Additionally known as a Chinese language Evergreen plant, the Aglaonema is a simple to look after houseplant that’s excellent for newcomers and plant lovers who need a wonderful but low-maintenance plant. The Aglaonema options massive, lance-shaped tropical foliage that is available in many alternative colours starting from deep greens, to silver-tinted, to shades of pink, and even brilliant pink.
These well-liked 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 lots of of Aglaonema cultivars which were bred to showcase variations of leaf patterns and brilliant colours.
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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 delightful look is meant to advantageous to an individual’s monetary potential. They’re additionally perennial crops that don’t lose leaves and therefore the evergreen identify.
How typically 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 be able to test by sticking your finger straight into the soil to test the moisture stage. Though the plant can survive quick intervals of drought, don’t let the plant dry out all the way in which in the event you may help it or your leaves could endure. Nonetheless, in case your plant is in a decrease gentle space, you’ll be able to let a number of inches of filth dry out between waterings.
Like most crops, you’ll must water extra within the rising season (spring to fall) and you may 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, crops which can be in sunnier places are likely to dry out sooner, so these in brighter oblique gentle will want extra in comparison with these in low gentle conditions.
How a lot daylight do Aglaonema want?
General, the Aglaonema prefers medium to brilliant oblique daylight however may be comfortable in lots of lighting situations (one cause it’s a simple care houseplant). Whereas an excessive amount of direct daylight can result in leaf burn, the Aglaonema can tolerate various gentle situations based mostly on the variability.
Darker inexperienced leafed Aglaonema can deal with decrease gentle situations higher than the lighter hued varieties, so hold your Aglaonema in brighter oblique gentle if its leaves are a lighter coloration. Rotate your plant sometimes to make sure even development.
If you’re taking your plant exterior for the hotter climate and brilliant gentle, expose it to the brand new stage of sunshine slowly over a couple of days. Preserve it exterior 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 use a basic objective houseplant fertilizer at half power in the course of the hotter rising season within the spring and summer season months and skip fertilizing within the winter months when the expansion is far slower.
Temperature and Humidity for Aglaonema
For Aglaonema, 65° to 80° levels Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature so they’re usually very comfortable inside the home yr spherical. They received’t do nicely, nonetheless, if it drops beneath 55° levels, so hold them away from chilly drafts and convey them inside if you’re experiencing decrease temperatures.
Since Aglaonema come from a extra humid atmosphere, they thrive at a excessive humidity stage. You possibly can add extra humidity to your house with a humidifier or you’ll be able to put some pebbles and water in a tray and easily place your pot on high (make sure that the water stage sits beneath the highest of the pebbles). The pot will sit on high of the pebble tray and the water within the tray will evaporate and create humidity across the plant.
Loos are an awesome spot for Aglaonema (so long as it has the correct gentle for them) as they’re a extra humid atmosphere.
Pruning Aglaonema
You received’t must do a lot pruning in your Aglaonema plant. Simply use sharp scissors or pruning shears to take away lifeless leaves or stems as they seem to maintain your plant wanting tidy.
In case your plant is getting too tall and leggy, you’ll be able to snip the stems again with a sterilized instrument (to stop spreading illness) above the 4th leaf node and they’re going to regrow leaves nearer to the bottom of the plant. It’s greatest to do this sort 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’ll be able to add some perlite, peat moss, or sand to the soil for additional drainage) and pots with drainage holes are greatest for good drainage so extra water will drain away. Some individuals like so as to add a layer of lava rocks on the backside of their pot underneath 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. Examine 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 positive signal the plant is beginning to turn into root sure. Merely transfer the plant to a barely bigger pot with well-draining soil and water completely.
Propagating Aglaonema
To propagate your Aglaonema, you’ll be able to both divide the plant or develop a brand new plant from stem cuttings and the very best time to do that is in the course of 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 a bit of greater than the basis ball that’s crammed with nicely draining soil. Water completely and carry on the moist aspect till roots are stronger.
Propagate by stem cuttings:
- Use a clear slicing instrument 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 brilliant oblique gentle location.
- In a couple of month, roots will kind and you may plant your new plant right into a small pot of nicely draining soil and hold moist till roots are established.
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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) often appears to be like extra like a distorted leaf than a standard flower. Flowers often 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 positive to snip them off with a clear slicing instrument as they seem. Simply make sure that to solely lower the flower off and never the unique leaf it’s popping out from.
Totally different sorts of Aglaonema
Inexperienced Papaya: This lovely selection has inexperienced lush leaves with papaya coloured veins.
Frasher: This selection has darkish inexperienced leaves with a placing cream variegation.
Pseudobracteatum: This can be a cultivar with silver-green patterns unfold inside darkish inexperienced edges.
Crimson Zircon: This eye-catching plant options brilliant pink leaves tinged on the sides with a skinny line of darkish inexperienced.
White Rajah: Brilliant white veins pop towards a lush inexperienced for this well-liked 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 lovely cultivar has darkish inexperienced leaves speckled with brilliant pink dappling.
Diagnosing Frequent Issues
Whereas Aglaonema are usually straightforward to look after, you might run into a few of these widespread houseplant points:
- Pests: Aglaonema will not be prone 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 underneath 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 gentle.
- Brown Leaves: Suggestions of the leaves turning brown can imply the plant is both getting an excessive amount of gentle or it will not be responding nicely to the chemical compounds in your faucet water (fluoride and chlorine particularly). Attempt watering with filtered water or go away your faucet water out in a single day earlier than watering as that decreases the degrees of chemical compounds.
- Leaf Curling: In the event you discover that your leaves are curling, attempt rising the humidity across the plant or inserting a tray with water and pebbles underneath the plant to extend humidity. Leaves also can curl from underneath watering or from modifications in temperature, so attempt watering extra typically and test for any cooling or heating vents close to the plant.
- Yellow Leaves: Leaves that flip yellow are often an indication of overwatering. Let the plant dry out till nearly totally dry after which water once more, ensuring a minimum of the highest inch of soil is dry earlier than watering once more.
- Leaf Colour Loss: In the event you discover your plant is dropping coloration or vibrancy of its leaves, it might be getting an excessive amount of direct daylight that’s scorching and burning the leaves. Attempt shifting the plant to a location the place it will get oblique gentle moderately than full on solar.
- Root Rot: Whereas these crops aren’t prone to illness, root rot may be lethal for these crops. An excessive amount of water will really drown the roots, so make sure that to have a drainage gap in your planter and use a well-draining potting combine.
Steadily Requested Questions
Are Aglaonema poisonous to people or pets?
Aglaonema include calcium oxalate crystals, that are mildly poisonous and may trigger irritation to the mouth and abdomen and result in vomiting. If rising in a house with young children and pets current, precautions must be taken to maintain the plant up excessive away from attain.