Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet' (Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet')— schedule & NPK

Also called Wizard Scarlet Coleus, Scarlet Coleus.

More about plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet'

About Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet'

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet' · also called Wizard Scarlet Coleus, Scarlet Coleus · flowering

Wizard Scarlet is a compact, seed-grown coleus with rich scarlet-red leaves narrowly edged in green, prized for uniform habit and quick establishment. Part of the dwarf Wizard series, it suits bedding, edging, and containers in shade to part sun. Grown for vivid foliage, not its small flowers. Easy and fast, it is a tender perennial grown as an annual.

Growth habit: Compact, dwarf, well-branched bushy habit; uniform and tidy, ideal for mass bedding and edging.

Watch for — Colour fading: The scarlet washes out in deep shade or under heavy nitrogen feeding. Give bright filtered light and moderate, balanced feed for the deepest red.

What fertiliser plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' actually wants — and why

Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Wizard Scarlet' 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 'wizard scarlet': 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 'wizard scarlet', 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 'wizard scarlet':

Feed every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength, or apply slow-release granules at planting. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which can wash out the leaf colour. Steady, moderate feeding keeps growth compact and richly coloured. Treat that as every 2 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 'wizard scarlet' 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 'wizard scarlet'

Half strength is the safe default for plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' — 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 'wizard scarlet' 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 'wizard scarlet' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet'

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

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 'wizard scarlet'

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 'wizard scarlet' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' 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 'wizard scarlet'

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 'wizard scarlet' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' 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 'Wizard Scarlet' 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 'wizard scarlet'?

Feed every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength, or apply slow-release granules at planting. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which can wash out the leaf colour. Steady, moderate feeding keeps growth compact and richly coloured. Feed every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength, or apply slow-release granules at planting. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which can wash out the leaf colour. Steady, moderate feeding keeps growth compact and richly coloured. Treat that as every 2 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 'wizard scarlet'?

What does over-feeding plectranthus scutellarioides 'wizard scarlet' 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 'wizard scarlet' 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 'wizard scarlet'?