Rooted cuttings ofAcalypha hispaniolaewere grown in peat/composted bark (7: 3 v/v) medium for 4 months to evaluate their response to five levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and lime. There was a linear response to added N with foliar dry matter increasing over the range 0–600 g N/m3and a leaf N content of c. 3.3% at this highest rate of N. Predicted maximum flower dry weight occurred at 400 g N/m3. P additions suppressed growth and flowering. Foliage P content needs to be held at c. 0.2%. Chlorosis of mature leaves was most severe with N deficiency but was also caused by P toxicity. Chlorosis in immature leaves was attributed to P‐induced iron deficiency and was most severe when the P: Fe ratio in the leaves was 62: 1. Liming reduced P toxicity and the lime rate for maximum growth was 6–9 kg/m3and a pH of c. 5. K additions had little effect on growth. A foliage K content of c. 2% is recommended.