How To Care For Chinese Evergreen: Care Tips + FAQs

How to care for Chinese evergreen

Aglaonema or Chinese evergreens are everything that a novice indoor gardener can dream of! Your house doesn’t get enough light? Don’t worry! These sturdy plants do pretty well in low to moderate light.

You often forget to water your plants? Still not a problem. Their watering needs are quite moderate. This stunningly beautiful plant species is quite easy to care for and grows slowly so that you don’t have to worry about them taking over your space.

How To Care For Chinese Evergreen?

If you are looking for a durable houseplant that can survive a fair amount of negligence, Chinese evergreens are a great choice. This plant is quite hardy and adaptable.

But given the right care, you can keep your Chinese evergreen healthy, growing and beautiful for years. Here is how you should care for chinese evergreen the right way.

1. Location

The good thing about Chinese evergreens is, that these plants tend to tolerate less-ideal conditions quite well. However, if you want to give your plant the best care, Chinese evergreen care tips suggest to place it in a spot that receives indirect sunlight or medium to low light conditions, has warm temperature, and somewhat humid conditions.

The only thing you need to take care of in aglaonema care tips is to keep the plant away from drafts as this may lead to browning of the leaves. An ideal spot to place your Chinese evergreen would be near a window that gets bright indirect light.

2. Container

Make sure the container is not more than an inch or two wider than the root ball of your plant. This will aid in preventing root rot. Moreover, the pot should have adequate drainage holes.

3. Chinese evergreen soil needs

Here is another thing you need to know about how to take care of aglaonema plant. Grow your Chinese evergreen plant in slightly acidic and well-draining soil. An equal mix of perlite, sand and potting soil will be ideal. You can use a peat-based potting mix with an acidic pH level of anywhere between 5.5 and 6.5.

4. How much light does a Chinese evergreen need?

The next thing you need to know about the process of how to care for chinese evergreen is the light requirement of this beautiful plant. A Chinese evergreen does well in low to bright indirect light.

Brighter light is ideal for Chinese evergreen varieties with bright or colourful variegation. Plants with darker green leaves can grow well in dimmer light or near-shade conditions.

One very important thing you need to keep in mind regarding Chinese evergreen light needs is to never place your plant in direct sunlight.

5. How often to water Chinese evergreen?

The next point in our list of aglaonema care tips is how to water your Chinese evergreen plant the right way. This plant species prefers moderate watering. Ideally, you should allow the soil to dry out a little between two watering sessions.

The main thing you need to remember about watering Chinese evergreen is to make sure the soil stays moist but not soggy. During winter, when the plant is semi-dormant, you may reduce the frequency of watering.You can learn about complete winter care for Chinese Evergreens here.

6. Humidity & temperature

Providing the right temperature and humidity levels is another important part of how to take care of aglaonema plant. The most favorable indoor temperature range for your Chinses evergreen plant will be between 65 to 80 degrees F.

Although it can tolerate lower temperatures, temperatures below 60 degrees F may end up damaging the plant. Do not keep your plants near heater vents and drafts.

Moist air with a humidity level between 60 to 70 per cent is ideal for these plants. Frequently misting the plant or investing in a humidifier can help you maintain the right humidity level.

7. How to propagate a Chinese evergreen?

To understand how to care for chinese evergreen, you must also be aware of aglaonema care tips and how to propagate the plant the right way. The best time to propagate your Chinese evergreen plant is the middle of the summer. You can either use the stem cutting method or divide the plant while you are repotting it.

Follow these steps for propagating the plant using stem cuttings:

Using a sharp tool, cut a stem from the mother plant. It should be several inches long.
Dip the bottom end of the stem in root hormone.
Fill a glass with water and place the cutting in it. Keep the glass in indirect sunlight.
Wait for 3-4 weeks for the roots to form.
Once the roots have formed, gently transfer the cutting to a container filled with well-draining soil.

Follow these aglaonema care tips to propagate your plant by division:

Once you have taken the plant and soil out of the container, gently shake off the dirt from its roots.
Now carefully and slowly, tease apart the roots so that you can separate a clump.
Now repot this clump in a container filled with soil.
Don’t forget to keep the original plant as well as the new plant extra moist for at least a few weeks until they are established.

8. How to fertilize aglaonema?

Fertilization is an important part of the process of how to care for Chinese evergreen guide. Older Chinese evergreen plants should be fertilized once or twice a year. You can use water-soluble houseplant fertilizer for this purpose. Avoid fertilizing your plant during winter.

9. How to repot aglaonema?

Think your Chinese evergreen plant needs repotting? Following these aglaonema care tips for repotting your plant:

Make sure to select a container that is 3 to 4 inches larger than your present container and fill it with a well-draining potting mix (a quarter of the way).
Use a shovel to dig around your plant in order to loosen the roots and the soil. Make sure to be gentle.
Now gently lay the container on its side. Wriggle the plant out of the container.
This plant is prone to being root-bound. If you think the roots need to be broken up, do that slightly and gently.
Now place the plant in the new container and fill it with more soil.
Let the plant adjust to its new home. Make sure to water it adequately.
Adding a little bit of liquid fertilizer may also help the plant stay healthy and grow.

With the help of these easy and effective chinese evergreen care tips, you can make sure that your plant stays lush and healthy.

