Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Alocasia Macrorrhizos Giant Upright (Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Giant Upright')— schedule & NPK
Also called Giant Upright elephant ear, upright giant taro.
More about alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright
About Alocasia Macrorrhizos Giant Upright
Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Giant Upright' · also called Giant Upright elephant ear, upright giant taro · tropical
Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Giant Upright' is a statement elephant ear that holds enormous, glossy, ribbed leaves boldly skyward on tall sturdy stems. A fast, vigorous tropical, it wants warmth, bright indirect to filtered sun, rich moist soil and high humidity. Given heat and feeding it reaches dramatic size; cold, soggy roots cause rot and decline.
Growth habit: Large, clumping rhizomatous perennial with a thick upright trunk-like stem holding enormous leaves aloft; matures into a bold architectural specimen and offsets at the base.
What fertiliser alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright actually wants — and why
Alocasia Macrorrhizos Giant Upright is a genuinely hungry tropical — in bright warmth it pushes growth fast and rewards a regular half-strength balanced feed all season.
A balanced liquid feed (even N-P-K) or a slightly nitrogen-leaning foliage feed — this is a big-leaved foliage plant putting on real size, so it wants steady nitrogen for lush leaves, not a bloom 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 alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright: 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 alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright, 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 alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright:
A heavy feeder: fertilise every 1-2 weeks in the growing season with a balanced or higher-nitrogen liquid feed, or use slow-release granules plus rich organic matter. Taper off in autumn and stop in winter. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 1-2 weeks — right through spring through early autumn (roughly March to September), tapering off only as light drops in autumn.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright 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 alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright: frequent enough to fuel fast growth, dilute enough that it never scorches even when you feed often.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright:
- Brown, scorched leaf tips and margins despite correct watering.
- A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot edge.
- Sudden leaf yellowing and drop shortly after a strong feed.
- Soft, weak, over-stretched growth that cannot support itself.
Signs you are under-feeding alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright
- New leaves coming in noticeably smaller than older ones.
- Pale, yellow-green older leaves and slow growth through peak summer.
- A general loss of vigour and gloss in a plant that should be racing away.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Because you feed often, salts accumulate faster — flush the pot of alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright with plain water until it drains freely roughly every month through the feeding season to keep the root zone clean.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or fish-and-seaweed feed plus a yearly top-dress of worm castings supports fast growth without burn risk. UK: Westland seaweed or Baby Bio Organic; US: Neptune's Harvest or Espoma Indoor!.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A balanced houseplant liquid at half strength applied frequently — UK: Baby Bio, Phostrogen or Westland Houseplant Feed; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro for steady leafy growth.
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 alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright need?
A balanced liquid feed (even N-P-K) or a slightly nitrogen-leaning foliage feed — this is a big-leaved foliage plant putting on real size, so it wants steady nitrogen for lush leaves, not a bloom formula. Alocasia Macrorrhizos Giant Upright is a genuinely hungry tropical — in bright warmth it pushes growth fast and rewards a regular half-strength balanced feed all season.
How often should I feed alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright?
A heavy feeder: fertilise every 1-2 weeks in the growing season with a balanced or higher-nitrogen liquid feed, or use slow-release granules plus rich organic matter. Taper off in autumn and stop in winter. A heavy feeder: fertilise every 1-2 weeks in the growing season with a balanced or higher-nitrogen liquid feed, or use slow-release granules plus rich organic matter. Taper off in autumn and stop in winter. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 1-2 weeks — right through spring through early autumn (roughly March to September), tapering off only as light drops in autumn.
What strength of feed for alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright?
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright: frequent enough to fuel fast growth, dilute enough that it never scorches even when you feed often.
What does over-feeding alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright look like?
Brown, scorched leaf tips and margins despite correct watering. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot edge. Sudden leaf yellowing and drop shortly after a strong feed. Soft, weak, over-stretched growth that cannot support itself. The mistake here is the opposite of most houseplants: under-feeding a fast tropical in peak season starves it, leaving small, pale new leaves and slow growth — but full-strength doses still burn it, so feed often and weak, not occasionally and strong.
Should I flush the soil of alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright?
Because you feed often, salts accumulate faster — flush the pot of alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright with plain water until it drains freely roughly every month through the feeding season to keep the root zone clean.
Keep reading
- Alocasia Macrorrhizos Giant Upright care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water alocasia macrorrhizos giant upright — 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 2464 fertilising guides in the Growli library