Chinese Evergreen Care – The Essentials
- Aglaonemas (Chinese evergreens) prefer low to moderate indirect/filtered sunlight. ...
- Pot in a well-draining container with slightly acidic soil (5.6 to 6.5 pH).
- Chinese evergreens require a moist, humid environment with an ambient temperature no lower than 65°F.
- Water thoroughly with filtered or distilled water just before the soil has dried completely.
How do you grow Chinese evergreen variegated plants?
You can find Chinese evergreen plants in many varieties, including variegated forms. Although they are tolerant of many growing conditions, following certain recommendations will yield greater results. This includes placing them in well-draining soil, preferably an equal mix of potting soil, perlite and sand.
How do you care for a Chinese evergreen tree?
This includes placing them in well-draining soil, preferably an equal mix of potting soil, perlite, and sand. Chinese evergreen plants thrive in medium to low light conditions or indirect sunlight. Wherever you place it in the home, you should make sure that the plant receives warm temps and somewhat humid conditions.
What kind of soil do Chinese evergreens like?
This includes placing them in well-draining soil, preferably an equal mix of potting soil, perlite, and sand. Chinese evergreen plants thrive in medium to low light conditions or indirect sunlight.
Do Chinese evergreen plants need a lot of water?
"Chinese evergreen plants prefer fast-draining soil," Mejia says. True to their tropical originals, they don't like sitting in water. When it's time for re-potting, "we recommend doing that in the summer or spring, like you do for most indoor plants," Mejia adds.
How do you care for a Chinese evergreen houseplant?
The Chinese evergreen plant thrives in moist but not water-logged soil. To achieve this balance, water your plant thoroughly, then allow it to dry out before watering again. You can maintain this cadence through the spring, summer, and fall, tapering off in the winter (but never letting the plant dry out completely).
What kind of soil does a Chinese evergreen need?
In terms of soil, Chinese evergreens have been known to do well in both peat-based potting soil and soil with perlite. But because it's a hardy plant, most indoor potting soil mixes will do just fine. It's best to keep these plants between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
How much light does a Chinese evergreen need?
Chinese evergreen plants thrive in medium to low light conditions or indirect sunlight. Wherever you place it in the home, you should make sure that the plant receives warm temps and somewhat humid conditions. However, this flexible plant will tolerate less than ideal conditions if necessary.
How often should I water Chinese evergreen?
Chinese Evergreen Growing Instructions The plant is equally low-care when it comes to water; you can water regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist, or water once every few weeks and Chinese evergreen will do equally well.
Should I mist my Chinese evergreen?
Humidity: Should I mist my Chinese evergreen? Yes. Misting your Chinese evergreen will increase its overall humidity, which it will appreciate. This will protect your plant from dry air during the summer or cold drafts during the winter.
How do you make Chinese evergreen bushy?
If yours gets leggy over time then simply cut the stems down to a couple of inches above the soil line to rejuvenate & stimulate new growth. Cut the stems with the foliage back to 4-8″ & propagate them in a light mix.
How long does a Chinese evergreen live?
Since Chinese evergreens are perennials, Freedem says they can live for as long as you provide the right care in the right environment, or as long as 10 or more years.
When should I repot my Chinese evergreen?
Repotting a Chinese evergreen should be done in the spring and summer, when the plant is actively growing. Remember that repotting is a stressful and traumatic process for the plant, so if it is repotted during its growth phase, it will recover much faster.
Should I cut yellow leaves off Chinese evergreen?
(18-23 C.), they will likely thrive. Due to the dense leafing of the plant, trimming Chinese evergreens is not a must. In fact, since new growth appears from the plant crown, pruning Chinese evergreen plant leaves can kill the entire plant.
Why are the leaves on my Chinese evergreen Curling?
Chinese evergreen leaves curl due to excess water loss or insufficient water delivery to the leaves. Lack of water due to underwatering, or root damage caused by overwatering are the most likely causes. Water loss due to high temperatures, low humidity, or pests are also common causes.
Why are the leaves of my Chinese evergreen turning yellow?
The most common reason involves water. Too little water or too much will cause the leaves of the Chinese Evergreen plant to turn yellow. In addition to these very common reasons, there are several others that involve temperature, light, and nourishment.
Can you propagate a Chinese evergreen from a leaf?
Propagating a Chinese Evergreen is fairly simple. You can use seeds, tip cuttings, stem cuttings, or via division. If your plant sheds the bottom leaves leaving the lower portion bare, you can take a piece off of the top of the plant and allow it to root in fertile soil.
