Thunbergia alata - care - Ask Extension
My daughter gave me a beautiful hanging basket - Thunbergia alata. I looked online at .org sites for care and they have a wide variety of suggestions ...
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Thunbergia alata - care #930609
Asked May 04, 2026, 7:37 PM EDT
My daughter gave me a beautiful hanging basket - Thunbergia alata. I looked online at .org sites for care and they have a wide variety of suggestions on the frequency of fertilization. Can you please let me know how often I should fertilize this beautiful plant, and does it make much difference which fertilizer I use?
Thank you!
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question, Linda. You will find more (and more reliable) information on plants, generally, if you search on a ".edu" domain, rather than "org". Here is one resource (out of Cornell University) that gives concise information about this species: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene82fe.html
As for fertilizer, read the label to see what it says about applications to various plant species. The 3 numbers (such as 10-5-15) give you the percentages (by weight) of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the container, regardless of whether it is liquid, powder, or granulated. Nitrogen is necessary for healthy foliage; phosphorus is necessary for root growth; and potassium is necessary for flowers (and fruits and nuts). While we cannot recommend specific brands, a water soluble fertilizer indicating it is for "flowers and vegetables" is usually a good choice. And, depending upon how often you have to water the plant (which washes out nutrients in the soil), fertilizing every 2-3 weeks is typically enough. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/black-eyed-susan-vine-thunbergia-alata/
However, if the leaves begin to turn yellow, or the plant isn't producing any flowers--even in full sun--then it's probably in need of more potassium (aka potash). But rely on the label to give your plant enough if it's created for flowering plants.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck!
As for fertilizer, read the label to see what it says about applications to various plant species. The 3 numbers (such as 10-5-15) give you the percentages (by weight) of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the container, regardless of whether it is liquid, powder, or granulated. Nitrogen is necessary for healthy foliage; phosphorus is necessary for root growth; and potassium is necessary for flowers (and fruits and nuts). While we cannot recommend specific brands, a water soluble fertilizer indicating it is for "flowers and vegetables" is usually a good choice. And, depending upon how often you have to water the plant (which washes out nutrients in the soil), fertilizing every 2-3 weeks is typically enough. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/black-eyed-susan-vine-thunbergia-alata/
However, if the leaves begin to turn yellow, or the plant isn't producing any flowers--even in full sun--then it's probably in need of more potassium (aka potash). But rely on the label to give your plant enough if it's created for flowering plants.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck!
