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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare)— schedule & NPK

Also called Licorice plant, Silver licorice, Liquorice plant.

More about licorice plant

About Licorice plant

Helichrysum petiolare · also called Licorice plant, Silver licorice · flowering

Licorice plant is a trailing South African sub-shrub prized for its velvety, silver-grey felted foliage rather than its small, unremarkable white flowers. It cascades beautifully from containers, hanging baskets, and border edges, providing a soft foil for bright companions. It demands excellent drainage and full sun and is frost-tender outside zones 9–11.

Growth habit: Trailing to mounding evergreen sub-shrub

What fertiliser licorice plant actually wants — and why

Licorice plant 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 licorice plant: 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 licorice plant, 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 licorice plant:

Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength once a month during the growing season. Excessive feeding produces lush, soft growth prone to rot. No feeding needed in winter. Treat that as once a month 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 licorice plant 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 licorice plant

Half strength is the safe default for licorice plant — 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 licorice plant first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the licorice plant watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding licorice plant

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for licorice plant:

Signs you are under-feeding licorice plant

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full licorice plant care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of licorice plant 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 licorice plant

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 licorice plant — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does licorice plant 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. Licorice plant 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 licorice plant?

Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength once a month during the growing season. Excessive feeding produces lush, soft growth prone to rot. No feeding needed in winter. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength once a month during the growing season. Excessive feeding produces lush, soft growth prone to rot. No feeding needed in winter. Treat that as once a month 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 licorice plant?

Half strength is the safe default for licorice plant — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding licorice plant 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 licorice plant 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 licorice plant?

Flush the pot of licorice plant 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.

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