Aglaonema Care Guide

Light

Low to medium, indirect light. The plain green types are remarkably shade-tolerant and will happily sit in a dim corner. The brightly variegated and pink or red varieties need a little more light to keep their colour strong, so give those a brighter spot, always out of direct sun. Harsh, direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.

Water & humidity

Let the top few centimetres of soil dry out before you water again. An Aglaonema would far rather be a touch too dry than too wet, as soggy soil quickly leads to root rot, so when in doubt, water less. Ease off through the cooler months. It enjoys a little humidity but copes well with normal indoor air. Keep it away from cold draughts and air-conditioning, as it does not like the cold.

Feeding

A light feeder. A balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength, every few weeks through spring and summer, is all it needs. Stop feeding in winter when growth slows down.

Repotting & soil

Aglaonemas are slow growers and are quite content being a little snug in their pots, so they only need repotting every couple of years, or once the roots have filled the container. Use a good, free-draining potting mix and a pot with a drainage hole, and only move up one pot size at a time.

Common problems

• Yellowing leaves usually mean too much water, or sometimes cold. Ease off the watering, make sure the pot drains freely, and keep it somewhere warm.
• Brown, crispy leaf tips or edges point to dry air, under-watering or cold draughts. Check your watering and move it somewhere warmer and more sheltered.
• Faded or washed-out colour on the variegated types means too little light. Move it somewhere brighter, but still out of direct sun.
• Drooping leaves are often a sign it is too cold or too dry. Warm it up and check the soil.
• Scorched or bleached patches mean too much direct sun. Shift it back from the window.

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