Can you use cactus soil for Chinese evergreen?
Aglaonema plants prefer peat-based soil that's slightly higher in nitrogen, but they can still survive in cactus soil, too, because it is well-draining and usually has a pH level in the perfect range. Add a bit of nitrogen-rich fertilizer, and your Chinese evergreen should thrive.
Why are the leaves of my Chinese evergreen turning yellow?
The most common reason involves water. Too little water or too much will cause the leaves of the Chinese Evergreen plant to turn yellow. In addition to these very common reasons, there are several others that involve temperature, light, and nourishment.
How do you know if Chinese evergreens need water?
Chinese Evergreen Watering Chinese evergreens prefer a damp environment. An aglaonema's pot should never dry completely. However, leaving one in standing water can cause root rot. Water when the top three inches of soil feels dry.
Why are the leaves on my Chinese evergreen Curling?
Chinese evergreen leaves curl due to excess water loss or insufficient water delivery to the leaves. Lack of water due to underwatering, or root damage caused by overwatering are the most likely causes. Water loss due to high temperatures, low humidity, or pests are also common causes.
How to keep Chinese evergreens moist?
The Chinese evergreen plant thrives in moist but not water-logged soil. To achieve this balance, water your plant thoroughly, then allow it to dry out before watering again. You can maintain this cadence through the spring, summer, and fall, tapering off in the winter (but never letting the plant dry out completely).
What is the color of Chinese evergreen?
The Chinese evergreen is one of the most popular houseplants and its color variations—from dark green and silver to red—add personality to your home's decor. Chinese evergreens are slow-growing, attractive, and make excellent indoor foliage plants that can be planted and cared for year-round.
Why are Chinese evergreens and dieffenbachias confused?
Chinese evergreen and dieffenbachia are often confused because their leaves look alike though there are subtle differences. Chinese evergreens will have more of a silvery look to their variegated leaves. But the dieffenbachia's leaves may be much larger and wider than a Chinese evergreen's smaller and more oval leaves.
How to increase humidity around plants?
If your home is particularly dry, you can invest in a small space humidifier to put near your plant.
How to separate a clump of a plant?
Lightly shake the dirt from the roots. Carefully tease apart the roots (this plant likes to be a bit root bound so move slowly) to separate a clump for repotting.
How to propagate a sage plant?
To propagate with stem cuttings, wait until the middle of the summer (when the weather is the warmest) and select a stem from the mother plant that's several inches long. Plant cut side down it in a separate pot, in soil that has been treated with a rooting hormone.
How to take a stem from a mother plant?
Use a disinfected, sharp cutting tool to take a stem from the mother plant that's several inches long.
How much light does a Chinese evergreen need?
Like other houseplants, it grows well in partial shade. The best indoor place to grow Chinese evergreen is close to the windows and door, which are in the eastern direction. Exposure to direct sunlight burns the leaves.
How tall does a Chinese evergreen plant grow?
Chinese evergreen is also known as Aglaonema. This houseplant can easily adaptable to any growing condition. It grows around 3-5 feet in height. Plant leaves are highly toxic if your pets consume its leaf.
What soil is best for aglaonema?
The potting mix should nitrogen-rich and better aeration. The best Aglaonema soil recipe is garden soil (30%), organic compost (35%), and sand (30%) with perlite or activated charcoal (5%).
How do I make my aglaonema bushy?
You can easily make aglaonema bushy by adding more nitrogen fertilizer. For organic growers add decomposed chicken manure. Excessive nitrogen will burn the plant. Never let the flowers to bloom, cut the buds whenever they appearing. Plant use more nutrition to bloom the flowers.
Why are my Chinese evergreen leaves turning yellow?
Aglaonema yellow foliage’s main reason is too much moisture on the soil or too low light or aging foliage. First, change your watering pattern. When the surface soil dried, water to the soil. Check a few 3 inches deeper soil dried out; if it has enough moisture never water.
Do Chinese evergreens like to be misted?
Like other native tropical plants, it requires medium to high humidity levels. Though when growing Aglaonema indoors this is not a big issue. This plant can survive in normal indoor humidity. You can increase indoor plant humidity by using a pebble tray.
What is the best potting mix for Chinese evergreens?
The ideal potting mix for Chinese evergreen is a well-drained organic potting mix with good aeration to the root. Too much moisture rot the root. This is one of the best vertical garden wall planters.
How long do Chinese evergreens live?
Since Chinese evergreens are perennials, Freedem says they can live for as long as you provide the right care in the right environment, or as long as 10 or more years.
