Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Peregrina (Jatropha integerrima)— schedule & NPK
Also called Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha, Peregrina Jatropha.
More about peregrina
About Peregrina
Jatropha integerrima · also called Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha · flowering
Peregrina is a vigorous, evergreen tropical shrub or small tree from Cuba, prized for its near-continuous display of vivid crimson-red flowers and attractive, variably shaped leaves. It is a top performer in warm-climate gardens and a standout container plant. Full sun maximises flowering; it is frost-tender but recovers quickly from brief light frost damage.
Growth habit: Multi-trunked, rounded to vase-shaped evergreen shrub or small tree with a symmetrical open crown. Leaves are variably shaped on the same plant — entire, 3-lobed, or fiddle-shaped (pandurate) — and mid- to dark-green. Produces abundant flat-topped clusters of brilliant crimson-red (occasionally pink) flowers almost year-round in warm climates.
What fertiliser peregrina actually wants — and why
Peregrina 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 peregrina: 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 peregrina, 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 peregrina:
Feed every 2–4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10 or tomato feed at half strength) to support prolific flowering. Cease feeding in winter. A slow-release granular fertilizer can be applied in early spring as an alternative. 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 peregrina 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 peregrina
Half strength is the safe default for peregrina — 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 peregrina first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the peregrina watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding peregrina
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for peregrina:
- 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 peregrina
- 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 peregrina care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of peregrina 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 peregrina
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 peregrina — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does peregrina 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. Peregrina 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 peregrina?
Feed every 2–4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10 or tomato feed at half strength) to support prolific flowering. Cease feeding in winter. A slow-release granular fertilizer can be applied in early spring as an alternative. Feed every 2–4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10 or tomato feed at half strength) to support prolific flowering. Cease feeding in winter. A slow-release granular fertilizer can be applied in early spring as an alternative. 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 peregrina?
Half strength is the safe default for peregrina — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding peregrina 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 peregrina 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 peregrina?
Flush the pot of peregrina 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
- Peregrina care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water peregrina — 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 netted iris
- How to fertilise spanish iris
- How to fertilise dutch iris
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library