Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) (Selaginella lepidophylla)— schedule & NPK
Also called Rose of Jericho, False Rose of Jericho, Resurrection plant, Resurrection moss, Dinosaur plant, Flower of stone, Doradilla.
More about rose of jericho (resurrection plant)
About Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant)
Selaginella lepidophylla · also called Rose of Jericho, False Rose of Jericho · houseplant
The false rose of Jericho is a desert spikemoss (a lycophyte, not a true fern) that curls into a dry brown ball, then unfurls bright green within hours of watering. Give it bright indirect light, frequent fresh water, warmth, and humidity. ASPCA data on the genus indicates it is pet-safe.
Growth habit: Low, spreading rosette of flat, scale-like fronds. In drought the stems curl tightly inward into a dry brown ball; when rehydrated they unfurl flat and turn green. It can lose up to 95% of its moisture and survive, repeating this wet-dry cycle for years.
What fertiliser rose of jericho (resurrection plant) actually wants — and why
Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant): 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant), 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant):
Feeds very lightly. It needs little to no fertiliser; an occasional weak, diluted balanced liquid feed during active green growth in spring and summer is plenty. Skip feeding entirely while it is dormant and dried out. 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant) 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant)
Half strength is the safe default for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) — 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant) first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the rose of jericho (resurrection plant) watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding rose of jericho (resurrection plant)
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for rose of jericho (resurrection plant):
- 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant)
- 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant) care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of rose of jericho (resurrection plant) 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant)
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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant) — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does rose of jericho (resurrection plant) 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. Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
Feeds very lightly. It needs little to no fertiliser; an occasional weak, diluted balanced liquid feed during active green growth in spring and summer is plenty. Skip feeding entirely while it is dormant and dried out. Feeds very lightly. It needs little to no fertiliser; an occasional weak, diluted balanced liquid feed during active green growth in spring and summer is plenty. Skip feeding entirely while it is dormant and dried out. 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
Half strength is the safe default for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding rose of jericho (resurrection plant) 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant) 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 rose of jericho (resurrection plant)?
Flush the pot of rose of jericho (resurrection plant) 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
- Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water rose of jericho (resurrection plant) — 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 569 fertilising guides in the Growli library