Aglaonema – The Decorative Chinese Evergreen Plant

Looking to add more zest in your living room?

Not sure what to add on to your bucket list for decorating your house?

 

Then Aglaonema might be the answer to your incertitude. Commonly known as Chinese evergreens, this plant is famous for being used as an item to add liveliness in the living rooms of people around the world. This decorative plant is primarily found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea. Vibrant in nature, this plant is the best cost-effective option for you to rejuvenate your house and make it more attractive and appealing to the eyes of the visitors. Aglaonemas are very prominent in the market and their striking leaves take your breath away because of their captivating color.

Is Aglaonema an indoor plant?

Highly used to decorate inside the house

Aglaonema can survive indoors without any issues as they do not like the full sun because of being a tropical plant. You can put them inside your house near a window with a little sunlight and you are all set. While looking after an aglaonema, always make sure that the sunlight entering through the window is not too much and the environment is not too suffocating or warm. Try to create a humid environment for the plant as it enjoys humidity, being a tropical plant.

 

Does Aglaonema need sunlight?

They absolutely hate the sunlight and their leaves often burn down under direct sunlight. It does not take much to look after them but protecting them from direct sunlight is a must.

This decorative tropical plant requires misting from time to time and a humid environment to thrive to the fullest. 

Note: You must absolutely protect them from the sunlight at noon, as it’s the time when the sunlight is the brightest and warmest.

 

How do you care for an Aglaonema plant?

Treat them well and they will give back to you more. Aglaonemas are slow growers but do not require a lot of care. Just a little bit of effort and attention to their growth and they will grow in a healthy and happy manner. Looking after them is not tough at all. this tropical plant can be put in your living room or at your study table near a window. Proper misting from time to time will not only create a humid environment in which the plant is known to thrive but will also keep their leaves clean and healthy. Keep a check on the soil as well because they are prone to many bugs and other insects which can slowly destroy the roots of the plant.

 

How often do you water Aglaonema?

DO NOT let it dry out, your plant will die if you forget to water it. Check if the two inches of the soil near the stem is dry, if it is then it is time to water your aglaonema. How much to water your aglaonema and how much not also depends upon the type of soil your plant is in, if the soil is free-draining soil, water your aglaonema more frequently but if it is a water-retaining soil you should water it less frequently. Avoid watering too much or your plant will not be able to absorb the water but do not forget to water it or your plant will die. Maintain the amount of water you put in the plant. 

Pro tip: Put some water in a bucket the night before and use that water to water your plants. Because the chlorine level will diminish after being kept overnight in a bucket and it will not be harmful to your plant. Many experts practice and recommend this to plant enthusiasts around the world.

 

How do I make my Aglaonema bushy?

To make your Aglaonema bushier you have to cut the dead leaves so that your plant can have more room as possible to grow more fresh leaves and use more energy to thrive than wasting it on dead leaves. Fertilize your plant to help in its growth, by using fertilizers or mist it with Neem oil mixed with a little water. It is advised not to fertilize it too much as this plant can withstand any conditions and has been known to grow just fine even when fertilized once in 2 months.

 

Is Aglaonema an air purifier?

Aglaonema has shown great results in the process of purification of the air inside your house as it removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air. Formaldehyde and benzene are both chemical compounds that, if ingested can be fatal and long term exposure to it can harm your skin or cause asthma and other respiratory diseases.

 

Is Aglaonema a lucky plant?

Aglaonema is believed to be the bringer of good fortune and considered a lucky plant in Chinese culture. Apart from the air purifying quality, this plant is also mainly bought for this reason throughout the world. People put them inside their house and office hoping it will bring good luck and prosperity in their personal and professional lives.

 

What is the best soil for aglaonema?

A loose, nitrogen-rich peat-based soil is recommended by many to be used to grow this luck bringing plant. Putting them in a mixture of sand, clay and potting soil will help the plant grow to the fullest and produce great results. 

 

Should I cut yellow leaves off Chinese evergreen?

Yes, you must! cut the yellow leaves off of your luck bringing Aglaonema so that your plant can focus on growing new leaves and not waste time and energy in looking after the dead ones.

So cut the yellow leaves as the yellow color indicates that the leaves are dead and no good to you and your plant. Another reason why people cut the yellow leaves off their Chinese evergreen is that the yellow leaves decrease the attractiveness of the plant.

