Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Kitten Tails (Besseya bullii)— schedule & NPK
Also called Kitten tails, Kittentails, Bull's besseya.
More about kitten tails
About Kitten Tails
Besseya bullii · also called Kitten tails, Kittentails · flowering
Besseya bullii is a rare, conservative perennial wildflower endemic to six Upper Midwestern US states — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio — where it inhabits dry sand prairies, oak savannas, bluff edges, and gravelly hillsides. It produces a basal rosette of woolly leaves from which a single fluffy spike of yellowish-green flowers emerges in April through June, standing 20–40 cm tall. The species is state-threatened or endangered across its entire range and is extremely sensitive to habitat disturbance, relying on periodic fire management to keep competing vegetation in check. Besseya bullii is not listed by the ASPCA and its safety for pets is unconfirmed; it is classified here as mildly toxic out of caution.
Growth habit: Small basal-rosette perennial with hairy, oval leaves 5–12 cm long; sends up a single flowering spike in spring then dies back.
Watch for — Competition from invasive grasses and weeds: This small plant is easily crowded out by aggressive grasses, non-native annuals, or shrubs. Regular spot weeding around the rosette and — in managed natural areas — periodic prescribed burning in early spring are essential to maintain open habitat.
What fertiliser kitten tails actually wants — and why
Kitten Tails 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 kitten tails: 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 kitten tails, 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 kitten tails:
Do not fertilise — additional nutrients favour competing weeds and grasses that suppress this small, slow-growing wildflower. 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 kitten tails 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 kitten tails
Half strength is the safe default for kitten tails — 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 kitten tails first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the kitten tails watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding kitten tails
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for kitten tails:
- 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 kitten tails
- 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 kitten tails care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of kitten tails 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 kitten tails
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 kitten tails — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does kitten tails 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. Kitten Tails 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 kitten tails?
Do not fertilise — additional nutrients favour competing weeds and grasses that suppress this small, slow-growing wildflower. Do not fertilise — additional nutrients favour competing weeds and grasses that suppress this small, slow-growing wildflower. 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 kitten tails?
Half strength is the safe default for kitten tails — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding kitten tails 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 kitten tails 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 kitten tails?
Flush the pot of kitten tails 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
- Kitten Tails care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water kitten tails — 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 liquidambar styraciflua
- How to fertilise liquidambar styraciflua 'worplesdon'
- How to fertilise nyssa sylvatica
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library