Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Woolly Rock Jasmine (Androsace lanuginosa)— schedule & NPK
Also called Woolly Rock Jasmine, Lanuginose Androsace.
More about woolly rock jasmine
About Woolly Rock Jasmine
Androsace lanuginosa · also called Woolly Rock Jasmine, Lanuginose Androsace · flowering
Woolly Rock Jasmine is a trailing, silver-hairy alpine perennial from the Himalayas, forming long, lax stems covered in silky woolly rosettes. From midsummer into autumn it bears umbels of pale lavender-pink to deep rose flowers, making it one of the longer-flowering Androsace species. Ideal for dry walls, rock garden cascading positions, and raised troughs.
Growth habit: Trailing or procumbent perennial with elongated silver-hairy stems; not a tight cushion
What fertiliser woolly rock jasmine actually wants — and why
Woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly rock jasmine:
Apply a light balanced liquid feed once or twice between late spring and midsummer to support the extended flowering period. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds. A granular slow-release alpine fertiliser incorporated into the compost at planting is an effective alternative. 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 woolly 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 woolly rock jasmine
Half strength is the safe default for woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly rock jasmine watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding woolly rock jasmine
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly rock jasmine care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly rock jasmine — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does woolly 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. Woolly 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 woolly rock jasmine?
Apply a light balanced liquid feed once or twice between late spring and midsummer to support the extended flowering period. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds. A granular slow-release alpine fertiliser incorporated into the compost at planting is an effective alternative. Apply a light balanced liquid feed once or twice between late spring and midsummer to support the extended flowering period. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds. A granular slow-release alpine fertiliser incorporated into the compost at planting is an effective alternative. 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 woolly rock jasmine?
Half strength is the safe default for woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly 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 woolly rock jasmine?
Flush the pot of woolly 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
- Woolly Rock Jasmine care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water woolly 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 jubilee celebration rose
- How to fertilise harlow carr rose
- How to fertilise the pilgrim rose
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library