Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleyanum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Strawberry guava, Cattley guava, Cherry guava.
More about strawberry guava
About Strawberry Guava
Psidium cattleyanum · also called Strawberry guava, Cattley guava · tropical
Strawberry guava is a compact evergreen shrub or small tree from Brazil bearing small red (or yellow) berries with a strawberry-like flavour. Slightly hardier than common guava and very ornamental, with glossy leaves and smooth bark, it suits containers and patios. It is highly invasive in tropical regions, so contain it where it can naturalise.
Growth habit: A dense, bushy evergreen shrub or small multi-stemmed tree with smooth grey-brown peeling bark and glossy, leathery leaves; naturally compact and easy to keep as a hedge or container specimen.
What fertiliser strawberry guava actually wants — and why
Strawberry Guava 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 strawberry guava: 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 strawberry guava, 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 strawberry guava:
Feed every 4-8 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or fruiting fertiliser; container plants benefit from a slow-release feed plus occasional liquid feeding. Avoid heavy late-season nitrogen, which pushes frost-tender growth. Treat that as every 4-8 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 strawberry guava 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 strawberry guava
Half strength is the safe default for strawberry guava — 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 strawberry guava first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the strawberry guava watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding strawberry guava
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for strawberry guava:
- 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 strawberry guava
- 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 strawberry guava care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of strawberry guava 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 strawberry guava
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 strawberry guava — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does strawberry guava 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. Strawberry Guava 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 strawberry guava?
Feed every 4-8 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or fruiting fertiliser; container plants benefit from a slow-release feed plus occasional liquid feeding. Avoid heavy late-season nitrogen, which pushes frost-tender growth. Feed every 4-8 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or fruiting fertiliser; container plants benefit from a slow-release feed plus occasional liquid feeding. Avoid heavy late-season nitrogen, which pushes frost-tender growth. Treat that as every 4-8 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 strawberry guava?
Half strength is the safe default for strawberry guava — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding strawberry guava 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 strawberry guava 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 strawberry guava?
Flush the pot of strawberry guava 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
- Strawberry Guava care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water strawberry guava — 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 monstera
- How to fertilise pothos
- How to fertilise fiddle leaf fig
- All 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library