Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Regal Anthurium (Anthurium regale)— schedule & NPK
Also called Regal Anthurium, Velvet Anthurium.
More about regal anthurium
About Regal Anthurium
Anthurium regale · also called Regal Anthurium, Velvet Anthurium · houseplant
A prized collector's aroid from Peru's cloud forests, the regal anthurium grows enormous velvety, white-veined heart-shaped leaves. It wants bright indirect light, warmth, high humidity and a chunky, fast-draining mix. Like all anthuriums it is toxic to cats and dogs (insoluble calcium oxalates), so keep it out of reach.
Growth habit: Evergreen, slow-growing terrestrial aroid with a short stem and large, long-petioled cordate (heart-shaped) leaves that emerge coppery and mature to deep matte green with a velvety texture and striking silvery-white veining. Indoors it typically holds only a few large leaves at a time rather than forming a dense bush.
Watch for — Brown, crispy leaf edges: A sign of low humidity or salt/mineral buildup from tap water or fertiliser. Raise humidity above 60%, water with filtered or rainwater, and flush the mix occasionally.
What fertiliser regal anthurium actually wants — and why
Regal Anthurium 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 regal anthurium: 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 regal anthurium, 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 regal anthurium:
Feed lightly with a balanced water-soluble houseplant fertiliser (such as 20-20-20) at quarter to half strength every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer. Anthuriums are sensitive to salt buildup, so flush the mix with plain water periodically and stop feeding in autumn and winter. 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 regal anthurium 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 regal anthurium
Half strength is the safe default for regal anthurium — 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 regal anthurium first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the regal anthurium watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding regal anthurium
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for regal anthurium:
- 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 regal anthurium
- 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 regal anthurium care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of regal anthurium 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 regal anthurium
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 regal anthurium — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does regal anthurium 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. Regal Anthurium 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 regal anthurium?
Feed lightly with a balanced water-soluble houseplant fertiliser (such as 20-20-20) at quarter to half strength every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer. Anthuriums are sensitive to salt buildup, so flush the mix with plain water periodically and stop feeding in autumn and winter. Feed lightly with a balanced water-soluble houseplant fertiliser (such as 20-20-20) at quarter to half strength every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer. Anthuriums are sensitive to salt buildup, so flush the mix with plain water periodically and stop feeding in autumn and winter. 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 regal anthurium?
Half strength is the safe default for regal anthurium — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding regal anthurium 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 regal anthurium 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 regal anthurium?
Flush the pot of regal anthurium 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
- Regal Anthurium care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water regal anthurium — 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 609 fertilising guides in the Growli library