Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Ludwigia repens (Ludwigia repens)— schedule & NPK
Also called creeping primrose-willow, red Ludwigia.
More about ludwigia repens
About Ludwigia repens
Ludwigia repens · also called creeping primrose-willow, red Ludwigia · tropical
A hardy, beginner-friendly aquascaping stem plant with broad oval leaves that are green on top and red-to-burgundy underneath, deepening to full red under strong light. Adaptable and undemanding, it grows with or without CO2 and tolerates a wide range of conditions, making it a reliable splash of colour in midground and background planted-tank layouts.
Growth habit: Upright branching stem plant with broad opposite leaves, forming dense, colourful stands; sturdy and moderately fast, creeping at the base to spread sideways.
Watch for — Lower-leaf drop: Shading from a dense canopy or low nutrients strips lower leaves. Thin the top, raise light, and add root tabs in inert substrate.
What fertiliser ludwigia repens actually wants — and why
Ludwigia repens 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 ludwigia repens: 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 ludwigia repens, 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 ludwigia repens:
Dose a balanced liquid aquarium fertiliser (nitrate, phosphate, potassium, trace) plus root tabs in inert substrates; iron strongly supports red coloration. Note copper-based fertilisers and dosing can harm shrimp sharing the tank. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season 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 ludwigia repens 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 ludwigia repens
Half strength is the safe default for ludwigia repens — 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 ludwigia repens first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the ludwigia repens watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding ludwigia repens
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for ludwigia repens:
- 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 ludwigia repens
- 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 ludwigia repens care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of ludwigia repens 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 ludwigia repens
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 ludwigia repens — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does ludwigia repens 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. Ludwigia repens 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 ludwigia repens?
Dose a balanced liquid aquarium fertiliser (nitrate, phosphate, potassium, trace) plus root tabs in inert substrates; iron strongly supports red coloration. Note copper-based fertilisers and dosing can harm shrimp sharing the tank. Dose a balanced liquid aquarium fertiliser (nitrate, phosphate, potassium, trace) plus root tabs in inert substrates; iron strongly supports red coloration. Note copper-based fertilisers and dosing can harm shrimp sharing the tank. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season 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 ludwigia repens?
Half strength is the safe default for ludwigia repens — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding ludwigia repens 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 ludwigia repens 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 ludwigia repens?
Flush the pot of ludwigia repens 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
- Ludwigia repens care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water ludwigia repens — 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 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library