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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' (Phedimus spurius)— schedule & NPK

Also called Dragon's Blood Sedum, Two-Row Stonecrop, Caucasian Stonecrop.

More about stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

About Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood'

Phedimus spurius · also called Dragon's Blood Sedum, Two-Row Stonecrop · flowering

Phedimus spurius 'Dragon's Blood' (formerly Sedum spurium 'Schorbuser Blut') is a vigorous ground-covering stonecrop with semi-evergreen bronze-red tinted foliage that intensifies to vivid red in cold weather. Deep rose-pink flowers cover the mat in midsummer. Tough, drought-tolerant, and ideal for rock gardens, walls, and edging. Considered pet-safe based on ASPCA Sedum guidance.

Growth habit: Trailing to spreading mat-forming semi-evergreen succulent perennial

Watch for — Loss of red colouring: Shade, overfeeding, or mild growing conditions cause leaves to revert to green; maximise sun exposure and use lean soil.

What fertiliser stonecrop 'dragon's blood' actually wants — and why

Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood': 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood', 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood':

Minimal feeding required. A very light balanced feed in spring is acceptable on genuinely poor soils, but excess nutrients diminish the distinctive red foliage colour and encourage weak, sprawling 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

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

Signs you are over-feeding stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for stonecrop 'dragon's blood':

Signs you are under-feeding stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full stonecrop 'dragon's blood' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'

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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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. Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'?

Minimal feeding required. A very light balanced feed in spring is acceptable on genuinely poor soils, but excess nutrients diminish the distinctive red foliage colour and encourage weak, sprawling growth. Minimal feeding required. A very light balanced feed in spring is acceptable on genuinely poor soils, but excess nutrients diminish the distinctive red foliage colour and encourage weak, sprawling 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'?

Half strength is the safe default for stonecrop 'dragon's blood' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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 stonecrop 'dragon's blood'?

Flush the pot of stonecrop 'dragon's blood' 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.

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