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Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' (Anthurium 'Ace of Spades')— schedule & NPK

Also called Ace of Spades Anthurium.

More about anthurium 'ace of spades'

About Anthurium 'Ace of Spades'

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' · also called Ace of Spades Anthurium · houseplant

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' is a collector velvet-leaf anthurium grown for its large, heart-shaped, deep emerald-to-near-black leaves with a matte, velvety surface and pale veining. A terrestrial aroid, it is foliage-focused rather than flowering, demanding warmth, high humidity, and a chunky, airy aroid mix to thrive indoors.

Growth habit: Terrestrial, clump-forming velvet anthurium with a compact crown. Produces successive large heart-shaped leaves on upright petioles rather than vining, gradually building a fuller, rosette-like plant over time.

Watch for — Brown, crispy leaf edges: Almost always low humidity, sometimes compounded by fertiliser salt buildup. Raise humidity above 60% and flush the mix to clear excess salts.

What fertiliser anthurium 'ace of spades' actually wants — and why

Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' 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 anthurium 'ace of spades': 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 anthurium 'ace of spades', 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 anthurium 'ace of spades':

Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a dilute (quarter to half strength) balanced liquid fertiliser; these plants are sensitive to fertiliser salts. Flush the mix periodically to prevent buildup, and reduce or pause feeding in the lower light of winter. Treat that as every 2-4 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 anthurium 'ace of spades' 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 anthurium 'ace of spades'

Half strength is the safe default for anthurium 'ace of spades' — 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 anthurium 'ace of spades' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the anthurium 'ace of spades' watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding anthurium 'ace of spades'

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for anthurium 'ace of spades':

Signs you are under-feeding anthurium 'ace of spades'

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full anthurium 'ace of spades' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

Flush the pot of anthurium 'ace of spades' 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 anthurium 'ace of spades'

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 anthurium 'ace of spades' — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does anthurium 'ace of spades' 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. Anthurium 'Ace of Spades' 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 anthurium 'ace of spades'?

Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a dilute (quarter to half strength) balanced liquid fertiliser; these plants are sensitive to fertiliser salts. Flush the mix periodically to prevent buildup, and reduce or pause feeding in the lower light of winter. Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a dilute (quarter to half strength) balanced liquid fertiliser; these plants are sensitive to fertiliser salts. Flush the mix periodically to prevent buildup, and reduce or pause feeding in the lower light of winter. Treat that as every 2-4 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 anthurium 'ace of spades'?

Half strength is the safe default for anthurium 'ace of spades' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.

What does over-feeding anthurium 'ace of spades' 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 anthurium 'ace of spades' 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 anthurium 'ace of spades'?

Flush the pot of anthurium 'ace of spades' 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.

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