Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Anubias afzelii (Anubias afzelii)— schedule & NPK
Also called Afzel's Anubias, narrow-leaf Anubias.
More about anubias afzelii
About Anubias afzelii
Anubias afzelii · also called Afzel's Anubias, narrow-leaf Anubias · tropical
Anubias afzelii is a tall West African aquatic aroid with long, narrow, leathery lance-shaped leaves on upright petioles. A good background plant for larger aquariums and paludariums, it is hardy and slow-growing like other Anubias, attached to wood or rock and feeding from the water column under low to moderate light.
Growth habit: Tall creeping rhizomatous aquatic herb with long, narrow leaves held upright on sturdy petioles. Slow-growing but eventually substantial, well suited to aquarium backgrounds and emersed displays.
Watch for — Stalled growth: Reflects low water-column nutrients. Apply a complete liquid fertiliser and consider modest CO2.
What fertiliser anubias afzelii actually wants — and why
Anubias afzelii 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 anubias afzelii: 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 anubias afzelii, 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 anubias afzelii:
Dose a complete liquid aquatic fertiliser into the water column for iron, potassium and trace elements. Root tabs are of limited value. Optional CO2 increases growth rate and leaf vigour. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season 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 anubias afzelii 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 anubias afzelii
Half strength is the safe default for anubias afzelii — 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 anubias afzelii first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the anubias afzelii watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding anubias afzelii
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for anubias afzelii:
- 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 anubias afzelii
- 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 anubias afzelii care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of anubias afzelii 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 anubias afzelii
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 anubias afzelii — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does anubias afzelii 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. Anubias afzelii 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 anubias afzelii?
Dose a complete liquid aquatic fertiliser into the water column for iron, potassium and trace elements. Root tabs are of limited value. Optional CO2 increases growth rate and leaf vigour. Dose a complete liquid aquatic fertiliser into the water column for iron, potassium and trace elements. Root tabs are of limited value. Optional CO2 increases growth rate and leaf vigour. Treat that as sparingly through the growing season 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 anubias afzelii?
Half strength is the safe default for anubias afzelii — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding anubias afzelii 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 anubias afzelii 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 anubias afzelii?
Flush the pot of anubias afzelii 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
- Anubias afzelii care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water anubias afzelii — 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 monstera
- How to fertilise pothos
- How to fertilise fiddle leaf fig
- All 5561 fertilising guides in the Growli library