Aglaonema

Varieties we grow

Red Valentine

Broad, thick red or pink leaves with green blotches and edges.

Red Vein

Narrower, longer leaves with red veins and short stems.

Silver Queen

Silvery green leaves; the most tolerant of low light.

Snow White

Leaves almost covered in white and yellow blotches; needs good light to keep its color.

Queen

Upright and slow-growing; very easy to care for.

Light

The green and silver varieties cope with dim corners. The red and pink ones need bright indirect light to keep their color. Direct sun bleaches and burns the leaves; if the light is too strong, they turn pale.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the top 1–1.5 inches of soil are dry, and empty the saucer afterwards. It doesn't like sitting in water. If the leaf tips keep burning, try rainwater or filtered water, since it is sensitive to chlorine.

Soil and pot

Use a loose, well-draining mix with some perlite or coco coir, in a pot with drainage holes. It grows slowly, so it only needs repotting every 2 or 3 years. Several plants together in one pot look fuller.

Humidity and temperature

It does well between 65 and 86 °F (18–30 °C) with medium to high humidity. Below 59 °F (15 °C) it suffers and the leaves get spots. It likes humidity, but don't let water sit on the leaves for hours.

In the Dominican Republic

It loves the heat here. Indoors, keep it away from the air conditioning draft, which chills it and dries it out. On a porch or terrace always keep it in the shade, because the midday sun burns the leaves within hours. During the rainy and hurricane season, bring outdoor pots inside so they don't get waterlogged and rot at the stems.

Also known as

Aglaonema

Common Spanish name

Evergreen chino

Plant trade

Siempreverde chino

Common Spanish name

Chinese evergreen

Common English name

Philippine evergreen

Common English name (A. commutatum)

Common problems

• Brown tips and edges→It may be heavily chlorinated water, too much fertilizer or dry air; use filtered or rainwater and keep it away from the air conditioning.
• Pale or faded leaves→Too much light; move it to a spot with softer light.
• Soft, dark stems at the base→Rot from overwatering; let the soil dry out and check the drainage.
• White cottony tufts between the leaves and the stem→Mealybugs; wipe them off with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and apply insecticidal soap.