Additionally known as a Chinese language Evergreen plant, the Aglaonema is a straightforward to look after houseplant that’s good for freshmen and plant lovers who need a gorgeous but low-maintenance plant. The Aglaonema options massive, lance-shaped tropical foliage that is available in many various colours starting from deep greens, to silver-tinted, to shades of pink, and even vivid pink.
These fashionable houseplants are member of the Araceae household and originate from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and New Guinea. There are over 20 species of plant and tons of of Aglaonema cultivars which were bred to showcase variations of leaf patterns and vivid colours.
Associated: Study to Take care of Pilea Vegetation, Jade Vegetation, Calathea, Fiddle Leaf Figs, Golden Pothos, Snake Vegetation, Peace Lilies, Rubber Timber, Spider Vegetation, Christmas Cactus, and String of Pearls Vegetation.
Why are Aglaonema known as “Chinese language Evergreens”?
The widespread identify of the Aglaonema is “Chinese language Evergreen” or “Luck Plant” as a result of in Feng Shui the Aglaonema is believed to deliver success, luck, and prosperity. Their easy-to-grow high quality and exquisite look is meant to advantageous to an individual’s monetary potential. They’re additionally perennial vegetation that don’t lose leaves and therefore the evergreen identify.
How usually ought to I water Aglaonema?
Aglaonema like moist soil with out being too moist (an excessive amount of water can result in root rot). Water when the highest inch of soil is dry which you’ll examine by sticking your finger instantly into the soil to examine the moisture stage. Though the plant can survive brief durations of drought, don’t let the plant dry out all the best way in case you may help it or your leaves could endure. Nonetheless, in case your plant is in a decrease mild space, you possibly can let a number of inches of filth dry out between waterings.
Like most vegetation, you’ll must water extra within the rising season (spring to fall) and you’ll taper off watering to a much less frequent schedule within the winter. It’s greatest to make use of a pot with a drainage gap and saucer if attainable so extra water will drain out into the saucer.
Additionally, vegetation which can be in sunnier places are likely to dry out sooner, so these in brighter oblique mild will want extra in comparison with these in low mild conditions.
How a lot daylight do Aglaonema want?
General, the Aglaonema prefers medium to vivid oblique daylight however will be glad in lots of lighting situations (one cause it’s a straightforward care houseplant). Whereas an excessive amount of direct daylight can result in leaf burn, the Aglaonema can tolerate various mild situations primarily based on the variability.
Darker inexperienced leafed Aglaonema can deal with decrease mild situations higher than the lighter hued varieties, so maintain your Aglaonema in brighter oblique mild if its leaves are a lighter coloration. Rotate your plant sometimes to make sure even development.
If you’re taking your plant outdoors for the hotter climate and vivid mild, expose it to the brand new stage of sunshine slowly over a couple of days. Preserve it outdoors in a shaded space to keep away from direct publicity and leaf burn.
Ought to I fertilize my Aglaonema?
It’s a good suggestion to fertilize your Aglaonema as soon as a month to encourage development throughout spring and summer season. You should utilize a normal function houseplant fertilizer at half power throughout the hotter rising season within the spring and summer season months and skip fertilizing within the winter months when the expansion is way slower.
Temperature and Humidity for Aglaonema
For Aglaonema, 65° to 80° levels Fahrenheit is the best temperature so they’re typically very glad inside the home 12 months spherical. They received’t do nicely, nevertheless, if it drops beneath 55° levels, so maintain them away from chilly drafts and produce them inside if you’re experiencing decrease temperatures.
Since Aglaonema come from a extra humid surroundings, they thrive at a excessive humidity stage. You possibly can add extra humidity to your private home with a humidifier or you possibly can put some pebbles and water in a tray and easily place your pot on prime (make certain the water stage sits beneath the highest of the pebbles). The pot will sit on prime of the pebble tray and the water within the tray will evaporate and create humidity across the plant.
Bogs are an excellent spot for Aglaonema (so long as it has the right mild for them) as they’re a extra humid surroundings.
Pruning Aglaonema
You received’t must do a lot pruning in your Aglaonema plant. Simply use sharp scissors or pruning shears to take away useless leaves or stems as they seem to maintain your plant trying tidy.
In case your plant is getting too tall and leggy, you possibly can snip the stems again with a sterilized software (to stop spreading illness) above the 4th leaf node and they’ll regrow leaves nearer to the bottom of the plant. It’s greatest to do this type of pruning within the spring in the beginning of the rising season.
Potting and Repotting Aglaonema
Pot your Aglaonema with well-draining potting combine (you possibly can add some perlite, peat moss, or sand to the soil for further drainage) and pots with drainage holes are greatest for good drainage so extra water will drain away. Some folks like so as to add a layer of lava rocks on the backside of their pot below the soil to additionally assist the water drain away from the plant’s roots.
