Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) (Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora')— schedule & NPK

Also called Red Aglaonema, Red Chinese Evergreen, Siam Aurora, Aglaonema Siam.

More about aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)

About Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen)

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' · also called Red Aglaonema, Red Chinese Evergreen · houseplant

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' is a striking red-and-green Chinese evergreen prized as a low-maintenance foliage houseplant. Give it medium, indirect light to keep its pink-red variegation vivid, water when the top inch dries, and keep it warm (18-27C). Note: the ASPCA lists Aglaonema as toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of reach.

Growth habit: Slow-to-moderate-growing, upright, clumping foliage plant with broad lance-shaped leaves marked in green, silver, pink and red. It bushes out from the base over time rather than vining or trailing.

Watch for — Brown or crispy leaf edges: Usually caused by low humidity, underwatering, or fertiliser/salt buildup. Raise humidity, keep watering consistent, and flush the soil; sensitivity to fluoride and chlorine in tap water can also brown tips, so use filtered or left-out water.

What fertiliser aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) actually wants — and why

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red 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 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen):

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)

Half strength is the safe default for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red 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 'Siam Aurora' (Red 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?

Feed monthly during spring and summer with a balanced, diluted liquid houseplant fertiliser (half strength). Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Avoid over-fertilising, which causes leaf-tip and edge burn; flush the soil occasionally to clear salt buildup. Feed monthly during spring and summer with a balanced, diluted liquid houseplant fertiliser (half strength). Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Avoid over-fertilising, which causes leaf-tip and edge burn; flush the soil occasionally to clear salt buildup. 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?

What does over-feeding aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?