Aglaonema or Chinese evergreen

Aglaonema can easily grown into beautiful bushes indoor.

Aglaoanema or more popular known as Chinese evergreen had been planted in their native Asia countries and New Guinea for centuries. They also known as lucky plants by Chinese, while Thai peoples largely refer Aglonema as – smiles of fortune plants.

Aglaonema are easy to take care as long as they’re watered and having good amount of lights and temperature. It can grow healthily in the room with shades. It was introduced to West since 1885 when it was brought to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Nowadays they’re plenty of beautiful cultivars available for this plants lover. While the original Aglaonema still as popular as before.

They are many species available A. commutatum (Chinese evergreen) with thinner leathery leaves, with 6 in long, on bushy plant can reach height up to 18 in. The leaves have dark and silvery grey in colors. Some other popular cultivars are A. commutatum ‘Pseudobracteatum’, also known as ‘White Rajah’ and A. commutatum ‘Silver Queen’ with their larger leaves and bold white or silvery markings.

Aglaonema commutatum also known as Chinese evergreen.

A. constatum (painted drop tongue) has slightly longer and heart-shaped leaves with ivory colored midribs. This cultivar grows slowly to 9 in high.

A. modestum is the easiest species that can easily plant inside the house where they can grow faster. They can reach the height up to 3 ft. The leaves are wedge-shaped and up to 9 in long with uniform mid-green color.

Buying Hints: Choose plants with healthy leaves set at short intervals along the main stem. They’re so many cultivars of Aglaonema, to make sure the survival rates are high choose the easiest species at first. They are widely available from florist.

General Care: Aglaonema is easy to take care. They grow slowly with little amount of leaves. Re-potting in two to three years or only when they plants seems pot-bound. They can be planted in variety of medium with good irrigation.

Aglaonema costatum another variety of Aglaonema.

Light: This plant is naturally shade loving, in the wild they can spread under darker shades of trees. Even though they also can tolerate light, the direct exposure to sun can cause the damage to the leaves. Among species A. costatum can tolerate deeper shade than any other.

Temperature: As native to Asian forest the ideal temperature will always be the normal room temperature. The chilling temperature below 59 °F can caused dark, greasy-looking patches on the leaves.

Humidity: Aglaonema needs humidity to ensure they can grow healthy. As the leaves are broad, they can easily lose the moisture from its leaves. Spraying the leaves with water or set the tray of pebbles with water under the plants can help the moisture of the leaves.

New cultivar of Aglaonema.

Watering and Feeding: This plant can be water freely during the growing seasons on the late spring to mid-summer. While the soil should be keep on the dry side during the autumn and winter. They need high amount of fertilizers from April to July – suitably by liquid fertilizers. After re-potting, do not feed for about six weeks.

Propagation: Seeds can be sown in spring and germinated at temperature of 65-70 °F; if by division of rootstock suitably in March; or from rooted suckers in early summer.

Disorders: Exposure to direct sunlight can damage the leaves to curl and show scorch marks. Red spider mites may disfigure the leaves.