Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum)— schedule & NPK
Also called titan arum, corpse flower, bunga bangkai.
More about titan arum
About Titan Arum
Amorphophallus titanum · also called titan arum, corpse flower · tropical
Amorphophallus titanum, the titan arum or corpse flower, produces one of the largest unbranched inflorescences on Earth, emitting a powerful rotting-flesh odour over a day or two to attract pollinators. Native to Sumatran rainforest, it alternates a single enormous leaf with rare, spectacular blooms. It is a demanding warm, humid, collection plant.
Growth habit: Giant tuberous aroid that alternates between a single tree-sized divided leaf and, after years of corm-building, a colossal short-lived malodorous inflorescence.
Watch for — Reluctance to flower: Flowering requires many years and a very large, well-fed corm. Feed heavily in growth and be patient; blooms are rare even in cultivation.
What fertiliser titan arum actually wants — and why
Titan Arum 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 titan arum: 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 titan arum, 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 titan arum:
Feed regularly, every 1-2 weeks, with a balanced liquid fertiliser throughout active leaf growth to build the massive corm needed for eventual flowering. Reduce and then stop feeding as the leaf dies back into dormancy. Treat that as every 1-2 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 titan arum 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 titan arum
Half strength is the safe default for titan arum — 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 titan arum first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the titan arum watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding titan arum
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for titan arum:
- 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 titan arum
- 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 titan arum care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of titan arum 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 titan arum
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 titan arum — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does titan arum 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. Titan Arum 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 titan arum?
Feed regularly, every 1-2 weeks, with a balanced liquid fertiliser throughout active leaf growth to build the massive corm needed for eventual flowering. Reduce and then stop feeding as the leaf dies back into dormancy. Feed regularly, every 1-2 weeks, with a balanced liquid fertiliser throughout active leaf growth to build the massive corm needed for eventual flowering. Reduce and then stop feeding as the leaf dies back into dormancy. Treat that as every 1-2 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 titan arum?
Half strength is the safe default for titan arum — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding titan arum 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 titan arum 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 titan arum?
Flush the pot of titan arum 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
- Titan Arum care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water titan arum — 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