Growli
Let's go

Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) (Aglaonema commutatum)— schedule & NPK

Also called Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema, Philippine evergreen, Painted drop-tongue.

More about aglaonema (chinese evergreen)

About Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)

Aglaonema commutatum · also called Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema · houseplant

Aglaonema commutatum, or Chinese evergreen, is a slow-growing tropical foliage plant from the Philippines prized for its silver-marbled leaves and forgiving nature. Its one defining need is warmth: it suffers chilling injury below roughly 15C, so keep it out of cold draughts and unheated rooms while giving it steady, indirect light.

Growth habit: A clump-forming, evergreen perennial that grows slowly into a bushy mound of broad, lance-shaped leaves on short stems. Mature plants may develop a visible cane-like stem as lower leaves drop. It occasionally produces an arum-type bloom of a white-to-green spathe around a pale spadix in late summer, though it is grown almost entirely for its foliage.

Watch for — Brown, crispy leaf edges and tips: Caused by very dry air, cold draughts, or salt build-up from over-fertilising or hard tap water. Raise humidity, move away from heat sources and draughts, flush the compost, and feed only at half strength in the growing season.

What fertiliser aglaonema (chinese evergreen) actually wants — and why

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen): 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen), 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen):

Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength roughly every 4-6 weeks during the spring and summer growing season, and stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. This is a light feeder; over-fertilising causes scorched, browned leaf edges, so under-feeding is safer than overdoing it. Flush the compost occasionally to clear salt build-up. Treat that as every 4-6 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen) 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen)

Half strength is the safe default for aglaonema (chinese evergreen) — 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen) first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the aglaonema (chinese evergreen) watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding aglaonema (chinese evergreen)

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for aglaonema (chinese evergreen):

Signs you are under-feeding aglaonema (chinese evergreen)

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full aglaonema (chinese evergreen) care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of aglaonema (chinese evergreen) 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen)

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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen) — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does aglaonema (chinese evergreen) 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. Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen)?

Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength roughly every 4-6 weeks during the spring and summer growing season, and stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. This is a light feeder; over-fertilising causes scorched, browned leaf edges, so under-feeding is safer than overdoing it. Flush the compost occasionally to clear salt build-up. Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength roughly every 4-6 weeks during the spring and summer growing season, and stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. This is a light feeder; over-fertilising causes scorched, browned leaf edges, so under-feeding is safer than overdoing it. Flush the compost occasionally to clear salt build-up. Treat that as every 4-6 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen)?

Half strength is the safe default for aglaonema (chinese evergreen) — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding aglaonema (chinese evergreen) 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen) 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 aglaonema (chinese evergreen)?

Flush the pot of aglaonema (chinese evergreen) 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