Growli
Let's go

Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Nicotiana alata 'Perfume Deep Purple' (Nicotiana alata 'Perfume Deep Purple')— schedule & NPK

Also called Perfume Deep Purple Flowering Tobacco, Deep Purple Nicotiana.

More about nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'

About Nicotiana alata 'Perfume Deep Purple'

Nicotiana alata 'Perfume Deep Purple' · also called Perfume Deep Purple Flowering Tobacco, Deep Purple Nicotiana · flowering

A compact, fragrant flowering tobacco from the Perfume series, 'Perfume Deep Purple' bears clusters of star-shaped, deep violet-purple trumpets that release a rich evening scent. Bred for tidy bedding and containers, it flowers continuously through summer and attracts moths and other night pollinators. It thrives in sun to part shade and rewards deadheading with steady bloom.

Growth habit: Compact, bushy annual with sticky, hairy foliage and upright stems carrying open clusters of long-tubed, star-faced flowers that often open more fully toward evening.

What fertiliser nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' actually wants — and why

Nicotiana alata 'Perfume Deep Purple' 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple': 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple', 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple':

Feed every 2-4 weeks during growth and flowering with a balanced liquid fertiliser, or work slow-release feed into the bed at planting. Steady feeding supports its continuous bloom; container plants need more frequent feeding than those in the ground. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'

Half strength is the safe default for nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' — 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple':

Signs you are under-feeding nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'

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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' 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. Nicotiana alata 'Perfume Deep Purple' 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'?

Feed every 2-4 weeks during growth and flowering with a balanced liquid fertiliser, or work slow-release feed into the bed at planting. Steady feeding supports its continuous bloom; container plants need more frequent feeding than those in the ground. Feed every 2-4 weeks during growth and flowering with a balanced liquid fertiliser, or work slow-release feed into the bed at planting. Steady feeding supports its continuous bloom; container plants need more frequent feeding than those in the ground. Treat that as every 2-4 weeks 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'?

Half strength is the safe default for nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' 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 nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple'?

Flush the pot of nicotiana alata 'perfume deep purple' 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