Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreen

Scientific Name

Aglaonema commutatum

AKA

Aglaonema, Philippine Evergreen

Origins / Hardiness Zones

Tropical South Asia, New Guinea / 10-12 USDA

About

A pleasantly bushy and easy going plant. Each deep green leaf has a unique pattern of contrasting splotches in a much lighter, almost white, shade of green.

Light Needs

Water Schedule

Temperature

Humidity Levels

Toxicity

While not too bothered about high humidity, your Chinese Evergreen will appreciate the occasional misting, which helps remove dust from their large leaves and can keep brown edges at bay.

Chinese Evergreens are highly toxic to pets and humans.

Medium to bright, indirect light is ideal for the Chinese Evergreen. However, they can tolerate low light, as well. Just take extra precautions when watering and don't expect the plant to grow very much.

Always water thoroughly, but allow the top inch or two to dry out completely before watering again. Reduce watering in winter, allowing the soil to get up to 50% dry.

Adaptable to average indoor temperatures, but will complain when exposed to cold drafts or dry heat from vents. The lower leaves are likely to yellow.

Since Chinese Evergreens grow in dense clumps, you can always divide these into multiple plants when repotting. If you'd like to propagate without dividing your plant, you can also try a stem cutting. You'll need to take an apical stem cutting (the top of the stem where there is new growth). Try to cut a decent section with 3-4 leaves and cut just below the lowest leaf. Remove the lower leaves to ensure a clear stem before rooting in water or another medium.

Try to repot every 2-3 years in the spring, especially when tending to a younger plant. Increase the pot size by about 2 inches each time or until you're satisfied with the size. It's still important to repot at this stage, but it'll be an exercise of refreshing the soil, keeping the pot size the same, and possibly doing some root trimming to restrict the plant's growth.

If you're not already planning to repot, you can fertilize during the spring and summer months. Once to every two months should be plenty. No fertilizer is necessary during the winter when plant growth naturally slows down. You can try a balanced liquid or water-soluble fertilizer—always diluted more than the recommended strength.

The leaves on this plant can quickly accumulate dust. Dust blocks the plant from absorbing light—so be sure to keep their leaves clean and dust-free. You can do this by misting and wiping each leaf or a routine hose-down/shower.