Additionally known as a Chinese language Evergreen plant, the Aglaonema is a simple to look after houseplant that’s excellent for learners and plant lovers who need a good looking but low-maintenance plant. The Aglaonema options giant, lance-shaped tropical foliage that is available in many alternative colours starting from deep greens, to silver-tinted, to shades of crimson, and even brilliant pink.
These standard 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 a whole bunch of Aglaonema cultivars which have been bred to showcase variations of leaf patterns and brilliant colours.
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Why are Aglaonema known as “Chinese language Evergreens”?
The frequent title 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 title.
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 straight into the soil to examine the moisture degree. Though the plant can survive quick intervals of drought, don’t let the plant dry out all the best way should you might help it or your leaves might undergo. Nonetheless, in case your plant is in a decrease gentle space, you’ll be able to let a number of inches of grime 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 finest to make use of a pot with a drainage gap and saucer if doable so extra water will drain out into the saucer.
Additionally, vegetation which might be in sunnier areas are inclined 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?
Total, the Aglaonema prefers medium to brilliant oblique daylight however will be joyful in lots of lighting circumstances (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 circumstances based mostly on the variability.
Darker inexperienced leafed Aglaonema can deal with decrease gentle circumstances higher than the lighter hued varieties, so hold your Aglaonema in brighter oblique gentle if its leaves are a lighter colour. Rotate your plant on occasion to make sure even development.
If you’re taking your plant outdoors for the hotter climate and brilliant gentle, expose it to the brand new degree of sunshine slowly over just a few days. Hold 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 goal houseplant fertilizer at half power through 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 usually very joyful 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 produce them inside if you’re experiencing decrease temperatures.
Since Aglaonema come from a extra humid surroundings, they thrive at a excessive humidity degree. You possibly can add extra humidity to your private home with a humidifier or you’ll be able to put some pebbles and water in a tray and easily place your pot on prime (be certain that the water degree 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 amazing spot for Aglaonema (so long as it has the correct gentle 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’ll be able to snip the stems again with a sterilized instrument (to stop spreading illness) above the 4th leaf node and they’ll regrow leaves nearer to the bottom of the plant. It’s finest 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 finest 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 beneath 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. Verify 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 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’ll be able to both divide the plant or develop a brand new plant from stem cuttings and one of the best time to do that is through the rising season.
Propagate by division:
- Take away the plant from its pot by loosening the soil with a trowel.
- Shake off extra grime and gently separate the roots and plant into two halves.
- Plant every half right into a pot somewhat greater than the foundation ball that’s stuffed with nicely draining soil. Water totally and carry on the moist facet till roots are stronger.
Propagate by stem cuttings:
- Use a clear reducing 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 type and you’ll 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 it’s possible you’ll not even know they’re there). The “flower” is definitely an inflorescence (a stem with a gaggle of flowers) normally seems extra like a distorted leaf than a conventional flower. Flowers normally include 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 minimize the flowers that seem on Aglaonema, however since removing doesn’t damage the plant and the flowers aren’t a lot to have a look at, it’s advantageous to snip them off with a clear reducing instrument as they seem. Simply be certain that to solely minimize the flower off and never the unique leaf it’s popping out from.
Totally different types 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.
Purple Zircon: This eye-catching plant options brilliant crimson leaves tinged on the perimeters with a skinny line of darkish inexperienced.
White Rajah: Vivid white veins pop in opposition to a lush inexperienced for this standard selection.
Silver Bay: This selection boasts a shocking 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 Widespread Issues
Whereas Aglaonema are usually simple to look after, it’s possible you’ll run into a few of these frequent houseplant points:
- Pests: Aglaonema usually are not prone to bugs, however some frequent pests are scale, mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites. Deal with as wanted with neem oil or insecticidal cleaning soap to maintain bugs beneath 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: Ideas 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: For those who discover that your leaves are curling, strive rising the humidity across the plant or putting a tray with water and pebbles beneath the plant to extend humidity. Leaves can even curl from beneath watering or from modifications 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 absolutely dry after which water once more, ensuring not less than the highest inch of soil is dry earlier than watering once more.
- Leaf Colour Loss: For those who discover your plant is shedding colour or vibrancy of its leaves, it could 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 somewhat than full on solar.
- Root Rot: Whereas these vegetation aren’t prone to illness, root rot will be lethal for these vegetation. An excessive amount of water will truly drown the roots, so be certain that to have a drainage gap in your planter and use a well-draining potting combine.
Regularly 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 babies and pets current, precautions must be taken to maintain the plant up excessive away from attain.
