Aglaonema - home care, species and signs

A wide selection of houseplant varieties allows you to find the perfect plant for your available light. It's important to remember that green-leaved varieties are more shade-tolerant, while variegated varieties require filtered light. Aglaonema is becoming increasingly popular among beginning gardeners, as caring for this tropical flower indoors is relatively easy.

Native to tropical rainforests, this plant can adapt to low light, but dry air or soil will negatively impact its growth. The leaves will become deformed and dry. The plant thrives in hydroponics and hydrogel, making it suitable for interior design. It's often used in office spaces because it grows slowly and doesn't require frequent repotting.

Description of Aglaonema: Is the plant poisonous or not?

Aglaonema is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Araceae family. It originates in Southeast Asia. There are over 50 species, all growing in tropical forests in partial shade. They have short, straight stems with long (up to 30 cm) leaves of various shapes and colors, depending on the species. The flower grows slowly, reaching up to a meter in height.

It blooms in summer, producing a spike-shaped inflorescence covered in a spathe of white or green. After flowering, it produces a fruit—a bright orange, oblong berry. Inside is a single seed, for which the grower waits for the berry to ripen. If collecting the seeds is not the goal, the berry is usually harvested immediately, as it contains a large amount of toxic substances.

When choosing a plant for a home with children or pets, it's important to find out in advance whether the plant is poisonous. Aglaonema sap contains the dangerous amino acid asparagine, which causes inflammation if it comes into contact with mucous membranes. It also contains calcium oxalate, which can cause oral irritation and even suffocation. All handling of the plant, especially repotting, seed collection, and other contact procedures, should be done with gloves to avoid any unpleasant consequences.

Types of Aglaonema with descriptions

As you can see in the photo, all species vary in flower size, color, and leaf shape. Indoor varieties are divided into three groups: low-growing, medium-growing, and tall. The Red Aglaonema cultivar stands out.

Low-growing varieties reach no more than 25 cm in height, with creeping, drooping stems. The most well-known aglaonema species are:

1. Ribbed. The smallest plant in size. The trunk is branched, and the leaves are heart-shaped. It blooms in winter, lasting several days. It does not produce fruit indoors. There are several varieties, distinguished by leaf color: concolor (green), costatum (white-green spotted with a white vein), virescens (white with a green vein), and immaculatum (white on only one side).

   

2. Short-sprouted. It has an underground stem that produces oval-shaped leaves with pointed tips. Several are usually planted in a single pot to create a fuller appearance.

   

3. Rounded. The most beautiful variety, with an underground stem and green-black leaves with pink veins.

   

4. Cutless. Narrow, long leaves of a green-silver color. A very demanding plant, it loves heat and light.

   

Medium-sized varieties grow up to 50 cm. Leaves reach 30 cm in length and 10 cm in width. In terms of the number of varieties, this group is the most diverse:

1. Maria Christina. The most shade-tolerant variety, it thrives under artificial light. The leaves are bright green.

   

2. Silver Queen. The leaves are silvery-blue and require good light. It can grow to approximately 40 cm in height.

   

3. Modest. Leaves are elongated, pointed, up to 20 cm.

   

Tall varieties are distinguished by increased shade tolerance and growth of over 50 cm, in particular:

1. Silver Bay. The leaf blade is pointed, green, with white spots. Frost-hardy and shade-tolerant.

   

2. Stripes. Striped leaves, can grow in low-light areas.

   

3. Friedman. Grows up to 1.5 m. Green leaves with green-silver flecks are very decorative.

   

The Red cultivar forms a separate group. This variety was developed through selective breeding relatively recently. Its distinctive feature is the red color of both the blade and the veins. It is not widely grown due to its difficult adaptation, although care does not require special conditions.

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Caring for Aglaonema at Home (Secrets and Difficulties)

The plant is easy to care for and adapts to virtually any conditions. However, its decorative qualities are highly dependent on moisture. Insufficient moisture can severely deform the leaves and cause the flower to wilt. Regular fertilization and lighting, especially for multicolored varieties, influence the vibrancy of the color. By following simple care guidelines, you can grow a beautiful, evergreen plant that, thanks to its compact size, will enhance any space.

Lighting

Solid-colored aglaonema species are shade-tolerant, but those with patterned leaves prefer filtered light. If ornamental species are kept in partial shade, the pattern disappears.

South-facing windows are only suitable with the use of light-diffusing film. However, south-facing windows also pose a risk due to elevated air temperatures, so they are best used as a last resort. In winter, additional artificial lighting is not necessary, as the plant will have sufficient daylight for growth.

Temperature and humidity

In summer, it's best to keep the temperature no higher than 25°C. This is the ideal temperature for comfortable growth. Maintaining this temperature can be difficult in summer, so air conditioners are used to cool the hot room.

In winter, it is important to maintain the temperature at no lower than +16 °C, protect it from heating devices, and ensure that the leaves do not touch the cold window.

Humidity is crucial for tropical plants, so don't forget about regular watering. Humidity can be increased by placing the plant tray on damp peat, wiping the leaves with a damp sponge, and installing a humidifier appropriate for the room's square footage.

