Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Burgundy Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica 'Burgundy')— schedule & NPK
Also called Burgundy rubber plant, black rubber plant.
More about burgundy rubber plant
About Burgundy Rubber Plant
Ficus elastica 'Burgundy' · also called Burgundy rubber plant, black rubber plant · tropical
The Burgundy rubber plant is a dark-leaved selection of Ficus elastica prized for thick, glossy foliage that flushes deep oxblood to near-black in bright light. An easy, fast-growing upright houseplant, it thrives in bright indirect light with steady but not constant moisture, and resents cold drafts and abrupt position changes, which trigger leaf drop.
Growth habit: Strongly upright, single- or few-stemmed tree with large, thick, leathery elliptical leaves; pink-red sheaths protect emerging foliage. Vigorous and fast-growing indoors, it can be pinched or pruned to encourage branching.
What fertiliser burgundy rubber plant actually wants — and why
Burgundy Rubber Plant 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 burgundy rubber plant: 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 burgundy rubber plant, 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 burgundy rubber plant:
Feed every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength; pause in autumn and winter when growth slows. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 2-4 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 burgundy rubber plant 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 burgundy rubber plant
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for burgundy rubber plant: 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 burgundy rubber plant first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the burgundy rubber plant watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding burgundy rubber plant
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for burgundy rubber plant:
- 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 burgundy rubber plant
- 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 burgundy rubber plant 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 burgundy rubber plant 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 burgundy rubber plant
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 burgundy rubber plant — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does burgundy rubber plant 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. Burgundy Rubber Plant 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 burgundy rubber plant?
Feed every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength; pause in autumn and winter when growth slows. Feed every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength; pause in autumn and winter when growth slows. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 2-4 weeks — right through spring through early autumn (roughly March to September), tapering off only as light drops in autumn.
What strength of feed for burgundy rubber plant?
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for burgundy rubber plant: frequent enough to fuel fast growth, dilute enough that it never scorches even when you feed often.
What does over-feeding burgundy rubber plant 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 burgundy rubber plant?
Because you feed often, salts accumulate faster — flush the pot of burgundy rubber plant with plain water until it drains freely roughly every month through the feeding season to keep the root zone clean.
Keep reading
- Burgundy Rubber Plant care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water burgundy rubber plant — 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