Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Majeste Pulmonaria (Pulmonaria 'Majeste')— schedule & NPK
Also called Majeste lungwort, silver-leaved pulmonaria.
More about majeste pulmonaria
About Majeste Pulmonaria
Pulmonaria 'Majeste' · also called Majeste lungwort, silver-leaved pulmonaria · flowering
'Majeste' is a striking lungwort grown for near-solid silver foliage that lights up shady borders, with early spring flowers opening pink and maturing to violet-blue. It makes superb woodland ground cover in moist, humus-rich shade. Pulmonaria isn't individually ASPCA-listed, so treat it cautiously around cats and dogs.
Growth habit: Low, clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial spreading gently by rhizomes to form dense, silver ground cover. Flower stems rise early in spring above the developing rosettes of bristly, near-white leaves.
Watch for — Faded or scorched silver leaves: Too much sun or dry soil dulls and burns the silver. Move to deeper shade and keep the root zone moist and mulched.
What fertiliser majeste pulmonaria actually wants — and why
Majeste Pulmonaria 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 majeste pulmonaria: 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 majeste pulmonaria, 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 majeste pulmonaria:
Low-maintenance; an annual spring mulch of compost or leaf mould generally covers its needs. A light balanced feed in spring on poorer soils supports the foliage display. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which softens growth and invites mildew. 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 majeste pulmonaria 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 majeste pulmonaria
Half strength is the safe default for majeste pulmonaria — 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 majeste pulmonaria first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the majeste pulmonaria watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding majeste pulmonaria
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for majeste pulmonaria:
- 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 majeste pulmonaria
- 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 majeste pulmonaria care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of majeste pulmonaria 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 majeste pulmonaria
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 majeste pulmonaria — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does majeste pulmonaria 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. Majeste Pulmonaria 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 majeste pulmonaria?
Low-maintenance; an annual spring mulch of compost or leaf mould generally covers its needs. A light balanced feed in spring on poorer soils supports the foliage display. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which softens growth and invites mildew. Low-maintenance; an annual spring mulch of compost or leaf mould generally covers its needs. A light balanced feed in spring on poorer soils supports the foliage display. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which softens growth and invites mildew. 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 majeste pulmonaria?
Half strength is the safe default for majeste pulmonaria — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding majeste pulmonaria 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 majeste pulmonaria 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 majeste pulmonaria?
Flush the pot of majeste pulmonaria 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
- Majeste Pulmonaria care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water majeste pulmonaria — 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 3899 fertilising guides in the Growli library