Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Pink Rock Jasmine (Androsace carnea)— schedule & NPK
Also called Pink Rock Jasmine, Flesh-pink Androsace.
More about pink rock jasmine
About Pink Rock Jasmine
Androsace carnea · also called Pink Rock Jasmine, Flesh-pink Androsace · flowering
Pink Rock Jasmine is a delicate cushion-forming alpine from the Pyrenees and Alps, producing tight mounds of narrow grey-green leaves adorned with clusters of pale to deep pink flowers with yellow eyes in late spring. A prized specimen for alpine troughs, tufa, and rock gardens, it demands excellent drainage, full sun, and moisture-free winters.
Growth habit: Tight cushion-forming perennial with small, densely packed rosettes
What fertiliser pink rock jasmine actually wants — and why
Pink Rock Jasmine 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 pink rock jasmine: 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 pink rock jasmine, 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 pink rock jasmine:
Minimal feeding only. A light dusting of slow-release alpine or rock plant fertiliser at the start of spring is the maximum required. Overfeeding destroys the tight cushion habit and induces soft, rot-prone growth. 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 pink rock jasmine 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 pink rock jasmine
Half strength is the safe default for pink rock jasmine — 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 pink rock jasmine first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the pink rock jasmine watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding pink rock jasmine
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for pink rock jasmine:
- 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 pink rock jasmine
- 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 pink rock jasmine care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of pink rock jasmine 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 pink rock jasmine
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 pink rock jasmine — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does pink rock jasmine 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. Pink Rock Jasmine 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 pink rock jasmine?
Minimal feeding only. A light dusting of slow-release alpine or rock plant fertiliser at the start of spring is the maximum required. Overfeeding destroys the tight cushion habit and induces soft, rot-prone growth. Minimal feeding only. A light dusting of slow-release alpine or rock plant fertiliser at the start of spring is the maximum required. Overfeeding destroys the tight cushion habit and induces soft, rot-prone growth. 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 pink rock jasmine?
Half strength is the safe default for pink rock jasmine — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding pink rock jasmine 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 pink rock jasmine 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 pink rock jasmine?
Flush the pot of pink rock jasmine 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
- Pink Rock Jasmine care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water pink rock jasmine — 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 caryopteris x clandonensis 'worcester gold'
- How to fertilise caryopteris x clandonensis 'dark knight'
- How to fertilise caryopteris incana
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library