Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Wampee (Clausena lansium)— schedule & NPK
Also called Wampee, Wampi.
More about wampee
About Wampee
Clausena lansium · also called Wampee, Wampi · tropical
Wampee (Clausena lansium) is a small evergreen citrus-relative tree from southern China and Southeast Asia, bearing grape-like clusters of fuzzy, amber fruit with sweet-tart, aromatic flesh. More cold-tolerant than most tropical fruit, it suits warm subtropical as well as tropical gardens, fruits young and adapts well to container culture and pruning.
Growth habit: Small evergreen tree or large shrub with an upright, bushy, rounded crown of glossy aromatic pinnate leaves; fragrant white flower panicles give rise to drooping clusters of fuzzy oval fruit.
What fertiliser wampee actually wants — and why
Wampee 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 wampee: 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 wampee, 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 wampee:
Feed with a balanced or citrus-type fertiliser two to three times through the warm growing season, with extra potassium near fruiting. Mulch with compost annually. Like citrus, it benefits from supplemental micronutrients such as iron and magnesium on poorer soils. 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 wampee 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 wampee
Half strength is the safe default for wampee — 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 wampee first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the wampee watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding wampee
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for wampee:
- 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 wampee
- 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 wampee care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of wampee 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 wampee
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 wampee — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does wampee 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. Wampee 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 wampee?
Feed with a balanced or citrus-type fertiliser two to three times through the warm growing season, with extra potassium near fruiting. Mulch with compost annually. Like citrus, it benefits from supplemental micronutrients such as iron and magnesium on poorer soils. Feed with a balanced or citrus-type fertiliser two to three times through the warm growing season, with extra potassium near fruiting. Mulch with compost annually. Like citrus, it benefits from supplemental micronutrients such as iron and magnesium on poorer soils. 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 wampee?
Half strength is the safe default for wampee — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding wampee 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 wampee 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 wampee?
Flush the pot of wampee 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
- Wampee care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water wampee — 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