haworth's lampranthus 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
- Haworth's Lampranthus care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water haworth's lampranthus — 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 malus floribunda
- How to fertilise malus tschonoskii
- How to fertilise cercis canadensis 'forest pansy'
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library