Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Mountain Germander (Teucrium montanum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Mountain Germander, Creeping Germander.
More about mountain germander
About Mountain Germander
Teucrium montanum · also called Mountain Germander, Creeping Germander · flowering
Teucrium montanum is a low, mat-forming evergreen subshrub native to calcareous rocky hillsides and limestone grasslands across central and southern Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to the Balkans. It bears narrow, grey-green aromatic leaves and produces creamy-white to pale yellow flowers on short terminal heads from June to September, attracting bees and butterflies. Full sun and sharply drained, alkaline soil are essential; it excels in rock gardens and dry-stone wall crevices. The plant is mildly toxic if ingested due to diterpene compounds present throughout the Teucrium genus.
Growth habit: Prostrate to mat-forming evergreen subshrub, spreading slowly outward.
What fertiliser mountain germander actually wants — and why
Mountain Germander 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 mountain germander: 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 mountain germander, 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 mountain germander:
No regular feeding necessary; apply a very light topdressing of grit and a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring if growth appears weak. 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 mountain germander 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 mountain germander
Half strength is the safe default for mountain germander — 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 mountain germander first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the mountain germander watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding mountain germander
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for mountain germander:
- 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 mountain germander
- 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 mountain germander care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of mountain germander 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 mountain germander
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 mountain germander — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does mountain germander 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. Mountain Germander 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 mountain germander?
No regular feeding necessary; apply a very light topdressing of grit and a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring if growth appears weak. No regular feeding necessary; apply a very light topdressing of grit and a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring if growth appears weak. 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 mountain germander?
Half strength is the safe default for mountain germander — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding mountain germander 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 mountain germander 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 mountain germander?
Flush the pot of mountain germander 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
- Mountain Germander care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water mountain germander — 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 dark beauty heather
- How to fertilise silver knight heather
- How to fertilise firefly heather
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library