Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Philodendron El Choco Red (Philodendron rubrijuvenile 'El Choco Red')— schedule & NPK
Also called El Choco Red, El Choco Red Philodendron, Philodendron El Choco.
More about philodendron el choco red
About Philodendron El Choco Red
Philodendron rubrijuvenile 'El Choco Red' · also called El Choco Red, El Choco Red Philodendron · tropical
Philodendron El Choco Red is a climbing tropical aroid from Colombia, prized for velvety green leaves with deep wine-red undersides on juvenile growth. It wants bright indirect light, a chunky aroid mix kept lightly moist, high humidity, and a moss pole. It is toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA.
Growth habit: Climbing hemiepiphytic perennial. It naturally climbs tree trunks, so it produces larger, more mature leaves when given a moss pole or trellis to attach its aerial roots to. Without support it sprawls and stays in its smaller juvenile form.
Watch for — Small new leaves / no growth: Signals weak roots or no climbing support. Give it a moss pole for aerial roots to grip, plus warmth, humidity, and growing-season feeding.
What fertiliser philodendron el choco red actually wants — and why
Philodendron El Choco Red 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 philodendron el choco red: 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 philodendron el choco red, 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 philodendron el choco red:
Feed monthly during the spring and summer growing season with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength. Pause feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Flush the pot with plain water occasionally to prevent fertiliser salt buildup, which can burn the roots. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about monthly — 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 philodendron el choco red 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 philodendron el choco red
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for philodendron el choco red: 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 philodendron el choco red first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the philodendron el choco red watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding philodendron el choco red
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for philodendron el choco red:
- 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 philodendron el choco red
- 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 philodendron el choco red 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 philodendron el choco red 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 philodendron el choco red
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 philodendron el choco red — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does philodendron el choco red 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. Philodendron El Choco Red 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 philodendron el choco red?
Feed monthly during the spring and summer growing season with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength. Pause feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Flush the pot with plain water occasionally to prevent fertiliser salt buildup, which can burn the roots. Feed monthly during the spring and summer growing season with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength. Pause feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Flush the pot with plain water occasionally to prevent fertiliser salt buildup, which can burn the roots. For a fast grower like this that means feeding regularly — about monthly — right through spring through early autumn (roughly March to September), tapering off only as light drops in autumn.
What strength of feed for philodendron el choco red?
Half strength every feed is the sweet spot for philodendron el choco red: frequent enough to fuel fast growth, dilute enough that it never scorches even when you feed often.
What does over-feeding philodendron el choco red 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 philodendron el choco red?
Because you feed often, salts accumulate faster — flush the pot of philodendron el choco red with plain water until it drains freely roughly every month through the feeding season to keep the root zone clean.
Keep reading
- Philodendron El Choco Red care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water philodendron el choco red — 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 609 fertilising guides in the Growli library