Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Colocasia Burgundy Stem (Colocasia esculenta 'Burgundy Stem')— schedule & NPK
Also called Burgundy Stem taro, burgundy elephant ear.
More about colocasia burgundy stem
About Colocasia Burgundy Stem
Colocasia esculenta 'Burgundy Stem' · also called Burgundy Stem taro, burgundy elephant ear · tropical
Colocasia esculenta 'Burgundy Stem' is a bold elephant ear with large heart-shaped green leaves on deep wine-red petioles. Unlike alocasias, it is a thirsty bog plant that loves constant moisture, full sun to part shade, rich soil and heat. Vigorous in summer, it dies back in cold. Toxic to cats and dogs like all Colocasia.
Growth habit: Vigorous clumping tuberous perennial sending up large heart-shaped leaves on tall coloured petioles from a central corm.
What fertiliser colocasia burgundy stem actually wants — and why
Colocasia Burgundy Stem 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 colocasia burgundy stem: 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 colocasia burgundy stem, 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 colocasia burgundy stem:
A heavy feeder; fertilise every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or nitrogen-rich liquid feed to fuel the large leaves. Reduce and stop feeding as growth slows in autumn and the plant heads into dormancy. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 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 colocasia burgundy stem 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 colocasia burgundy stem
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for colocasia burgundy stem: 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 colocasia burgundy stem first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the colocasia burgundy stem watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding colocasia burgundy stem
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for colocasia burgundy stem:
- 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 colocasia burgundy stem
- 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 colocasia burgundy stem 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 colocasia burgundy stem 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 colocasia burgundy stem
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 colocasia burgundy stem — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does colocasia burgundy stem 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. Colocasia Burgundy Stem 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 colocasia burgundy stem?
A heavy feeder; fertilise every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or nitrogen-rich liquid feed to fuel the large leaves. Reduce and stop feeding as growth slows in autumn and the plant heads into dormancy. A heavy feeder; fertilise every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or nitrogen-rich liquid feed to fuel the large leaves. Reduce and stop feeding as growth slows in autumn and the plant heads into dormancy. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about every 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 colocasia burgundy stem?
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for colocasia burgundy stem: frequent enough to fuel fast growth, dilute enough that it never scorches even when you feed often.
What does over-feeding colocasia burgundy stem 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 colocasia burgundy stem?
Because you feed often, salts accumulate faster — flush the pot of colocasia burgundy stem with plain water until it drains freely roughly every month through the feeding season to keep the root zone clean.
Keep reading
- Colocasia Burgundy Stem care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water colocasia burgundy stem — 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