Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Pseudodracontium lacourii (Pseudodracontium lacourii)— schedule & NPK
Also called Lacoeur's pseudodracontium, African giant arum.
More about pseudodracontium lacourii
About Pseudodracontium lacourii
Pseudodracontium lacourii · also called Lacoeur's pseudodracontium, African giant arum · tropical
Pseudodracontium lacourii is a tropical Southeast Asian tuberous aroid, closely allied to Amorphophallus, grown for its single tall, dragon-spotted stalk and large, finely divided umbrella-like leaf. It produces a slim greenish hooded inflorescence, then rests as a dormant tuber. Give it warmth, humidity, dappled shade and rich, free-draining soil with a dry rest period.
Growth habit: Deciduous tropical tuberous geophyte producing one tall, mottled pseudostem topped by a single large, finely dissected umbrella leaf, then an occasional slim inflorescence; dies back to a tuber each rest period.
What fertiliser pseudodracontium lacourii actually wants — and why
Pseudodracontium lacourii 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 pseudodracontium lacourii: 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 pseudodracontium lacourii, 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 pseudodracontium lacourii:
Feed every 2-4 weeks through active growth with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half to full strength to support the large leaf and bulk up the tuber. Stop feeding entirely during dormancy. 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 pseudodracontium lacourii 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 pseudodracontium lacourii
Half strength is the safe default for pseudodracontium lacourii — 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 pseudodracontium lacourii first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the pseudodracontium lacourii watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding pseudodracontium lacourii
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for pseudodracontium lacourii:
- 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 pseudodracontium lacourii
- 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 pseudodracontium lacourii care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of pseudodracontium lacourii 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 pseudodracontium lacourii
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 pseudodracontium lacourii — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does pseudodracontium lacourii 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. Pseudodracontium lacourii 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 pseudodracontium lacourii?
Feed every 2-4 weeks through active growth with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half to full strength to support the large leaf and bulk up the tuber. Stop feeding entirely during dormancy. Feed every 2-4 weeks through active growth with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half to full strength to support the large leaf and bulk up the tuber. Stop feeding entirely during dormancy. 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 pseudodracontium lacourii?
Half strength is the safe default for pseudodracontium lacourii — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding pseudodracontium lacourii 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 pseudodracontium lacourii 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 pseudodracontium lacourii?
Flush the pot of pseudodracontium lacourii 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
- Pseudodracontium lacourii care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water pseudodracontium lacourii — 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