Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Turkish Catmint (Nepeta phyllochlamys)— schedule & NPK
Also called Turkish Catmint.
More about turkish catmint
About Turkish Catmint
Nepeta phyllochlamys · also called Turkish Catmint · flowering
Turkish Catmint is a rare, compact species endemic to a small area of northwestern Turkey. It forms low, silver-grey mounds of woolly, aromatic foliage topped with pale lavender-blue flowers in summer. Well-suited to rock gardens, raised beds, and gravel plantings, it demands perfect drainage and full sun, and is intolerant of winter wet.
Growth habit: Low, compact, cushion-forming subshrub
What fertiliser turkish catmint actually wants — and why
Turkish Catmint 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 turkish catmint: 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 turkish catmint, 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 turkish catmint:
No regular feeding required. A single light application of low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser in early spring is sufficient to support flowering. Rich feeding produces soft, disease-prone growth contrary to the plant's natural habit. 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 turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint
Half strength is the safe default for turkish catmint — 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 turkish catmint first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the turkish catmint watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding turkish catmint
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for turkish catmint:
- 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 turkish catmint
- 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 turkish catmint care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint
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 turkish catmint — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does turkish catmint 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. Turkish Catmint 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 turkish catmint?
No regular feeding required. A single light application of low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser in early spring is sufficient to support flowering. Rich feeding produces soft, disease-prone growth contrary to the plant's natural habit. No regular feeding required. A single light application of low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertiliser in early spring is sufficient to support flowering. Rich feeding produces soft, disease-prone growth contrary to the plant's natural habit. 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 turkish catmint?
Half strength is the safe default for turkish catmint — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint 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 turkish catmint?
Flush the pot of turkish catmint 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
- Turkish Catmint care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water turkish catmint — 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 deutzia scabra 'plena'
- How to fertilise deutzia x elegantissima 'rosealind'
- How to fertilise philadelphus 'virginal'
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library