Chinese Evergreen Plant Problems and Useful Aglaonema Care Tips

Now, let’s discuss a few common issues with this plant:

1. Yellow & brown tips

One of the most common problems you may face while figuring out how to care for chinese evergreen is the yellowing of its leaves. If you notice that the leaves of your plant are starting to develop grey splotches that eventually turn yellow, this means that it is suffering from a cold injury.

Yellow leaves can also be a sign of overwatering, underwatering or copper deficiency. Brown leaf tip in Chinese evergreen can be an indication of chorine, salt or fluoride buildup in the soil. So, follow the right Chinese evergreen care tips to avoid them.

2. Pests

The process of how to take care of aglaonema plant also involves protecting your houseplant from pests and insects. Otherwise pretty sturdy houseplants, Chinese evergreens tend to be susceptible to diseases and insects.

Some of the bugs you need to protect your plant from include spider ants, aphids, and mealy worms. These pests can end up harming your plant by eating its stems, leaves and roots.

If you spot any of these insects, remove them immediately. Overwatering your Chinese evergreen can cause rapid growth of mildew and mold too.

3. Drooping & curling leaves

If you have no clue how to look after aglaonema plant the right way, you may end up with drooping and curling foliage. Dropped leaves and/or rancid odour indicate root rot. If the leaves of your Chinese evergreen plant have started to curl, it might be a sign of pest infestation.

Curled leaves can also be caused due to other issues like overwatering, underwatering, cold stress, over-fertilization or low humidity.

4. Copper deficiency

Another issue which is commonly seen in Chinese evergreens is a copper deficiency. If your plant is suffering from this problem, you will notice that the new leaves of the plant are yellow and small. Moreover, the leaves become somewhat deformed with kinked edges.

This problem is usually caused by low temperatures for extended periods, inadequate fertilizing or deficient soil.

Chinese Evergreen Benefits

Still confused about whether you should bring home a Chinese evergreen and are aglaonema care tips difficult to follow? Here are a few amazing benefits that’ll prove Aglaonema is the perfect houseplant for your home.

It is rather hardy and easy to maintain
The plant offers indoor air-purifying benefits.
It acts as a natural humidifier and increases humidity in the indoor environment.
It is quite aesthetic and can help spruce up any dull indoor space.
Chinese evergreens are considered to be auspicious and bring good fortune and prosperity.

Chinese Evergreen Varieties

Here are a few popular Chinese evergreen varieties you must know about:

Silver Bay
Silver Queen
Silver King
Emerald Bay
Cutlass
Maria Christina
Burmese Evergreen
Maria
Amelia
First Diamond
Brilliant
BJ Freeman
Abidjan
Red Peacock
Harlequin
Red Gold
Cory
Tigress
Malay Beauty
Pictum Tricolor

Facts and Questions About Chinese Evergreen Care Tips

Q. How big do Chinese evergreens get?

A. Chinese evergreen can be anywhere between 1 to 3 feet tall on maturity. It grows almost equal in width. Follow the tips on how to look after aglaonema plant to ensure that your plant stays healthy and grows steadily.

Q. How can you tell if a Chinese evergreen is overwatered?

A. Wondering how often to water Chinese evergreen? Just remember to keep it moderate. Chinese evergreens prefer slightly moist soil. Ideally, you should wait for the soil to dry out a bit between two watering sessions.

A few signs of an overwatered Chinese evergreen plant include drooping foliage (despite the soil being wet), leaf edema, yellowing leaves, brown spots on the leaves, and a rotting odour (due to root rot).

Follow the aglaonema care tips mentioned above to avoid problems associated with overwatering your Chinese evergreen plant.

Q. Does Chinese evergreen need misting?

A. This is one of the most important chinese evergreen care tips you must know about. Chinese evergreen requires high levels of humidity and regularly misting the plant can help maintain the humidity level. Misting will aid in protecting the plant from cold drafts in the winter and dry air during the summer.

Q. How do you keep Aglaonema bushy?

A. You can keep your Aglaonema plant bushy by tip pruning the new growth.

Q. How fast does aglaonema grow?

A. Chinese evergreens have a slow growth rate and usually do not grow more than 3 feet in height. If you follow the tips on how to look after aglaonema plant, you can ensure steady growth for your aglaonema plant.

Q. What is the difference between aglaonema and dieffenbachia?

A. These two plants are often mistaken for each other because their foliage looks quite similar. However, there are a few noticeable differences between the two. The variegated leaves of Chinese evergreens have more of a silvery look as compared to dieffenbachia plant leaves.

Moreover, dieffenbachia has larger, wider oval-shaped leaves while aglaonema has smaller and more elongated leaves.

Q. Are aglaonema pet safe?

A. No. Aglaonema can be toxic to pets if chewed or swallowed.

Q. How do you make Aglaonema grow faster?

A. You can make your Chinese evergreen plant grow faster by giving it optimum care by following the Chinese evergreen care tips mentioned above.

This includes keeping it in bright indirect sunlight (or low to moderate light), watering it moderately, adding fertilizers about twice a year, maintaining high humidity levels, saving it from low temperatures and protecting it from pests and insects.

You can give your houseplant a fuller look by pruning new growth.

Q. What does Chinese Evergreen plants symbolize?

A. Chinese evergreens are considered to be harbingers of prosperity and good fortune.

That’s all we have on how to care for Chinese evergreens. Hope you found this useful!