What is the scientific name of Chinese evergreens?
Chinese evergreen plants are favored both by novice gardeners and those with certified green thumbs for good reason: Andrew Gaumond, a botanist and director of content at Petal Republic, says the plant's scientific name, Aglaonema, captures its beauty.
What is the best air purifying plant?
A NASA clean air study found Chinese evergreens to be one of the best air-purifying plants for your home, Mejia says. Freedem adds that the plant's properties specifically cleanse the air of formaldehyde and benzene.
How long can a drought tolerant plant go without water?
Hancock adds that these drought-tolerant plants "can usually go a few weeks without watering if necessary.".
Can you put an Aglaonema plant in the sun?
Other than that, you can place your Aglaonema pretty much anywhere in your home or office space —just don't place it directly in front of a window since it prefers indirect sunlight, Freedem says.
Do Chinese evergreens like water?
"Chinese evergreen plants prefer fast-draining soil," Mejia says. True to their tropical originals, they don't like sitting in water. When it's time for re-potting, "we recommend doing that in the summer or spring, like you do for most indoor plants," Mejia adds.
How to propagate Chinese evergreens?
To propagate the Chinese evergreen you can either use a cutting or split the plant during the repotting. To use a cutting, just remove a stem a few inches long from the fully grown aglaonema and plant it in a pot. Cover it with soil, water it, and keep it in a warm room until it develops roots. You could also propagate the stem in water until the roots come out then transfer it to a pot full of soil.
Where does the Chinese evergreen come from?
Native to the tropical forest floors of China and neighboring Asian countries , the Chinese evergreen has about 20 known species. Each species, as we’ll see later, has its own unique set of leaf shapes and colors. This versatility makes the aglaonema the right houseplant for your home no matter what your interior design looks like.
Why are my Chinese evergreens turning yellow?
Yellow Leaves: If you notice that the usually lush green leaves of the aglaonema are turning yellow, that could be a result of overwatering. Soggy soil leads to root rot that causes the leaves to turn yellow.
How hot does it have to be for an aglaonema plant to grow?
It might do well in semi-darkness and dry soil, but it cannot tolerate cold weather. So makes sure your room or office is between 60 and 85 degrees F at all times. Below 60 degrees F, the Chinese evergreen stops growing, gets brown leaf tips, and the leaves droop then fall. It also helps to shield the plant from drafts so place it in a corner away from open windows or doors. Changing temperatures also have an unpleasant effect on the aglaonema.
How to control humidity in Chinese evergreens?
However, to get around that in an airconditioned room, you can spray the leaves with water once or twice a day. If that’s not enough or you don’t have the time to do that regularly, you can place the pot in a tray full of pebbles and water. Just make sure the tray remains full of water to create the right humidity conditions for the aglaonema.
What is the name of the Chinese evergreen with silver leaves?
Aglaonema- Silver Queen: As the name implies, this plant has silver or cream patterns on deep green leaves. The leaves are more elongated and have more graceful shapes than other species. The dense bush makes this species one of the most grown Chinese evergreens.
Do Chinese evergreens need light?
The light needs of your Chinese evergreen vary and depend on the species you have at your home or office. As we have seen some species such as Emerald Bay and Suzy do very well in a dark corner that doesn’t get much light. Even Suzy’s pink patterns remain bright and joyful without access to a good source of light. Other species including the colorful Siam Red Aglaonema need their light just like any other plant.
What temperature do Chinese evergreens grow?
As houseplants, Chinese evergreens do best when indoor temperatures are 65 to 80 degrees. Flowers, if they appear, open in spring or summer. Growth slows down in winter.
How long does it take for Chinese evergreens to germinate?
Because Chinese evergreen seeds can take up to three months to germinate, most people divide the plants or take cuttings to propagate them.
What is the best plant for dim corners?
Leafy, lovely Chinese evergreens ( Aglaonema commutatum) are great choices for dim corners and other low-light spots in your home or office. Unlike many houseplants, they can tolerate periods of drought and the dry air often found indoors.
How to root a plant from a cutting?
To root new plants, make six-inch stem cuttings just below a set of leaves from spring to early summer. Strip the leaves from the bottom half of the cuttings. Put them in water in indirect light. Once roots begin growing, usually after two or three weeks, transplant the cuttings into containers filled with three parts houseplant potting mix and one part perlite and keep them moist.
What color are Chinese evergreens?
Caring for Chinese evergreens is easy, and these pretty houseplants brighten rooms with low light, or even no natural light, with their leaves of pink, green, creamy white and red.
What is the Chinese plant family?
