Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Burchard's Caralluma (Caralluma burchardii)— schedule & NPK
Also called Burchard's Caralluma, Canary Island Caralluma.
More about burchard's caralluma
About Burchard's Caralluma
Caralluma burchardii · also called Burchard's Caralluma, Canary Island Caralluma · houseplant
Caralluma burchardii is a rare succulent stapeliad native to the Canary Islands and North Africa, forming upright four-angled grey-green stems with small teeth along the ridges. Clusters of small, star-shaped, maroon-purple flowers with a carrion scent appear in summer. A striking collector's plant for warm, bright positions.
Growth habit: Clump-forming upright succulent with angular, ribbed, leafless stems; spreads slowly via stem production.
What fertiliser burchard's caralluma actually wants — and why
Burchard's Caralluma is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue.
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 burchard's caralluma: 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 burchard's caralluma, 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 burchard's caralluma:
Feed once in spring with a very dilute, low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10). Over-fertilising with nitrogen produces lush but rot-susceptible growth. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when burchard's caralluma 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 burchard's caralluma
Quarter to half strength at most for burchard's caralluma. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water burchard's caralluma first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the burchard's caralluma watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding burchard's caralluma
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for burchard's caralluma:
- Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves.
- A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim.
- Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges.
- Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it.
Signs you are under-feeding burchard's caralluma
- Uncommon — succulents tolerate lean conditions well.
- Very slow growth and dull, faded colour over a long period.
- Older leaves shed faster than new ones replace them in a tired old mix.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full burchard's caralluma care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of burchard's caralluma until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for burchard's caralluma
Organic options
A heavily diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed once or twice in summer. UK: a drop of Westland seaweed feed; US: quarter-strength Espoma Cactus! or Dr. Earth liquid. Fresh free-draining mix matters more than any feed.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A dedicated cactus/succulent liquid at quarter to half strength — UK: Baby Bio Cacti & Succulent Drip Feeders or Westland; US: Miracle-Gro Succulent Plant Food or Schultz Cactus Plus.
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 burchard's caralluma — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does burchard's caralluma need?
A cactus and succulent formula or a diluted balanced feed with modest, even numbers. Avoid high-nitrogen plant foods — they make a succulent etiolate and grow soft, fracture-prone tissue. Burchard's Caralluma is a light-feeding succulent — a gentle, low-nitrogen feed a few times in growth keeps it plump without forcing the weak, stretched growth over-feeding causes.
How often should I feed burchard's caralluma?
Feed once in spring with a very dilute, low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10). Over-fertilising with nitrogen produces lush but rot-susceptible growth. Feed once in spring with a very dilute, low-nitrogen cactus fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10). Over-fertilising with nitrogen produces lush but rot-susceptible growth. Keep that to sparingly through the growing season between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September) and stop entirely once growth slows for winter.
What strength of feed for burchard's caralluma?
Quarter to half strength at most for burchard's caralluma. Succulents take up very little, and a strong dose burns the fine roots before the plant can use it.
What does over-feeding burchard's caralluma look like?
Stretched, leggy, pale growth with widely spaced leaves. A white salt crust on the soil or around the pot rim. Brown, crisped leaf tips and edges. Soft, mushy tissue at the base — over-feeding plus damp soil rots it. Feeding burchard's caralluma like a leafy houseplant is the classic error — it produces a flush of pale, stretched, floppy growth that never firms up and is prone to rot at the base.
Should I flush the soil of burchard's caralluma?
Feed lightly enough and you rarely need to flush, but once a year run plain water through the pot of burchard's caralluma until it drains clear, and refresh the gritty mix every 2-3 years.
Keep reading
- Burchard's Caralluma care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water burchard's caralluma — 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 syngonium pink splash
- How to fertilise syngonium albo variegatum
- How to fertilise calathea dottie
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library