Growli
Let's go

Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Rangoon Creeper (Quisqualis indica)— schedule & NPK

Also called Rangoon Creeper, Chinese Honeysuckle, Burma Creeper, Drunken Sailor.

More about rangoon creeper

About Rangoon Creeper

Quisqualis indica · also called Rangoon Creeper, Chinese Honeysuckle · tropical

Rangoon Creeper is a vigorous tropical vine prized for its fragrant flower clusters that open white and age through pink to deep red on the same plant. An aggressive grower reaching 8–20 m in ideal conditions, it thrives in full sun with support. Hardy to about −1°C for brief periods, it is grown in USDA zones 9b–11 and considered low-risk toxicity to pets.

Growth habit: Vigorous woody twining vine / liana

What fertiliser rangoon creeper actually wants — and why

Rangoon Creeper 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 rangoon creeper: 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 rangoon creeper, 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 rangoon creeper:

Feed with a balanced slow-release granular fertiliser at the start of spring. Supplement with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks during active growth. A high-potassium feed applied in late summer promotes flowering. Avoid over-feeding with nitrogen as this encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Treat that as every 4 weeks 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 rangoon creeper 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 rangoon creeper

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

Signs you are over-feeding rangoon creeper

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for rangoon creeper:

Signs you are under-feeding rangoon creeper

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full rangoon creeper care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of rangoon creeper 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 rangoon creeper

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 rangoon creeper — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does rangoon creeper 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. Rangoon Creeper 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 rangoon creeper?

Feed with a balanced slow-release granular fertiliser at the start of spring. Supplement with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks during active growth. A high-potassium feed applied in late summer promotes flowering. Avoid over-feeding with nitrogen as this encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Feed with a balanced slow-release granular fertiliser at the start of spring. Supplement with a balanced liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks during active growth. A high-potassium feed applied in late summer promotes flowering. Avoid over-feeding with nitrogen as this encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers. Treat that as every 4 weeks 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 rangoon creeper?

Half strength is the safe default for rangoon creeper — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding rangoon creeper 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 rangoon creeper 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 rangoon creeper?

Flush the pot of rangoon creeper 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