To help your butterfly bush reach its full, colorful potential, a little extra nutrition goes a long way. While these hardy shrubs aren’t strictly “high-maintenance” when it comes to feeding, giving them the right minerals at the right time acts like a booster shot for those gorgeous blooms. Whether you’ve got yours in a garden bed or a patio container, here’s the lowdown on how to feed your Buddleja properly.
Feeding Butterfly Bushes in the Garden
Since butterfly bushes bloom on new wood, they usually get a good pruning in early spring. This is the perfect time to multitask! By feeding them right as you cut the branches back to two or three buds, you’re giving the plant the fuel it needs to reach a majestic height by bloom time.
Here’s the best way to kickstart that lush spring growth:
- After pruning, spread about a 2-inch layer of mature compost and some horn meal (or a similar organic slow-release nitrogen fertilizer) over the root zone.
- Gently work the fertilizer into the top layer of soil.
- Give it a good drink of soft water (rainwater is great if you have it!).
- Repeat this process again in June and August.
In September, you can help your shrub prep for the cold by switching to a potassium-rich fertilizer. Options like comfrey tea or potash help strengthen the plant’s cell walls and actually lower the freezing point of the liquid inside the cells—think of it as a natural antifreeze for your bush!
Feeding Potted Butterfly Bushes
If you’re growing a butterfly bush in a container, remember that those soil nutrients get used up pretty fast. Regular feeding is way more important for potted plants than for those in the ground. To keep your balcony or patio display looking vibrant, stick to this schedule:
- Feed your potted shrub every four weeks from April through May, and again from August through September.
- Use a liquid fertilizer that is high in phosphorus to encourage plenty of flowers (just follow the mixing ratios on the bottle).
- Pro tip: Never apply liquid fertilizer to bone-dry soil, as it can burn the roots.
- If you’re using a concentrated fertilizer, make sure to water the plant with plain water first.
Planning on repotting your shrub in the spring? If you’ve fertilized the old soil within the last four to six weeks, wait a bit before feeding again after the move. You want to give the plant time to settle into its new home without overwhelming it with too many nutrients at once.
