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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' (Pilea mollis 'Bunny Ears')— schedule & NPK

Also called bunny ears pilea, hairy coin pilea.

More about pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'

About Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears'

Pilea mollis 'Bunny Ears' · also called bunny ears pilea, hairy coin pilea · houseplant

Pilea 'Bunny Ears' (Pilea mollis) is a charming creeper with small, deeply quilted, fuzzy lime-green leaves on trailing stems. It enjoys warm, humid conditions, bright indirect light and lightly moist, well-draining soil. Fast-spreading and easy, it suits hanging pots, shelves and terrariums. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Growth habit: Low, creeping and trailing, forming a dense mat of small fuzzy leaves; stems root at the nodes as they spread.

What fertiliser pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' actually wants — and why

Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears': 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears', 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears':

Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength. Suspend feeding in autumn and winter. This fast but light feeder scorches easily at full concentration. 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'

Half strength is the safe default for pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' — 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears':

Signs you are under-feeding pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'

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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' 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. Pilea nummuarlifolia 'Bunny Ears' 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'?

Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength. Suspend feeding in autumn and winter. This fast but light feeder scorches easily at full concentration. Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength. Suspend feeding in autumn and winter. This fast but light feeder scorches easily at full concentration. 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'?

Half strength is the safe default for pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' 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 pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears'?

Flush the pot of pilea nummuarlifolia 'bunny ears' 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.

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