Aglaonema

July 22, 2026

Quick Overview

🌞 LIGHT: Medium to bright, indirect light (tolerates low light).
💧 WATERING: Water when the top 50% of the soil (top 2 inches) is dry.
🌡️ TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY: 65–80°F (18–27°C) & 50%+ humidity (tolerates standard indoor humidity).
🌱 SOIL: Well-draining, chunky potting mix; a pot with a drainage hole is essential.
❗ SAFETY NOTE: Toxic to pets and humans if ingested (contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals). Keep out of reach.

Tolerates: Low-light conditions, making it suitable for offices or interior rooms.
Avoid: Direct, intense sunlight, which will scorch and bleach the leaves.
Color Tip: Highly variegated or colorful varieties (pink, red, white) require brighter indirect light to maintain their vibrant coloration. Darker green varieties perform better in lower light.

Frequency: Typically every 7–14 days, depending on season, light level, and indoor climate. Always test soil moisture before watering rather than relying on a calendar.
Avoid: Overwatering—it is the leading cause of root rot. Never let the plant sit in standing water.
Quality Tip: Aglaonemas are generally tolerant, but using room-temperature, filtered, or distilled water helps avoid salt and fluoride buildup on leaf tips.

Draft Sensitivity: Keep away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents, heating units, and unsealed winter windows. Cold air below 60°F (15°C) can cause chilling injury.
Humidity Boosts: While resilient to normal household air, they thrive with higher humidity. Group plants together, use a pebble tray, or run a humidifier nearby during winter months.

Soil Mix: A mix rich in organic matter but highly aerated—such as 2 parts standard potting soil, 1 part perlite, and 1 part orchid bark—provides the perfect balance of drainage and moisture retention.
Repotting: Repot every 2–3 years in spring or summer, or when the plant becomes root-bound. Choose a pot 1–2 inches larger in diameter with adequate drainage.

Routine: Feed monthly during the active growing season (spring through early autumn) using a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula) diluted to half-strength.
Rest Period: Hold off on fertilizing during late autumn and winter when plant growth naturally slows.

Pruning: Snip yellowing, dead, or damaged leaves at the base using sterilized shears to keep the plant healthy and redirect energy to new growth.
Cleaning: Wipe the broad leaves regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust, allowing the foliage to photosynthesize efficiently and keep pests away.

Stem Cuttings (Water or Soil):
1. Cut a healthy stem with a sharp, sterile blade, ensuring it includes at least 1–2 nodes.
2. Place in water or plant directly into a moist, airy propagation mix.
3. Keep in a warm, bright spot with high humidity. Roots typically establish in 3–5 weeks.
Division: When repotting mature plants, gently separate natural root clusters into individual pots for instant new plants.

Problem / Pest	Visual Symptoms	Solution
Root Rot	Mushy or black stems, yellowing foliage, foul soil odor.	Remove plant from pot, trim away affected mushy roots, and repot in fresh, dry soil. Reduce watering.
Spider Mites	Fine webbing on undersides of leaves, speckled yellow foliage.	Isolate plant, shower off leaves, and spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap.
Mealybugs	White, cotton-like clusters along stem joints and leaf undersides.	Dab pests directly with a cotton swab dipped in 70% rubbing alcohol; treat whole plant with insecticidal soap.
Yellow Leaves	Lower leaves turning uniform yellow; soft soil.	Usually caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Allow the soil to dry out further between waterings.
Brown Leaf Tips	Crispy brown edges or tips on foliage.	Indicates low humidity, inconsistent watering, or mineral buildup from hard tap water.