There are over 20 known species of Chinese evergreen plants, members of the Araceae (Arum) family, and many cultivars and varieties. Red Aglaonemas are Chinese evergreen cultivars with vibrant pink, red or green leaves. In Feng Shui, red aglaonemas are thought to bring good fortune.
How to clean leaves from indoor plants?
Wipe the leaves of indoor plants occasionally with a soft, damp cloth or rinse them in the shower or sink to remove any dust. Let them air dry.
How to keep a plant from getting a swarm of critters?
Leave the lower browning leaves on the plant until you can pull them out by hand. This will help prevent any unwanted critters from invading the plant.
How to propagate Aglaonema?
You can easily propagate your Aglaonema by root division when you re-pot. Keep in mind, the more color variety on the leaves, the more light it will need to retain its markings. Also, even though this plant tolerates a lot, it will thrive if exposed to medium to bright, indirect light.
Why are my indoor plants turning brown?
If the tips of the leaves turn brown, it means the air is too dry, and you should increase the humidity with a humidifier. Trays filled with pebbles and water can also help increase the humidity immediately surrounding your plants, as can grouping your indoor plants closely together.
Can Aglaonema be grown in direct sunlight?
Green varieties of Aglaonema can tolerate low light, but the variegated ones will maintain their luster in medium to bright, indirect sunlight. They should never be placed in direct sunlight. They can grow under fluorescent lighting, making them ideal for offices and interior low-light spaces.
Can Chinese evergreens grow on desks?
The Chinese evergreen starts out small enough to fit on desks and tabletops, and will remain there for a while because it’s a slow-growing plant. However, over time it will get big and end up becoming a floor plant (and a good excuse for a bigger office!).
Can Aglaonema be grown indoors?
Are you looking for a houseplant that can tolerate almost any indoor condition? Ranking high on the “easy care houseplant” list, the Aglaonema makes a perfect office plant because it tolerates low light, but also grows well in bright spots and tolerates fluorescent lighting. The Chinese evergreen starts out small enough to fit on desks and tabletops, and will remain there for a while because it’s a slow-growing plant. However, over time it will get big and end up becoming a floor plant (and a good excuse for a bigger office!).
How to propagate Chinese evergreens?
The simplest method for propagating a Chinese Evergreen is by division when it comes time to repot your plant. Another method is to use a stem cutting.
What kind of light does a Chinese evergreen need?
The Chinese Evergreen needs bright, indirect light. The darker the leaves, the less light it will need. The brighter and more variegated the leaves, the more sunlight it needs.
What is the Chinese Evergreen?
Native to Asia, the Aglaonema commutatum is a decorative houseplant, popularly known as the Chinese Evergreen and thought to be the bearer of good luck.
How tall does a Chinese evergreen grow?
Originating in the Asian tropics and subtropics, the Chinese Evergreen can grow to three feet in height. It is the ideal indoor plant for tables, desks, credenzas, and they look great in offices too.
Why are my Chinese evergreens turning yellow?
Yellow leaves are a common symptom of plant stress. Chinese Evergreens may be affected by many different factors, including overwatering, not enough light, pests, or age.
Can Chinese evergreens be a pest?
The Chinese Evergreen plant is not particularly susceptible to pest infestations, but can still face typical houseplant pests such as aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, or spider mites.
Can Chinese evergreens tolerate dry air?
The Chinese Evergreen is a hardy plant and can tolerate dry air, poor light, and even some drought. However, if you want it to thrive, a little attention can go a long way. You will be rewarded with its magnificent foliage.
Does Chinese evergreen grow fast?
The Chinese evergreen is a super common houseplant. They are thought to be one of the most common houseplants in America, and for good reason! Chinese evergreens require little maintenance and thrive on neglect.
So how do you make the Chinese evergreen grow faster?
The key to speeding up the growth of your Chinese evergreeen is by watering it more frequently. The Chinese evergreen likes to be moist! This will promote growth and health of your plant. If you’re using a dripless watering can, water the plant with more frequency. You can also mist the leaves with water.
Is the growth rate of Chinese evergreen affected by humidity?
Humidity is one factor that affects growth on plants, but it’s not always an easy thing to measure. The easiest way to measure humidity in your home is with the use of a hygrometer. You can purchase one of these hygrometers online, at a home improvement store or do-it-yourself.
How can I tell when my Chinese evergreen needs to be repotted?
The Chinese evergreen must always be repotted periodically. Every two years should suffice for most. Sometimes you may have noticed that the soil starts to get dry, or it may simply be too crowded in your pot.
