Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' (Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon')— schedule & NPK

Also called Black Dragon Coleus, Dark Coleus.

More about plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

About Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon'

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' · also called Black Dragon Coleus, Dark Coleus · flowering

'Black Dragon' is a compact coleus prized for deeply ruffled, near-black burgundy foliage rather than its small blue flower spikes. Grown as a tender annual in beds or containers, it thrives in part shade with rich moist soil and pinches into a dense mound. Strong colour develops in bright, filtered light through the warm season.

Growth habit: Mounding, well-branched tender perennial grown as an annual; pinch growing tips regularly to keep it bushy and remove flower spikes to direct energy into foliage.

Watch for — Faded or washed-out colour: Too much harsh direct sun bleaches the near-black tone, while too little light pales it; aim for bright filtered light or part shade.

What fertiliser plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' actually wants — and why

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon': 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon', 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon':

Feed every 2-4 weeks through the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength; over-feeding with high nitrogen can dull the dark colour and force leggy growth. 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

Half strength is the safe default for plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' — 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon':

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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'

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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' 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. Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Black Dragon' 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'?

Feed every 2-4 weeks through the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength; over-feeding with high nitrogen can dull the dark colour and force leggy growth. Feed every 2-4 weeks through the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength; over-feeding with high nitrogen can dull the dark colour and force leggy growth. 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'?

What does over-feeding plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon' 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 plectranthus scutellarioides 'black dragon'?