Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Lycaste aromatica (Lycaste aromatica)— schedule & NPK
Also called Fragrant Lycaste, Cinnamon Orchid.
More about lycaste aromatica
About Lycaste aromatica
Lycaste aromatica · also called Fragrant Lycaste, Cinnamon Orchid · flowering
Lycaste aromatica is a Central American orchid famed for waxy, bright yellow flowers that smell strongly of cinnamon, appearing in numbers from the base of leafless pseudobulbs in spring. It is deciduous, dropping its broad pleated leaves before flowering and taking a cool, drier winter rest. Grown cool to intermediate, it is showy and reliably fragrant.
Growth habit: Sympodial, deciduous epiphyte/lithophyte with plump pseudobulbs topped by large pleated leaves in summer; in spring, cinnamon-scented flowers rise singly on short stems from the base of the bare bulbs.
What fertiliser lycaste aromatica actually wants — and why
Lycaste aromatica 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 lycaste aromatica: 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 lycaste aromatica, 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 lycaste aromatica:
Feed weakly (one-quarter to one-half strength balanced orchid fertiliser) every week or two while in active leaf; stop entirely during the leafless winter rest. 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 lycaste aromatica 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 lycaste aromatica
Half strength is the safe default for lycaste aromatica — 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 lycaste aromatica first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the lycaste aromatica watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding lycaste aromatica
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for lycaste aromatica:
- 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 lycaste aromatica
- 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 lycaste aromatica care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of lycaste aromatica 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 lycaste aromatica
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 lycaste aromatica — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does lycaste aromatica 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. Lycaste aromatica 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 lycaste aromatica?
Feed weakly (one-quarter to one-half strength balanced orchid fertiliser) every week or two while in active leaf; stop entirely during the leafless winter rest. Feed weakly (one-quarter to one-half strength balanced orchid fertiliser) every week or two while in active leaf; stop entirely during the leafless winter rest. 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 lycaste aromatica?
Half strength is the safe default for lycaste aromatica — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding lycaste aromatica 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 lycaste aromatica 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 lycaste aromatica?
Flush the pot of lycaste aromatica 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
- Lycaste aromatica care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water lycaste aromatica — 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 peace lily
- How to fertilise bird of paradise
- How to fertilise hoya
- All 2464 fertilising guides in the Growli library