Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Entire-Lipped Catasetum (Catasetum integerrimum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Entire-Lipped Catasetum, Intact Catasetum.
More about entire-lipped catasetum
About Entire-Lipped Catasetum
Catasetum integerrimum · also called Entire-Lipped Catasetum, Intact Catasetum · tropical
A vigorous deciduous epiphyte from Mexico through Central America, the Entire-Lipped Catasetum produces striking yellowish-green flowers on pendant spikes in late spring and summer. It demands bright filtered light, heavy feeding and watering during active growth, then a strict dry winter rest once its leaves drop — a cycle that is non-negotiable for reliable flowering.
Growth habit: Sympodial epiphyte producing clustered, ovoid pseudobulbs each bearing 6–8 large deciduous leaves on a short rhizome. Deciduous during winter rest.
What fertiliser entire-lipped catasetum actually wants — and why
Entire-Lipped Catasetum 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 entire-lipped catasetum: 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 entire-lipped catasetum, 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 entire-lipped catasetum:
Feed weekly at quarter to half recommended strength during active growth. Use a high-nitrogen formula (e.g. 30-10-10) from spring through midsummer, then switch to a high-phosphorus formula (e.g. 10-30-20) in late summer and autumn to harden pseudobulbs. Discontinue fertiliser completely during winter dormancy. Treat that as weekly 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 entire-lipped catasetum 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 entire-lipped catasetum
Half strength is the safe default for entire-lipped catasetum — 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 entire-lipped catasetum first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the entire-lipped catasetum watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding entire-lipped catasetum
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for entire-lipped catasetum:
- 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 entire-lipped catasetum
- 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 entire-lipped catasetum care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of entire-lipped catasetum 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 entire-lipped catasetum
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 entire-lipped catasetum — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does entire-lipped catasetum 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. Entire-Lipped Catasetum 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 entire-lipped catasetum?
Feed weekly at quarter to half recommended strength during active growth. Use a high-nitrogen formula (e.g. 30-10-10) from spring through midsummer, then switch to a high-phosphorus formula (e.g. 10-30-20) in late summer and autumn to harden pseudobulbs. Discontinue fertiliser completely during winter dormancy. Feed weekly at quarter to half recommended strength during active growth. Use a high-nitrogen formula (e.g. 30-10-10) from spring through midsummer, then switch to a high-phosphorus formula (e.g. 10-30-20) in late summer and autumn to harden pseudobulbs. Discontinue fertiliser completely during winter dormancy. Treat that as weekly 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 entire-lipped catasetum?
Half strength is the safe default for entire-lipped catasetum — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding entire-lipped catasetum 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 entire-lipped catasetum 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 entire-lipped catasetum?
Flush the pot of entire-lipped catasetum 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
- Entire-Lipped Catasetum care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water entire-lipped catasetum — 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 gold dust dracaena
- How to fertilise petra croton
- How to fertilise mammy croton
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library