Aglaonema are a slower rising selection, however you should still must repot them each few years. Test within the spring to see if the roots are rising out the drainage gap on the backside of the pot, and if they’re that’s a certain signal the plant is beginning to grow to be root sure. Merely transfer the plant to a barely bigger pot with well-draining soil and water totally.
Propagating Aglaonema
To propagate your Aglaonema, you possibly can both divide the plant or develop a brand new plant from stem cuttings and the most effective time to do that is throughout the rising season.
Propagate by division:
- Take away the plant from its pot by loosening the soil with a trowel.
- Shake off extra filth and gently separate the roots and plant into two halves.
- Plant every half right into a pot just a little greater than the basis ball that’s crammed with nicely draining soil. Water totally and carry on the moist facet till roots are stronger.
Propagate by stem cuttings:
- Use a clear reducing software to snip off a wholesome stem that’s a number of inches lengthy.
- Place the stem backside right into a glass of water and place in a vivid oblique mild location.
- In a couple of month, roots will kind and you’ll plant your new plant right into a small pot of nicely draining soil and maintain moist till roots are established.
Associated: Methods to Propagate Vegetation
Ought to I take away the flowers on my Aglaonema?
Whereas not that fairly to have a look at, Aglaonema can produce flowers that have a tendency to cover among the many foliage (so you might not even know they’re there). The “flower” is definitely an inflorescence (a stem with a bunch of flowers) normally seems extra like a distorted leaf than a conventional flower. Flowers normally encompass a inexperienced or white hood with a white spath popping out from the hood.
There’s a little bit of a debate whether or not or to not lower the flowers that seem on Aglaonema, however since elimination doesn’t damage the plant and the flowers aren’t a lot to have a look at, it’s effective to snip them off with a clear reducing software as they seem. Simply make certain to solely lower the flower off and never the unique leaf it’s popping out from.
Totally different sorts of Aglaonema
Inexperienced Papaya: This stunning selection has inexperienced lush leaves with papaya coloured veins.
Frasher: This selection has darkish inexperienced leaves with a hanging cream variegation.
Pseudobracteatum: This can be a cultivar with silver-green patterns unfold inside darkish inexperienced edges.
Pink Zircon: This eye-catching plant options vivid pink leaves tinged on the perimeters with a skinny line of darkish inexperienced.
White Rajah: Shiny white veins pop towards a lush inexperienced for this fashionable selection.
Silver Bay: This selection boasts a surprising silver center that’s edged with darkish inexperienced.
Maria: These leaves are accented with silver on a darkish inexperienced leaf.
Needs: This stunning cultivar has darkish inexperienced leaves speckled with vivid pink dappling.
Diagnosing Frequent Issues
Whereas Aglaonema are typically straightforward to look after, you might run into a few of these widespread houseplant points:
- Pests: Aglaonema aren’t vulnerable to bugs, however some widespread pests are scale, mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites. Deal with as wanted with neem oil or insecticidal cleaning soap to maintain bugs below management.
- Burned Leaves: Your plant could also be getting an excessive amount of daylight, particularly if direct daylight is hitting your plant. Transfer to much less direct mild.
- Brown Leaves: Ideas of the leaves turning brown can imply the plant is both getting an excessive amount of mild or it might not be responding nicely to the chemical substances in your faucet water (fluoride and chlorine particularly). Strive watering with filtered water or depart your faucet water out in a single day earlier than watering as that decreases the degrees of chemical substances.
- Leaf Curling: When you discover that your leaves are curling, strive rising the humidity across the plant or putting a tray with water and pebbles below the plant to extend humidity. Leaves can even curl from below watering or from adjustments in temperature, so strive watering extra usually and examine for any cooling or heating vents close to the plant.
- Yellow Leaves: Leaves that flip yellow are normally an indication of overwatering. Let the plant dry out till nearly totally dry after which water once more, ensuring at the very least the highest inch of soil is dry earlier than watering once more.
- Leaf Shade Loss: When you discover your plant is shedding coloration or vibrancy of its leaves, it could be getting an excessive amount of direct daylight that’s scorching and burning the leaves. Strive transferring the plant to a location the place it will get oblique mild reasonably than full on solar.
- Root Rot: Whereas these vegetation aren’t vulnerable to illness, root rot will be lethal for these vegetation. An excessive amount of water will really drown the roots, so make certain to have a drainage gap in your planter and use a well-draining potting combine.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Are Aglaonema poisonous to people or pets?
Aglaonema comprise calcium oxalate crystals, that are mildly poisonous and might trigger irritation to the mouth and abdomen and result in vomiting. If rising in a house with young children and pets current, precautions needs to be taken to maintain the plant up excessive away from attain.
