Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) - Care tips

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)

Aglaonemas are flowering plants with broad leaves. They are also called Chinese Evergreens and are easy to grow. That’s why a lot of plantlovers have an Aglaonema at home. The Aglaonema is part of the Araceae family and originates from tropical areas of Southeast Asia. There are more than 50 recognised varieties of Aglaonema with endless variation in leaf colour and shape. Most Aglaonema’s are green with white or grayish colours, but there are also variations with pink or purple colours.

Aglaonema plant care tips

The tropical Aglaonema is super easy to care for. Unlike other houseplants, these plants can take a beat! Although they are tolerant of many growing conditions, even worse ones, there are a few tips we would like to give you to make sure your beautiful plant can grow happily!

Light and placement for Aglaonemas

The Chinese Evergreen plants thrive in medium to low light conditions or indirect sunlight. It doesn’t really matter where you place it in your home, but you should make sure that you place your plant in warm and humid conditions. Aglaonema varieties with darker leaves can tolerate darker conditions, while the ones with light or colorful variegation love a bit more light to retain their beautiful colour and pattern! Always make sure to avoid placing your Aglaonema in direct sunlight. This can cause leaf burn!

Aglaonema leaves.webp

Water

Caring for a Aglaonema requires little effort. They grow best on moderate watering. Not too much, not too little. It’s best to allow your plant to dry out a bit between watering. Overwatering your plant can lead to root rot. If the soil is dry 2 centimeters down, it’s time to water your plant. In winter, you should reduce the frequency of watering, because your plant will be in ‘hibernation’!

Nutrition

As part of your Aglaonemas care, you can fertilise your plant once or twice yearly using a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, like our PLNTS nutrition. Only fertilise in spring and summer, as this is the time your plant is ready to grow!

Propagating Aglaonema

Want to make some teeny tiny Aglaonema plants? You can easily take cuttings from your Aglaonema. The Aglaonema naturally makes cuttings around the mother plant, but you can also trim your plant and save your cuttings for propagating when your plant becomes too large or leggy. The best way to propagate a Chinese Evergreen is the tearing-method. It may sound a little scary, but tearing is a simple way to propagate a plant with immediate results. Carefully remove the plant from the pot and gently untangle the roots. Shake the soil out of the root ball and carefully pull the plant apart from the center in two or more pieces. You may not be able to pull the roots completely apart. Cut them carefully with a clean and sharp knife or pruning shear. Place the loose parts in new pots with fresh potting soil and give the plants a good splash of water.

Most common pests on Aglaonema

Chinese evergreen houseplants can be affected by plagues like spider mites, (soft)scale, mealybugs and aphids. Routinely checking the leaves for signs of pests will help to limit problems later. Spraying your Aglaonema works preventively against pests. It removes any present bugs and dust and will make the leaves shine again! Win win, right? Do you think your plant is suffering from something? Check how to recognise and solve your plants’ plague on our PLNTSdoctor page.

Are Aglaonema poisonous for your pets or children?

Unfortunately, Aglaonema’s are toxic to pets and humans. Swallowing them usually causes mouth and skin irritation, stomach ache and irritation with possible vomiting. So keep an eye on your Aglaonema, your pets and little kids.

Aglaonema plant for sale

Looking for a pop of colour? Try an Aglaonema to brighten up your home or office. At PLNTS.com you can buy Aglaonema’s online, like the Aglaonema Pink Princess and the Aglaonema Prosperity. Whether you like your Aglaonema big from the start or prefer to grow them from tiny BabyPLNTS into full-grown PLNTS - we’ve got you covered!