Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Pleiospilos simulans (Pleiospilos simulans)— schedule & NPK
Also called African living rock.
More about pleiospilos simulans
About Pleiospilos simulans
Pleiospilos simulans · also called African living rock · houseplant
A South African mesemb forming low pairs of broad, flat-topped, brownish grey-green leaves heavily dotted to mimic weathered stone, lying almost flush with the ground. It produces large coppery-yellow autumn flowers. A superb camouflage succulent, it requires intense light, extremely gritty soil and disciplined, season-aware watering to avoid rot indoors.
Growth habit: Slow-growing, near-stemless mesemb forming one or a few pairs of very broad, flat-topped leaves that hug the ground like stones. New leaf pairs replace old ones from the central cleft, and mature plants slowly clump and flower in autumn.
What fertiliser pleiospilos simulans actually wants — and why
Pleiospilos simulans is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue.
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 pleiospilos simulans: 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 pleiospilos simulans, 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 pleiospilos simulans:
Feed minimally — at most a quarter-strength low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser once during spring or autumn growth. These plants thrive in poor soil, and over-feeding produces soft, bloated leaves prone to splitting and rot. No feeding in summer or winter rest. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when pleiospilos simulans 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 pleiospilos simulans
Quarter to half strength at most for pleiospilos simulans. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water pleiospilos simulans first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the pleiospilos simulans watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding pleiospilos simulans
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for pleiospilos simulans:
- Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves.
- A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim.
- Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges.
- Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it.
Signs you are under-feeding pleiospilos simulans
- Uncommon — succulents tolerate lean conditions well.
- Very slow growth and dull, faded colour over a long period.
- Older leaves shed faster than new ones replace them in a tired old mix.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full pleiospilos simulans care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of pleiospilos simulans until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for pleiospilos simulans
Organic options
A heavily diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed once or twice in summer. UK: a drop of Westland seaweed feed; US: quarter-strength Espoma Cactus! or Dr. Earth liquid. Fresh free-draining mix matters more than any feed.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A dedicated cactus/succulent liquid at quarter to half strength — UK: Baby Bio Cacti & Succulent Drip Feeders or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food or Schultz Cactus Plus.
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 pleiospilos simulans — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does pleiospilos simulans need?
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue. Pleiospilos simulans is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
How often should I feed pleiospilos simulans?
Feed minimally — at most a quarter-strength low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser once during spring or autumn growth. These plants thrive in poor soil, and over-feeding produces soft, bloated leaves prone to splitting and rot. No feeding in summer or winter rest. Feed minimally — at most a quarter-strength low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser once during spring or autumn growth. These plants thrive in poor soil, and over-feeding produces soft, bloated leaves prone to splitting and rot. No feeding in summer or winter rest. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
What strength of feed for pleiospilos simulans?
Quarter to half strength at most for pleiospilos simulans. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
What does over-feeding pleiospilos simulans look like?
Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim. Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges. Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it. Feeding pleiospilos simulans like a leafy houseplant is the classic error — it produces a flush of pale, stretched, floppy growth that never firms up and is prone to rot at the base.
Should I flush the soil of pleiospilos simulans?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of pleiospilos simulans until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- Pleiospilos simulans care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water pleiospilos simulans — 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 snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library