Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Bogota kohleria (Kohleria bogotensis)— schedule & NPK
Also called Bogota kohleria, Tree gloxinia.
More about bogota kohleria
About Bogota kohleria
Kohleria bogotensis · also called Bogota kohleria, Tree gloxinia · houseplant
A velvety, rhizomatous gesneriad from the humid montane forests surrounding Bogotá, Colombia, grown for its pendant tubular flowers with a carmine-red outer tube and cream lobes heavily spotted with burgundy. It thrives in bright indirect light, moderate-to-high humidity, and a well-draining mix kept evenly moist in summer. The rhizomes allow a winter rest.
Growth habit: Upright to slightly arching rhizomatous herb, well-branched
What fertiliser bogota kohleria actually wants — and why
Bogota kohleria 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 bogota kohleria: 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 bogota kohleria, 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 bogota kohleria:
Apply a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-20 or tomato-type feed) every 2 weeks during the growing season to support the prolific tubular flowers. Reduce to once a month in early autumn and withhold entirely during winter dormancy. Treat that as every 2 weeks 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 bogota kohleria 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 bogota kohleria
Half strength is the safe default for bogota kohleria — 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 bogota kohleria first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the bogota kohleria watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding bogota kohleria
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for bogota kohleria:
- 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 bogota kohleria
- 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 bogota kohleria care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of bogota kohleria 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 bogota kohleria
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 bogota kohleria — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does bogota kohleria 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. Bogota kohleria 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 bogota kohleria?
Apply a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-20 or tomato-type feed) every 2 weeks during the growing season to support the prolific tubular flowers. Reduce to once a month in early autumn and withhold entirely during winter dormancy. Apply a balanced or high-potassium liquid fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-20 or tomato-type feed) every 2 weeks during the growing season to support the prolific tubular flowers. Reduce to once a month in early autumn and withhold entirely during winter dormancy. Treat that as every 2 weeks 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 bogota kohleria?
Half strength is the safe default for bogota kohleria — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding bogota kohleria 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 bogota kohleria 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 bogota kohleria?
Flush the pot of bogota kohleria 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
- Bogota kohleria care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water bogota kohleria — 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 taita african violet
- How to fertilise cliff african violet
- How to fertilise miniature african violet
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library