Plant care- Aglaonema, The Cultivar Plant

The world is super busy. So are we, running after work, kids, money, health, round the clock. So, each one of us find different, unique and separate ways to keep ourselves calm, attain peace, refrain ourselves from all the chaotic mind games. One good idea is do gardening and the best thing is go for some indoor plants too. 

• Indoor plants are the perfect styling element for home
• They help to reduce carbon dioxide levels and some harmful pollutants
• They prevent air from drying out and increase humidity
• They create a calm environment 

What to choose? 

We have lots of choices for indoor plants. One notable variety of plant is Aglaonema which grows in vibrant and colourful foliages and also looks stunning with attractive flowers.

Aglaonema (Aglaonema commutatum) is an evergreen herbaceous flowering plant of the genus Aglaonema in the family Araceae. Aglaonemas are also commonly known as Chinese evergreen. Chinese evergreens have been first cultivated in China and are kept indoors for good fortune.

How to grow?

Aglaonema is considered one of the easiest house plants to grow, it is rather versatile, as it can be grown in pretty much the darkest, driest conditions and it will still flourish beautifully. It can go weeks without watering and be limited in light exposure and it will continue to thrive. So, even if you go on trips for few days, no worries.

In rainforests these plants grow beneath the leaf canopy. That means in natural space it receives indirect sunlight. These plants can do well in very low light conditions. However, if the plant is exposed to direct sunlight, it will scorch the leaves. 

The best temperatures for your aglaonema plant are 65-80 degrees F. Warm and humid conditions help the plant to survive. The aglaonema may be damaged if they are placed in areas that will experience extreme temperature changes like near heaters, windows that receive a lot of sun or cold breeze, and air conditioners.

Aglaonema has very low watering demands, as it can tolerate moderately dry and moist soil. The soil you plant it in should hold enough water for it to remain lightly moist for a long time, but it should also easily drain off excess water to prevent the dangers of waterlogging, which could cause root rot.

How big it can grow?

The Aglaonema plant can grow up to 2 feet tall and wide, growing 8-inch long leaves with a 4-inch wind span. These types of plants tend to grow at a slower rate so it will take a few years for them to reach their full growth potential under any climate conditions.

If the pot size is an issue because the pot you have appears to be too small, trimming the plant regularly can limit its growth so you decide how large it grows.

When do they bloom?

They all have large, narrow, and glossy oval leaves on short stems, and flowers (on older plants) that bloom in spring or summer. Darker green varieties grow in near shade and the variegated varieties grow in bit more light conditions.

Common Aglaonema Pests and Diseases:

Aglaonema pest and disease symptoms include leaf discoloration, brown or yellow spots, and wilting. 

• Fungal leaf spot may show up on your plant as either anthracnose (if brown, round spots with a yellow ring is seen) or myrothecium (If brownish-grey areas on the plant’s margins or leaf tips is seen) leaf spot.
• Bacterial leaf spot is another issue, if the spots on the plant’s leaves grow larger and take on irregular shapes, or if they turn dark brown, black, or tan.
• Mildew and root rot can also affect the aglaonema plant. Mildew, which is a result of too much moisture in the air makes the leaves appear fuzzy with white growth on the upper side of the leaves. Root rot, which is a result of overwatering, shows up as discoloured, mushy, and rotting roots. Both of these issues are a result of excess water or humidity.
• Tiny pests like Aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies, Scale insects, Spider mites, microscopic worms called nematodes damage the plants leaves, stems or roots.

Caring Tips:

• Horticultural and canola oils, insecticidal soap are effective pesticides for Chinese evergreen plants.
• Using neem oil or pyrethrin products works well as a preventative measure that repels and disrupts the life cycle of insects infesting your plants

Propagating Methods:

• Using stem cuttings is the most popular and the easiest way to propagate these plants by a beginner. Choose an old plant stem or new shoot with few leaves and plant them in a new soil and place the pot under room temperature and under indirect sunlight. Expect new shoots to emerge from cuttings in about 25 to 45 days.
• Use fresh seeds and spread them on prepared seed germination soil mix or coco-peat mix. It takes up to 45 or even 60 days for seeds to germinate.
• Using root cuttings is the safest method for assuring success, but to be done carefully. A plant is separated from the mother plant with roots and planted in a new container and kept in indirect sunlight. The new plant should build its own roots quickly, in about 5 to 10 days.
• Using tissue culture method of propagation is ideal for situations in which you need to produce large number of Aglaonema seedlings in quick time for mass production. New seedlings are produced using a small part of the original plant, such as root, stem, or leaves using tissue culture in a lab type environment. Seedlings are later slowly introduced to natural weather conditions. Plants tend to go slowly in this process, but it is still the most effective way to produce a large number of strong plants.

The Aglaonema is prized for its exquisitely beautiful leaves. The colour and shape of the leaves vary greatly depending on the species and cultivars, and their variety will be a treat for any plant enthusiast.