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Watering and fertilizing

The moisture-loving aglaonema requires regular watering. It's important to avoid drying out the soil, but also avoid overwatering. You can check if it's time to water by inserting a wooden skewer 5 cm into the soil. If the soil is dry, you can water. To prevent root rot, check the tray for waterlogging—stagnant water is dangerous.

It's important to use soft, room-temperature water for moistening. In winter, watering should be reduced significantly. The water can be slightly warmed to avoid over-chilling the plant. Fertilize the soil 1-2 times a month. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are preferred. Avoid lime-based fertilizers. Choose the right fertilizer from those designed for ornamental foliage plants.

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How it blooms and care during the flowering period

In the wild, aglaonema blooms in the summer. Indoors, flowering occurs between November and February, depending on the quality of care. Under favorable conditions, it produces small, rather inconspicuous buds that offer little ornamental value.

On young flowers, the stems are cut off immediately to avoid draining the vigor of the actively growing plant. On mature plants, the stems can be kept for the fruit, to obtain seeds. This requires waiting until self-pollination has occurred and the berries have set. To speed up the flowering process, bone meal is added to the fertilizer.

How to make a plant bushier

To make the aglaonema bushier, you need to work with the root system and the top:

1. When replanting, you need to cut off all damaged and dried areas from the roots with sharp, clean pruning shears.
2. To stimulate growth, cut off a few centimeters of leaves from the top of the plant, but be careful not to damage the integrity of the flower. The cuttings are made in the spring, so they can be saved for subsequent propagation.

It's important to remember to treat all cuts with an antiseptic. To allow the plant to dry the cuts on its own, avoid watering for the first 24 hours after pruning. In the following days, dissolve activated charcoal in the water.

Plant diseases and pests

The main pests that can affect aglaonema are:

1. Spider mites. The pest's activity is visible on the underside of leaves as a fine web. The plant turns yellow and loses its leaves, gradually wilting. If there are visible signs of this pest, make a soapy solution and apply it to the leaves, then rinse them under warm running water. For minor infestations, this will be sufficient, but if you don't notice them right away, you'll need to spray with a 0.15% Actellic solution.

   

2. Mealybugs. They are especially dangerous for young plants. Leaves turn yellow and fall off. Treatment is the same as for spider mites.
3. Aphids damage leaves, causing them to turn yellow and curl. Shoot tips lose color. To control them, apply Fitoverm once or several times, depending on the affected area.
4. Gray mold. The cause of gray mold on the leaf blade should be sought in improper care. Most likely, the temperature dropped below the permissible limit, combined with high humidity and poor soil permeability. Eliminating the cause is the cure.

Transplanting and propagating aglaonema at home

Repotting is not done very often. Young plants are repotted every two years, and mature plants every four years. The best time to repot is spring, less often summer. It's important to follow safety precautions. Wear gloves when performing all work to avoid contact with the skin.

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The flower is propagated by dividing the mother plant, cuttings, root suckers, or seeds. Cuttings and seed are the most commonly used methods:

1. Cuttings are often done in conjunction with pruning. To do this, cut off the top of the stem with two buds. The cut areas must be treated with an antiseptic, and the shoot can be treated with Kornevin. Prepare a substrate of sand and peat in a 1:1 ratio, moisten it, and plant the cutting 4-5 cm deep. For good rooting, create a greenhouse with regular ventilation. Keep the plant at room temperature. Root formation will take about a month.

   

2. The seed method is not as common due to the rapid loss of viability of the planting material. It's better to prepare the seeds yourself and plant them immediately after removing them from overripe berries. The collected seeds are washed and planted in a sand-peat mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and care for the seedlings in the same way as cuttings. When the young plants develop two or three leaves, they can be transplanted into individual pots.

Signs and beliefs about aglaonema

Many houseplants are surrounded by superstitions and superstitions. These often lack any proven basis, but are passed down by word of mouth, furthering belief in the plant's power. Aglaonema is considered a plant that brings good luck. This power stems from a story about a gardener who discovered numbers formed from dewdrops on the leaves of this flower in his garden.

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The man wrote down this combination and used it in the lottery. The numbers were winning, and the story gained popularity, as did the belief that the plant was responsible for the lucky lottery outcome. This story also attributed the indoor plant with the ability to attract prosperity to the home.

The Taoist teaching of feng shui considers this species beneficial for indoor cultivation. The teaching attributes the flower to the element of wood, and it is believed to replenish the owner's vitality if placed on the east side of the house.

It's important to remember that all the positive attributes of any indoor plant are associated with a healthy and flourishing appearance. Therefore, to bring good luck and prosperity to your home with your flower, it's worth familiarizing yourself with its care instructions in advance.

Frequently asked questions about growing

When choosing a houseplant, many people consider its adaptability to apartment conditions. The evergreen beauty aglaonema meets these criteria. Easy to care for and distinguished by its stunning ornamental qualities, it has earned recognition among gardeners.

However, before purchasing this houseplant, you should weigh the pros and cons, especially if you have children or pets. The sap of the Araceae family is dangerous if it comes into contact with both mucous membranes and skin.