Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Scarlet Bidi-Bidi (Acaena microphylla)— schedule & NPK
Also called Scarlet Bidi-Bidi, New Zealand Burr, Scarlet Piripiri.
More about scarlet bidi-bidi
About Scarlet Bidi-Bidi
Acaena microphylla · also called Scarlet Bidi-Bidi, New Zealand Burr · flowering
Scarlet Bidi-Bidi is a vigorous, carpet-forming perennial from New Zealand grown for its bronze-green finely divided foliage and showy spherical scarlet-red burr heads in late summer. It hugs the ground tightly, making it ideal for rockeries, gravel gardens, and path edges. Very low maintenance once established in a free-draining site.
Growth habit: Prostrate, mat-forming perennial with spreading stems rooting at nodes; forms a low, dense carpet
What fertiliser scarlet bidi-bidi actually wants — and why
Scarlet Bidi-Bidi 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 scarlet bidi-bidi: 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 scarlet bidi-bidi, 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 scarlet bidi-bidi:
No regular feeding required or recommended. Fertile soils undermine the compact habit. A light top-dressing of grit improves drainage and suits the plant's preference for lean conditions. 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 scarlet bidi-bidi 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 scarlet bidi-bidi
Half strength is the safe default for scarlet bidi-bidi — 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 scarlet bidi-bidi first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the scarlet bidi-bidi watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding scarlet bidi-bidi
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for scarlet bidi-bidi:
- 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 scarlet bidi-bidi
- 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 scarlet bidi-bidi care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of scarlet bidi-bidi 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 scarlet bidi-bidi
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 scarlet bidi-bidi — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does scarlet bidi-bidi 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. Scarlet Bidi-Bidi 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 scarlet bidi-bidi?
No regular feeding required or recommended. Fertile soils undermine the compact habit. A light top-dressing of grit improves drainage and suits the plant's preference for lean conditions. No regular feeding required or recommended. Fertile soils undermine the compact habit. A light top-dressing of grit improves drainage and suits the plant's preference for lean conditions. 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 scarlet bidi-bidi?
Half strength is the safe default for scarlet bidi-bidi — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding scarlet bidi-bidi 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 scarlet bidi-bidi 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 scarlet bidi-bidi?
Flush the pot of scarlet bidi-bidi 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
- Scarlet Bidi-Bidi care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water scarlet bidi-bidi — 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 showy japanese lily
- How to fertilise henry's lily
- How to fertilise coral lily
- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library