Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Mathilde's Rock Jasmine (Androsace mathildae)— schedule & NPK
Also called Mathilde's rock jasmine, Mathilde's androsace.
More about mathilde's rock jasmine
About Mathilde's Rock Jasmine
Androsace mathildae · also called Mathilde's rock jasmine, Mathilde's androsace · flowering
Androsace mathildae is an extremely rare cushion-forming alpine endemic to the high limestone peaks of the central Apennines in Italy, found only above 2,350 m on Gran Sasso and Majella. It produces compact, silvery-hairy rosettes bearing small white to pale-pink flowers in late spring and demands near-perfect sharp drainage with protection from winter wet. As a true high-alpine, it thrives in cool summers and must never sit in waterlogged soil, making raised tufa crevices or alpine house cultivation the safest approach in UK gardens. Androsace is not listed by the ASPCA; as no pet-safety data is confirmed, treat it as mildly toxic and keep away from cats and dogs as a precaution.
Growth habit: Tight cushion-forming evergreen perennial; individual rosettes slowly compact into a dense hummock 5–15 cm across.
Watch for — Vine weevil: Larvae feed on roots and crowns at soil level, causing sudden wilting. Treat with nematode biological control (Steinernema kraussei) applied in early autumn when soil is still warm.
What fertiliser mathilde's rock jasmine actually wants — and why
Mathilde's Rock Jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine: 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 mathilde's rock jasmine, 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 mathilde's rock jasmine:
Apply a single light top-dressing of slow-release low-nitrogen alpine fertiliser in early spring; excessive feeding produces soft, rot-prone growth. 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 mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine
Half strength is the safe default for mathilde's rock jasmine — 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 mathilde's rock jasmine first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the mathilde's rock jasmine watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding mathilde's rock jasmine
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for mathilde's rock jasmine:
- 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 mathilde's rock jasmine
- 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 mathilde's rock jasmine care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine
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 mathilde's rock jasmine — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does mathilde's rock jasmine 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. Mathilde's Rock Jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine?
Apply a single light top-dressing of slow-release low-nitrogen alpine fertiliser in early spring; excessive feeding produces soft, rot-prone growth. Apply a single light top-dressing of slow-release low-nitrogen alpine fertiliser in early spring; excessive feeding produces soft, rot-prone growth. 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 mathilde's rock jasmine?
Half strength is the safe default for mathilde's rock jasmine — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine 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 mathilde's rock jasmine?
Flush the pot of mathilde's rock jasmine 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
- Mathilde's Rock Jasmine care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water mathilde's rock jasmine — 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 centaurea 'amethyst in snow'
- How to fertilise yellow foxglove
- How to fertilise straw foxglove
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library