Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Ivory Tree (Wrightia antidysenterica)— schedule & NPK
Also called Ivory Tree, Easter Tree, Arctic Snow, Snowflake Tree, Ceylon Tagar.
More about ivory tree
About Ivory Tree
Wrightia antidysenterica · also called Ivory Tree, Easter Tree · tropical
Wrightia antidysenterica is a compact tropical shrub native to South and Southeast Asia, prized for its clouds of small, brilliantly white, star-shaped flowers that bloom profusely across most of the year in warm climates. It is adaptable, low-maintenance, and well-suited to container growing. All parts of the plant contain irritant alkaloids typical of the Apocynaceae family — handle with care around pets.
Growth habit: Compact, dense evergreen shrub with opposite, dark-green ovate-acuminate leaves; bushy, low-branching habit; blooms profusely and near-continuously in warm climates with minimal pruning
Watch for — Failure to flower: Usually due to insufficient light or excess nitrogen fertiliser. Move to a brighter position and switch to a phosphorus-rich bloom fertiliser. The Ivory Tree is a heavy bloomer in appropriate conditions; if moved outdoors in summer it typically flowers generously.
What fertiliser ivory tree actually wants — and why
Ivory Tree 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 ivory tree: 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 ivory tree, 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 ivory tree:
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser (e.g. 20-20-20) every 3–4 weeks during the growing season (spring through autumn). Switch to a phosphorus-rich bloom formula in late spring to encourage flower production. Do not feed in winter when growth slows. 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 ivory tree 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 ivory tree
Half strength is the safe default for ivory tree — 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 ivory tree first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the ivory tree watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding ivory tree
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for ivory tree:
- 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 ivory tree
- 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 ivory tree care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of ivory tree 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 ivory tree
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 ivory tree — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does ivory tree 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. Ivory Tree 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 ivory tree?
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser (e.g. 20-20-20) every 3–4 weeks during the growing season (spring through autumn). Switch to a phosphorus-rich bloom formula in late spring to encourage flower production. Do not feed in winter when growth slows. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser (e.g. 20-20-20) every 3–4 weeks during the growing season (spring through autumn). Switch to a phosphorus-rich bloom formula in late spring to encourage flower production. Do not feed in winter when growth slows. 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 ivory tree?
Half strength is the safe default for ivory tree — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding ivory tree 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 ivory tree 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 ivory tree?
Flush the pot of ivory tree 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
- Ivory Tree care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water ivory tree — 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 giant honeysuckle
- How to fertilise peruvian bougainvillea
- How to fertilise butt's bougainvillea
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library