Aglaonema Care Guide

Aglaonema Care Guide

Commonly known as the Chinese Evergreen or the Philippine Evergreen, the Aglaonema (which is also its Latin name) is an ornate leafy genus of plants belonging to the Araceae family – and are therefore related to Alocasia, Philodendron and other Aroid plants. Algaonema is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea.

Whist these plants can flower, they do not tend to flower when removed from their natural environment. Nonetheless, it is the leaves of this plant which make it most striking, which are typically green and silver in colour. Despite ‘Evergreen’ being its common name, there are several species of this plant offering a broad range of colours from light and dark green, through to pink, purple, and red.

   

                     Aglaonema Pink   Aglaonema Crete Red Gold   Aglaonema Red   Agloanema Christina 

Aglaonema are typically low-growing plants (some species growing 20” max in height), preferring low-light spaces, making them a great option for perking up smaller spaces and shaded areas.

Below, we provide the best care tips for keeping your Aglaonema happy and healthy.

 

Lighting

Aglaonemas prefer lower lighting and can tolerate shaded areas.

It’s important not to place your Aglaonema in direct sunlight as this will cause the leaves to burn.

How to provide the right amount of light for Aglaonema:

Ensure the plant is placed a few feet away from a window which provides diffused light throughout the day. Be sure to rotate the plant periodically for even growth on all sides.

We recommend and have used all of the below lights, especially the SANSI bulb as this is a great way to adapt a standard lamp or light fitting. 

                                                        

Watering

Aglaonemas are quite hardy plants and will tolerate some drought, which makes them a great plant for beginners.

These plants like to dry out between watering and can be prone to root rot if overwatered.

When to water your Aglaonema:

Aglaonemas will not tolerate waterlogged soil, so it’s important to ensure that the soil is dry a few inches down before you water again.

If over-watered, the leaves will yellow and the stalks will start to become mushy. If this happens, let the oil dry out completely before re-watering.

How to water your Aglaonema:

You should keep your Aglaonema in a well-drained pot to keep the root aerated. When watering, provide a good shower and allow all the water to drain through the pot.

When finished, the soil should be moist but not wet.

Humidity

Aglaonemas can thrive in both low and high humidity, so they are ideal in almost any environment.

That said, if you use central heating then it’s a good idea to lightly mist the plant now and then to maintain some humidity.

Be sure to keep temperatures between 60-70 °F (15-21 °C), and don’t place your plant directly near a heater or radiator.

We recommend any of the below humidifiers. We have tried all of them and depending on your space these can really help if you are a forgetful mister! 

                                                       

Soil

Despite the exotic nature of these plants, they will thrive happily in standard indoor potting soil. Simply fertilise once per month between spring and autumn. Easy!

Propagation

There are two main methods for propagating your Aglaonema.

Method one – propagation via root cuttings:

This is the most successful method to propagate your Aglaonema, but you will need a well-established mother plant. This method is best done in the spring, ready for growing season:

• Water the plant the day before you plan to divide it, to encourage quicker recovery and reduce stress.
• On the day, gently tip your Aglaonema on its side and slide it out of the pot.
• Brush away the loose soil and gently separate the roots a bit.
• Divide the stems and roots along the natural divisions, using your fingers, working slowly and gently. You should not need to break any roots to separate out the root balls.
• When potting, ensure offspring are planted with the same potting mix as the mother plant, and include some from the original pot to reduce stress. The pots such provide a 2-inch diameter around the root balls.

Method two: propagation via stem cuttings:

Any shoot with at least 5 leaves can be clean cut from the main plant, and simply placed into potted soil. Make sure the soil mix contains some from the main plant, then leave the stem in indirect sunlight.

New shoots should start to appear within 25-45 if the plant is maintained above 20 °C.

Colours and Variegation

All Aglaonema species are inherently variegated, with symmetrical patterns, often like chevrons, running down the leaves.

Some species provide different variegation, however, such as the Spotted Evergreen (Aglaonema costatum) which looks like it is splattered with white paint, or the Pink Marble (Photinia cassini) which has pink leaf edges and undersides.

Toxicity

Aglaonema are sadly toxic to humans and pets, so they are unsuitable to homes where children or furry friends may nibble.

Special Information

Many of the Aglaonema species we see today are actually hybrids, one of the most common ones being the Silver Bay, which is white in the centre of the leaves and green on the edges.

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