Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Red Vygie (Lampranthus coccineus)— schedule & NPK
Also called Red Vygie, Scarlet Ice Plant, Red Mesemb.
More about red vygie
About Red Vygie
Lampranthus coccineus · also called Red Vygie, Scarlet Ice Plant · houseplant
Red Vygie is a striking South African succulent in the Aizoaceae family, producing vivid scarlet-red, daisy-like flowers in spring. Its silvery-green, cylindrical leaves form sprawling mats ideal for sunny containers and rockeries. One of the most brightly coloured Lampranthus species. Non-toxic and considered pet-safe.
Growth habit: Sprawling, mat-forming succulent sub-shrub
What fertiliser red vygie actually wants — and why
Red Vygie is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue.
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 red vygie: 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 red vygie, 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 red vygie:
Feed with a dilute low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (quarter-strength) once a month in spring and summer. Cease feeding in autumn and winter. High nitrogen promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Keep that to once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when red vygie 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 red vygie
Quarter to half strength at most for red vygie. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water red vygie first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the red vygie watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding red vygie
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for red vygie:
- Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves.
- A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim.
- Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges.
- Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it.
Signs you are under-feeding red vygie
- Uncommon — succulents tolerate lean conditions well.
- Very slow growth and dull, faded colour over a long period.
- Older leaves shed faster than new ones replace them in a tired old mix.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full red vygie care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of red vygie until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for red vygie
Organic options
A heavily diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed once or twice in summer. UK: a drop of Westland seaweed feed; US: quarter-strength Espoma Cactus! or Dr. Earth liquid. Fresh free-draining mix matters more than any feed.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A dedicated cactus/succulent liquid at quarter to half strength — UK: Baby Bio Cacti & Succulent Drip Feeders or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food or Schultz Cactus Plus.
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 red vygie — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does red vygie need?
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue. Red Vygie is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
How often should I feed red vygie?
Feed with a dilute low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (quarter-strength) once a month in spring and summer. Cease feeding in autumn and winter. High nitrogen promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Feed with a dilute low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (quarter-strength) once a month in spring and summer. Cease feeding in autumn and winter. High nitrogen promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Keep that to once a month between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
What strength of feed for red vygie?
Quarter to half strength at most for red vygie. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
What does over-feeding red vygie look like?
Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim. Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges. Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it. Feeding red vygie like a leafy houseplant is the classic error — it produces a flush of pale, stretched, floppy growth that never firms up and is prone to rot at the base.
Should I flush the soil of red vygie?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of red vygie until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- Red Vygie care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water red vygie — 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 caladium 'white queen'
- How to fertilise caladium 'florida sweetheart'
- How to fertilise caladium 'red flash'
- All 11687 fertilising guides in the Growli library