Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) (Chinese evergreen) care

Light

Picture the indirect light an east-facing window gives mid-morning — that's the brightness aglaonema (chinese evergreen) grows fastest in. Tolerant of low to moderate indirect light, which makes it one of the best plants for dim corners and north-facing rooms. Solid green and darker cultivars cope with genuine shade, while heavily variegated or pink types need brighter indirect light to hold their colour. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the foliage. You'll know it's right when new leaves come out the same size and colour as the established ones. Smaller, paler new leaves = move closer to the window.

Watering

Aim for when the top 2-3 cm (1 inch) of compost is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in growth for aglaonema (chinese evergreen), but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Keep the compost lightly and evenly moist from spring to autumn, letting the top 2-3 cm dry between waterings, then water sparingly through winter. It tolerates short dry spells far better than soggy roots, so err on the dry side. Use room-temperature water and never let the pot stand in water, as constant wet causes root rot.

Soil and pot

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) grows best in free-draining, peat-free houseplant mix. A standard soilless potting mix enriched with extra humus suits it well; a blend of two parts peat-free multipurpose compost to one part perlite gives the drainage and aeration it needs. The mix should hold some moisture but never stay waterlogged. Always use a pot with drainage holes to prevent the root rot this plant is prone to. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 18-27C (65-80F). As a tropical aroid it prefers moderate humidity of around 40-60%, though it tolerates average household air better than most relatives. In very dry rooms, especially over winter with heating on, leaf edges and tips may brown; grouping plants or standing the pot on a damp pebble tray helps. Mist only if air is genuinely arid. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed aglaonema (chinese evergreen) sparingly. Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength roughly every 4-6 weeks during the spring and summer growing season, and stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. This is a light feeder; over-fertilising causes scorched, browned leaf edges, so under-feeding is safer than overdoing it. Flush the compost occasionally to clear salt build-up. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on aglaonema (chinese evergreen) in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Chilling injury from cold — The single biggest killer. Exposure to temperatures roughly between freezing and 15C (59F) causes grey-green blotches that yellow, plus drooping and rot. Keep above 15C and away from draughty doors, cold windows and air-con vents.
• Yellowing leaves from overwatering — Soggy, airless compost is the usual cause of yellow lower leaves and soft, mushy stems, often progressing to root rot. Let the top few centimetres dry out, ensure drainage holes, and never leave the pot sitting in water.
• Brown, crispy leaf edges and tips — Caused by very dry air, cold draughts, or salt build-up from over-fertilising or hard tap water. Raise humidity, move away from heat sources and draughts, flush the compost, and feed only at half strength in the growing season.
• Sap-sucking pests — Mealybugs (white cottony tufts in leaf joints), aphids, spider mites and scale are the common offenders, especially in dry indoor air. Wipe leaves regularly, inspect undersides, and treat early with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

Companion plants

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) pairs well with Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata), ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), and Peace lily (Spathiphyllum). These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Easiest by division: in spring, lift a mature clump from its pot and gently separate rooted offsets or basal shoots, each with roots and a few leaves, then pot them up individually. Stem and tip cuttings root in water or moist compost, and older leggy plants can be air-layered. Seed is possible but slow and rarely used at home. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The ASPCA lists Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) as toxic, with insoluble calcium oxalate crystals as the toxic principle; the same chemistry is present genus-wide, including Aglaonema commutatum. Chewing or swallowing any part releases these crystals, causing oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep well out of reach of pets and children, and wash hands after handling the sap. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) deep-dive guides

Every aspect of aglaonema (chinese evergreen) care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) watering schedule
• Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) light requirements
• Best soil mix for aglaonema (chinese evergreen)
• Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) fertilizing guide
• When to repot aglaonema (chinese evergreen)
• How to propagate aglaonema (chinese evergreen)
• Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) growth rate & size
• Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) cold hardiness
• Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) temperature & humidity
• Is aglaonema (chinese evergreen) toxic to cats & dogs?

Related guides

Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) is also known as Chinese evergreen, Aglaonema, Philippine evergreen, and Painted drop-tongue.

• Types of Chinese evergreen — varieties identified, with care and pet-safety
• Snake plant care — light, water and common problems
• Dracaena care — light, water and common problems
• Peperomia care — light, water and common problems
• All 271 plant care guides in the Growli library