Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Pink Trumpet Vine (Podranea ricasoliana)— schedule & NPK
Also called Pink Trumpet Vine, Port St. Johns Creeper, Zimbabwe Creeper.
More about pink trumpet vine
About Pink Trumpet Vine
Podranea ricasoliana · also called Pink Trumpet Vine, Port St. Johns Creeper · tropical
A spectacular South African evergreen climber bearing large, loose clusters of fragrant pale pink trumpet flowers, veined deeper pink, from summer through autumn. Combines lush pinnate foliage with reliable, long-lasting flower display. Suited to warm, frost-light climates, where it will rapidly cover a pergola, wall, or strong fence with little fuss.
Growth habit: Semi-twining evergreen climber; scrambles and leans rather than attaching by tendrils — needs tying to support
Watch for — Failure to bloom: Insufficient sun is the most common cause. Also check: excessive nitrogen fertilising (promotes leaves over flowers); drought stress during bud initiation; or the plant being too young (typically needs 2–3 seasons to bloom freely).
What fertiliser pink trumpet vine actually wants — and why
Pink Trumpet Vine 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 trumpet vine: 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 trumpet vine, 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 trumpet vine:
Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring as growth resumes. From late spring through summer, supplement with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 3–4 weeks to boost flowering. Stop feeding in autumn. 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 trumpet vine 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 trumpet vine
Half strength is the safe default for pink trumpet vine — 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 trumpet vine first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the pink trumpet vine watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding pink trumpet vine
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for pink trumpet vine:
- 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 trumpet vine
- 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 trumpet vine care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of pink trumpet vine 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 trumpet vine
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 trumpet vine — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does pink trumpet vine 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 Trumpet Vine 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 trumpet vine?
Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring as growth resumes. From late spring through summer, supplement with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 3–4 weeks to boost flowering. Stop feeding in autumn. Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring as growth resumes. From late spring through summer, supplement with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 3–4 weeks to boost flowering. Stop feeding in autumn. 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 trumpet vine?
Half strength is the safe default for pink trumpet vine — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding pink trumpet vine 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 trumpet vine 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 trumpet vine?
Flush the pot of pink trumpet vine 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 Trumpet Vine care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water pink trumpet vine — 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 cryptanthus zonatus
- How to fertilise cryptanthus acaulis
- How to fertilise cryptanthus 'black mystic'
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library