How Often to Fertilize Alocasia

Alocasia are heavy feeders during their growing season. Fertilising every 10–14 days in spring and summer keeps leaves large, glossy, and upright. In autumn and winter, they slow down or enter dormancy, meaning feeding should be reduced or paused. A balanced fertiliser like CompleteGrow All Purpose Liquid NPK 20-20-20 provides the right nutrition for consistent growth.

At a Glance: Fertilising Frequency

Spring & Summer: Every 10–14 days with diluted liquid feed
Autumn: Reduce to once per month as growth slows
Winter: Pause feeding during dormancy or very low growth
After repotting: Wait 2–3 weeks before resuming fertiliser
Best choice: CompleteGrow 20-20-20 for balanced NPK + micros

Quick Fix: More frequent feeding in growth = lush leaves; less in dormancy = safe roots.

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Spring and Summer Feeding

These are the active growth months for Alocasia. New leaves unfurl rapidly, and the plant uses high amounts of nitrogen (N) for foliage expansion, phosphorus (P) for root support, and potassium (K) for leaf strength. Best practice: Fertilise every 10–14 days at 2–3 ml/L using CompleteGrow 20-20-20.

Indoor vs Outdoor Growth

Indoors, growth is slightly slower — feeding every 2 weeks is sufficient. Outdoors in warm climates, weekly feeding may be beneficial due to faster metabolism and higher watering frequency.

Autumn Adjustments

As daylight shortens, Alocasia growth slows. Overfeeding during this phase risks salt build-up and root stress. Best practice: Fertilise monthly at half strength until growth halts.

Winter Dormancy

Most Alocasia enter partial or full dormancy in winter. Feeding during this time wastes nutrients and can burn roots. Pause fertilising entirely until new shoots appear in spring.

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Tips for Fertilising Alocasia

Dilution is key: Always use fertiliser at ½–¾ strength unless growth is vigorous.
Flush soil: Every 6–8 weeks, run water through the pot to clear excess salts.
Support large leaves: Consistent feeding encourages stronger petioles to hold heavy leaves upright.
Feed only healthy plants: Don’t fertilise stressed or newly repotted Alocasia until recovery begins.

FAQs

Can I fertilise Alocasia weekly? Yes, in peak summer growth outdoors. Indoors, every 10–14 days is usually enough.
What happens if I overfertilise? Leaves may develop brown tips from salt burn — flush soil and resume at lower strength.
Do I fertilise during dormancy? No — stop until new shoots appear in spring.
Is slow-release fertiliser good? It can work, but liquid feeding with CompleteGrow 20-20-20 allows more precise seasonal control.