Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Aglaonema Burmese Evergreen (Aglaonema brevispathum)— schedule & NPK
Also called Burmese Evergreen, Short-Spathed Aglaonema.
More about aglaonema burmese evergreen
About Aglaonema Burmese Evergreen
Aglaonema brevispathum · also called Burmese Evergreen, Short-Spathed Aglaonema · houseplant
Aglaonema brevispathum is a species Chinese evergreen from Southeast Asia, with elongated lance-shaped green leaves marked by a fine silver-green midrib and speckling. Less hybridised than modern cultivars, it is robust and shade-tolerant, thriving in warm, humid, low-light spots. A clean, architectural foliage plant for beginners who want an authentic species form.
Growth habit: Low, spreading clumping habit with creeping basal stems and long, narrow leaves. Slow-growing and self-multiplying, forming a dense colony over time.
Watch for — Brown leaf tips: The most common issue, from low humidity or salts in tap water. Raise humidity and use filtered or rainwater.
What fertiliser aglaonema burmese evergreen actually wants — and why
Aglaonema Burmese 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 burmese 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 burmese 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 burmese evergreen:
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced, diluted liquid houseplant fertiliser. Stop feeding in the cooler, darker months when growth slows to avoid root-damaging salt build-up. Treat that as monthly 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 burmese 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 burmese evergreen
Half strength is the safe default for aglaonema burmese 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 burmese 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 burmese evergreen watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding aglaonema burmese evergreen
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for aglaonema burmese evergreen:
- 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 aglaonema burmese evergreen
- 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 aglaonema burmese evergreen care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of aglaonema burmese 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 burmese 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 burmese evergreen — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does aglaonema burmese 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 Burmese 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 burmese evergreen?
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced, diluted liquid houseplant fertiliser. Stop feeding in the cooler, darker months when growth slows to avoid root-damaging salt build-up. Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced, diluted liquid houseplant fertiliser. Stop feeding in the cooler, darker months when growth slows to avoid root-damaging salt build-up. Treat that as monthly 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 burmese evergreen?
Half strength is the safe default for aglaonema burmese 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 burmese 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 burmese 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 burmese evergreen?
Flush the pot of aglaonema burmese 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
- Aglaonema Burmese Evergreen care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water aglaonema burmese evergreen — 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 snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 3899 fertilising guides in the Growli library