Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Lion's Angraecum (Angraecum leonis)— schedule & NPK
Also called Lion's Angraecum, Lion Orchid.
More about lion's angraecum
About Lion's Angraecum
Angraecum leonis · also called Lion's Angraecum, Lion Orchid · tropical
A compact monopodial orchid from Comoros and Madagascar bearing scimitar-shaped fleshy leaves and large, pure-white night-fragrant flowers with long nectary spurs. Grow warm with bright filtered light, high humidity, and a wet-dry watering cycle. Mounted or in small pots with very open bark mix; slow to establish but rewarding once specimen-sized.
Growth habit: Monopodial epiphyte with a short, stout stem and 4–5 distichous, falcate, fleshy-coriaceous leaves. No pseudobulbs. Occasionally produces basal offshoots on mature specimens.
What fertiliser lion's angraecum actually wants — and why
Lion's Angraecum 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 lion's angraecum: 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 lion's angraecum, 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 lion's angraecum:
Apply a balanced orchid fertiliser (e.g. 20-20-20) at quarter-strength weekly during active growth (spring–autumn). Reduce to every 3–4 weeks in winter. Flush roots with plain water monthly to prevent salt accumulation. Treat that as weekly 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 lion's angraecum 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 lion's angraecum
Half strength is the safe default for lion's angraecum — 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 lion's angraecum first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the lion's angraecum watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding lion's angraecum
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for lion's angraecum:
- 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 lion's angraecum
- 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 lion's angraecum care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of lion's angraecum 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 lion's angraecum
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 lion's angraecum — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does lion's angraecum 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. Lion's Angraecum 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 lion's angraecum?
Apply a balanced orchid fertiliser (e.g. 20-20-20) at quarter-strength weekly during active growth (spring–autumn). Reduce to every 3–4 weeks in winter. Flush roots with plain water monthly to prevent salt accumulation. Apply a balanced orchid fertiliser (e.g. 20-20-20) at quarter-strength weekly during active growth (spring–autumn). Reduce to every 3–4 weeks in winter. Flush roots with plain water monthly to prevent salt accumulation. Treat that as weekly 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 lion's angraecum?
Half strength is the safe default for lion's angraecum — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding lion's angraecum 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 lion's angraecum 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 lion's angraecum?
Flush the pot of lion's angraecum 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
- Lion's Angraecum care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water lion's angraecum — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
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- All 8452 fertilising guides in the Growli library