Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Calathea Burgundy (Setosa Compactstar) (Goeppertia setosa 'Compactstar')— schedule & NPK
Also called Calathea Compactstar, Calathea Compact Star.
More about calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)
About Calathea Burgundy (Setosa Compactstar)
Goeppertia setosa 'Compactstar' · also called Calathea Compactstar, Calathea Compact Star · houseplant
Goeppertia setosa 'Compactstar', sold as Calathea Burgundy, is a compact prayer plant with upright silvery-green lances feathered with darker banding and rich burgundy-purple undersides that flash as the leaves lift at night. A Brazilian understorey species, it stays neat and bushy and needs warm, humid, draught-free care with soft water.
Growth habit: Compact, upright-clumping evergreen perennial that forms a dense bushy rosette of leaves from short rhizomes; the 'Compactstar' selection stays tidier than the species. Leaves fold upright at night.
What fertiliser calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) actually wants — and why
Calathea Burgundy (Setosa Compactstar) 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar): 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar), 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar):
Feed every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant feed at half strength. Stop feeding in autumn and winter and flush the soil periodically to clear salts, which this sensitive genus shows as browned leaf tips. Treat that as every 2-4 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)
Half strength is the safe default for calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) — 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar):
- 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)
- 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)
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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) 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. Calathea Burgundy (Setosa Compactstar) 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)?
Feed every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant feed at half strength. Stop feeding in autumn and winter and flush the soil periodically to clear salts, which this sensitive genus shows as browned leaf tips. Feed every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant feed at half strength. Stop feeding in autumn and winter and flush the soil periodically to clear salts, which this sensitive genus shows as browned leaf tips. Treat that as every 2-4 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)?
Half strength is the safe default for calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) 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 calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar)?
Flush the pot of calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) 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
- Calathea Burgundy (Setosa Compactstar) care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water calathea burgundy (setosa compactstar) — 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 snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 1284 fertilising guides in the Growli library