Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Vandell's Rock Jasmine (Androsace vandellii)— schedule & NPK
Also called Vandell's Rock Jasmine, Silver Rock Jasmine, Silky Androsace.
More about vandell's rock jasmine
About Vandell's Rock Jasmine
Androsace vandellii · also called Vandell's Rock Jasmine, Silver Rock Jasmine · flowering
Androsace vandellii (syn. Androsace tomentosa) is a specialist high-alpine cushion plant native to siliceous rock faces and crevices in the Alps, Apennines, Pyrenees, and Sierra Nevada above 2,000 m. It forms beautifully symmetrical, silver-grey cushions of tiny rosettes densely covered in star-shaped white hairs, bearing stemless white flowers with a yellow eye in April. It is one of the most exacting Androsace species in cultivation, demanding perfect drainage, sharp aeration, vertical planting in acidic gritty soil, and protection from winter wet — typically grown in an alpine house. Androsace is not listed on the ASPCA database; classified as mildly-toxic out of caution.
Growth habit: Tightly domed, silvery cushion-forming evergreen perennial; extremely slow-growing and long-lived when conditions are right.
What fertiliser vandell's rock jasmine actually wants — and why
Vandell's Rock Jasmine 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 vandell's rock jasmine: 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 vandell's rock jasmine, 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 vandell's rock jasmine:
No routine feeding required; a single very light top-dressing of slow-release, low-nitrogen alpine fertiliser in early spring is the maximum advised. 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 vandell's rock jasmine 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 vandell's rock jasmine
Half strength is the safe default for vandell's rock jasmine — 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 vandell's rock jasmine first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the vandell's rock jasmine watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding vandell's rock jasmine
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for vandell's rock jasmine:
- 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 vandell's rock jasmine
- 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 vandell's rock jasmine care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of vandell's rock jasmine 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 vandell's rock jasmine
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 vandell's rock jasmine — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does vandell's rock jasmine 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. Vandell's Rock Jasmine 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 vandell's rock jasmine?
No routine feeding required; a single very light top-dressing of slow-release, low-nitrogen alpine fertiliser in early spring is the maximum advised. No routine feeding required; a single very light top-dressing of slow-release, low-nitrogen alpine fertiliser in early spring is the maximum advised. 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 vandell's rock jasmine?
Half strength is the safe default for vandell's rock jasmine — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding vandell's rock jasmine 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 vandell's rock jasmine 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 vandell's rock jasmine?
Flush the pot of vandell's rock jasmine 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
- Vandell's Rock Jasmine care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water vandell's rock jasmine — 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 equisetum hyemale
- How to fertilise equisetum japonicum
- How to fertilise caltha palustris
- All 10153 fertilising guides in the Growli library