 

Why Aglaonema?

Why is Aglaonema an ideal plant for your living room? Because it will add on to the class and vibrancy of your house. Aglaonema is a slow-growing plant which requires less effort to grow abundantly. These tropical and subtropical native plants are a fan of humid environments and misting them with water will just do the work of creating a humid environment. Their beautiful leaves are eye-catchy with their striking and unique color which take your breath away. Along with their colorful leaves, their stems are also unique in nature and have noticeable color. Aglaonema are used as air purifiers in many houses as they remove toxic substances from the air and have presented great results. So if you live in a city which has a high rate of pollution, you should have aglaonema plants inside your house to purify the air as much as possible. This luck bringing plant gets 2 feet tall under proper care and their leaves also grow up to 8 inches long. Look after them with great care and interest and your plant will thrive efficiently.

 

Does Aglaonema flower?

Yes, the plant does flower but not a lot! and the flowers are also not appealing but dreary and dull so it is often recommended to just cut the flowers off the plant as it is useless to let the flowers drain the energy of the plant for no reason. Instead, the energy should be focused upon growing fresh new leaves and keeping the grown ones healthy and green.

 

Is Aglaonema toxic?

Like most tropical plants, Aglaonema is toxic. If exposed to someone with sensitive skin it may cause rashes and infection. Aglaonema contains calcium oxalate which can cause irritation to the skin. It is advised not to get closer to it if you have sensitive skin and have witnessed something similar in the past. So keep in mind that you have to keep your babies and pets away from it. 

 

Aglaonema propagation

One should not propagate their aglaonema often as it causes harm to their roots and their growth. Aglaonema can be propagated by dividing the roots and putting one of them in the water.

Use fungicide while planting them in another pot to avoid stem rot in future.

 

Challenges while growing an Aglaonema

People face many challenges when looking after a plant as it is not a piece of cake to grow a plant and provide it with proper care to thrive. Similarly, people especially beginners do face a few challenges when growing an aglaonema plant.

1. Drying of the soil

As Aglaonema is a tropical plant, it requires water and humidity regularly. You should never forget to water it or the soil will dry which will create problems for your plant. Most aglaonema plants are grown in retaining water soil which absorbs water faster than other soil. So pay attention to your plant and water it from time to time.

2. Dying leaves

The other problem with aglaonema is that when the leaves are not cleaned regularly with a wet cloth and the dust on them is not removed, they die or turn yellowish. When this happens remove the yellow leaves from the plant altogether and clean the green leaves with a wet cloth or water.

3. Insects

Protect them from snails and slugs as they eat the leaves and destroy the plant. Keep checking for snails and slugs and if you spot any mealybugs on the leaves or soil you can pick them with your hand without causing any harm to the plant but if they are in large numbers in the soil of your plant, you have to pick the plant out and put it in a different pot. 

4. Diseases 

Chinese evergreen is prone to many fungal infections which can harm the roots and the structure of the plant. Pythium root rot is one of them. Caused by over-watering of the plant and poor drainage, this infection can destroy the soil of the plant in which case you will have to replant your aglaonema in another pot. Fusarium stem rot has also been witnessed in this plant, if the plant is not given water properly and regularly or if the plant is in high temperature. Aglaonema is also prone to Myrothecium and Colletotrichum which results in leaves spots. The best way to solve these problems is to re-pot your plant, remove the infected part and use fungicide powder. 

 

Where to put your Aglaonema?

Aglaonema is a beautiful plant and has many species which have different colors of leaves.

You can put this striking plant in your office, in your bathroom, in your living room or even on your study table. This plant can easily attract attention and soothe anyone who looks at it.

It is found in almost every household and every plant lover is obsessed with it because of the beauty of its leaves and stem. You can also put it in your lawn or yard along with other plants where there is no direct sunlight. Putting it in a place surrounded by other plants is ideal for this tropical plant, as it creates  a humid environment for its growth. Lipstick Aglaonema is highly used as their leaves have a pink color, which captivates the attention of everyone.

Aglaonema is indeed a fascinating plant with many qualities. This tropical plant may not be the most prominent member of the tropical plants family but it sure has a great significance when it comes to being a houseplant. Sometimes called Chinese evergreen, this fortune bringer does have a sturdy fan following and it is adored by many plants enthusiasts.