Aglaonema
Aglaonemas belong to the Araceae family but are commonly known as Chinese Evergreens. Though debuted as garden shrubs because of their low light tolerance, they have lately become “the” office plant for this very reason. They are so easy to care for and perfect if you would like to venture into the foliage-rich plants. The darker varieties can be placed in windowless rooms with plenty of fluorescent light, however variegated plants desire some indirect light to uphold the decorative patterns and intricate colours in the leaves.
Aglaonema Care
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and New Guinea, Aglaonemas grow beneath shade of large tropical trees and would get limited amounts of direct sunlight, but high levels of humidity. This is why they prefer warm environments and will be quick to show damage on leaves if temperature drops drastically. Keep them at normal room temperature 18-24°C and avoid cold draughts.
Soil should be kept moist at all times but not water-logged. This is why it is essential to let water drip thoroughly before placing back in decorative pots. During the drier winter months you can cut back on watering slightly but keep misting your plant now and again.
Repotting is necessary every two years in fresh soil. Keep in mind that you don’t need excessive soil. They prefer their roots to be dense and only go up one or two pot sizes. Sometimes it’s enough to just provide fresh soil in the same sized pot.
Problems
Yellowing leaves - irregular watering
Browning tips - build up of salts, minerals or fluoride from tap water. They prefer rainwater or you can let tap water sit overnight.
Bacterial leaf spot - non-sterilised tools to prune
Drooping leaves - insufficient light or irregular watering