Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Jungle Geranium (Ixora coccinea)— schedule & NPK
Also called Jungle geranium, Flame of the woods, Jungle flame, Iron tree, Maui sunset, Ixora.
More about jungle geranium
About Jungle Geranium
Ixora coccinea · also called Jungle geranium, Flame of the woods · flowering
Jungle geranium (Ixora coccinea) is a tropical evergreen shrub from the coffee family, grown for near-continuous globular clusters of red, orange, pink, or yellow tubular flowers. It demands full sun, acidic soil, warmth, and humidity. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, making it pet-safe.
Growth habit: Dense, bushy, rounded evergreen shrub with glossy dark-green oblong leaves in opposite pairs; blooms in showy globular corymbs nearly year-round in ideal conditions. Responds well to pruning and shearing, and is often kept compact as a container plant, hedge, or bonsai subject.
Watch for — Leaf chlorosis (yellowing between veins): The most common Ixora complaint, caused by alkaline soil or iron deficiency. Lower soil pH with an acidifying fertiliser and apply chelated iron; avoid hard tap water where possible.
What fertiliser jungle geranium actually wants — and why
Jungle Geranium is an acid-loving plant — it can only take up nutrients in acidic soil, so the feed itself matters less than using an ericaceous formula and never liming.
An ericaceous (acidic) fertiliser, formulated to keep the soil pH low and supply iron and trace elements in a form acid-loving roots can absorb. Ordinary feeds and any lime lock out iron and yellow the leaves.
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 jungle geranium: 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 jungle geranium, 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 jungle geranium:
Feed every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer with an acidifying fertiliser formulated for acid-loving plants (such as one for azaleas or camellias) to support continuous flowering and prevent chlorosis. Supplement with chelated iron if leaves yellow between green veins. Stop or reduce feeding in winter. In practice: an ericaceous feed in spring as growth resumes, repeated through the main growing months; never apply lime, bonemeal or wood ash, which raise pH.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when jungle geranium 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 jungle geranium
Follow the ericaceous product's own rate — these are formulated for the plant, so the dilution on the label is right for jungle geranium. The variable that actually matters is pH, not concentration.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water jungle geranium first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the jungle geranium watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding jungle geranium
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for jungle geranium:
- Brown, scorched leaf margins from too strong or too frequent a dose.
- White salt crust on the soil surface.
- Soft, lush growth that fruits or flowers poorly.
Signs you are under-feeding jungle geranium
- Yellowing leaves with green veins (iron chlorosis from high pH).
- Weak growth, poor cropping and an overall pale, stressed look.
- Stunted new shoots in spring despite adequate water and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full jungle geranium care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush jungle geranium with rainwater (not hard tap water, which raises pH) if salts build up; better still, mulch with pine needles or composted bark and water with rainwater to hold the acidity.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for jungle geranium
Organic options
Composted pine bark, pine-needle mulch, used coffee grounds and an organic ericaceous feed gently maintain acidity. UK: Vitax or Westland Ericaceous; US: Espoma Holly-tone or Dr. Earth Acid Lovers. Slow, soil-improving, hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A liquid or granular ericaceous feed — UK: Miracle-Gro Ericaceous, Vitax or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro Acid-Loving Plant Food or Espoma Holly-tone. Pair with rainwater and an acidic mulch for it to work.
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 jungle geranium — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does jungle geranium need?
An ericaceous (acidic) fertiliser, formulated to keep the soil pH low and supply iron and trace elements in a form acid-loving roots can absorb. Ordinary feeds and any lime lock out iron and yellow the leaves. Jungle Geranium is an acid-loving plant — it can only take up nutrients in acidic soil, so the feed itself matters less than using an ericaceous formula and never liming.
How often should I feed jungle geranium?
Feed every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer with an acidifying fertiliser formulated for acid-loving plants (such as one for azaleas or camellias) to support continuous flowering and prevent chlorosis. Supplement with chelated iron if leaves yellow between green veins. Stop or reduce feeding in winter. Feed every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer with an acidifying fertiliser formulated for acid-loving plants (such as one for azaleas or camellias) to support continuous flowering and prevent chlorosis. Supplement with chelated iron if leaves yellow between green veins. Stop or reduce feeding in winter. In practice: an ericaceous feed in spring as growth resumes, repeated through the main growing months; never apply lime, bonemeal or wood ash, which raise pH.
What strength of feed for jungle geranium?
Follow the ericaceous product's own rate — these are formulated for the plant, so the dilution on the label is right for jungle geranium. The variable that actually matters is pH, not concentration.
What does over-feeding jungle geranium look like?
Brown, scorched leaf margins from too strong or too frequent a dose. White salt crust on the soil surface. Soft, lush growth that fruits or flowers poorly. Feeding jungle geranium an ordinary fertiliser, or growing it in hard tap water / limey soil, is the defining mistake — it triggers lime-induced chlorosis (yellow leaves, green veins) no amount of feeding fixes until the pH comes down.
Should I flush the soil of jungle geranium?
Flush jungle geranium with rainwater (not hard tap water, which raises pH) if salts build up; better still, mulch with pine needles or composted bark and water with rainwater to hold the acidity.
Keep reading
- Jungle Geranium care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water jungle geranium — 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 peace lily
- How to fertilise bird of paradise
- How to fertilise hoya
- All 609 fertilising guides in the Growli library