Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Mysore trumpetvine (Thunbergia mysorensis)— schedule & NPK
Also called Mysore trumpetvine, Mysore clock vine, Indian clock vine, Brick and butter vine.
More about mysore trumpetvine
About Mysore trumpetvine
Thunbergia mysorensis · also called Mysore trumpetvine, Mysore clock vine · tropical
Mysore trumpetvine is a spectacular evergreen woody climber from the Western Ghats of southern India, producing dramatic pendulous racemes of large chocolate-red and yellow tubular flowers year-round in warm climates. Best grown in a heated glasshouse or tropical garden. Thunbergia is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA and is considered safe around pets.
Growth habit: Vigorous evergreen woody twining climber
What fertiliser mysore trumpetvine actually wants — and why
Mysore trumpetvine 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 mysore trumpetvine: 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 mysore trumpetvine, 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 mysore trumpetvine:
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly during active growth. Switch to a potassium-high feed in late summer to encourage continued flower production. Reduce feeding to nil during the winter rest period. Treat that as monthly 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 mysore trumpetvine 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 mysore trumpetvine
Half strength is the safe default for mysore trumpetvine — 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 mysore trumpetvine first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the mysore trumpetvine watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding mysore trumpetvine
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for mysore trumpetvine:
- 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 mysore trumpetvine
- 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 mysore trumpetvine care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of mysore trumpetvine 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 mysore trumpetvine
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 mysore trumpetvine — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does mysore trumpetvine 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. Mysore trumpetvine 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 mysore trumpetvine?
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly during active growth. Switch to a potassium-high feed in late summer to encourage continued flower production. Reduce feeding to nil during the winter rest period. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly during active growth. Switch to a potassium-high feed in late summer to encourage continued flower production. Reduce feeding to nil during the winter rest period. Treat that as monthly 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 mysore trumpetvine?
Half strength is the safe default for mysore trumpetvine — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding mysore trumpetvine 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 mysore trumpetvine 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 mysore trumpetvine?
Flush the pot of mysore trumpetvine 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
- Mysore trumpetvine care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water mysore trumpetvine — 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 carob
- How to fertilise jujube
- How to fertilise indian gooseberry
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library