Aglaonema Cutlass (Cutlass Chinese evergreen) care

Light

Picture the indirect light an east-facing window gives mid-morning — that's the brightness aglaonema cutlass grows fastest in. Medium to bright indirect light keeps the slender leaves full and the silver crisp; it tolerates lower light but grows slower and sparser. Keep out of direct sun, which scorches the thin 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 3-5 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-12 days for aglaonema cutlass, 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. Water thoroughly once the upper third has dried, then let it drain freely. The narrow leaves lose a touch more moisture than broad-leaved types, but it still prefers slightly dry to soggy. Cut back sharply in winter and low light.

Soil and pot

Aglaonema Cutlass grows best in well-draining, peat- or coir-based potting mix. A loose houseplant mix with perlite and bark keeps roots aerated while holding light moisture. Slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0) suits it; avoid heavy, compacting soils that retain water. 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 Cutlass sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 18-29°C (65-85°F). Happy in average home humidity, though it prefers 50%+ to keep the narrow leaf tips from browning. Group with other plants or use a pebble tray in dry, heated rooms. 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 cutlass sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in the growing season with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength; pause in autumn and winter. It is a modest feeder, and over-fertilising shows quickly as brown, scorched leaf tips, so err on the lean side. 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 cutlass in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown, crispy leaf tips — The narrow leaves show dry air, salt buildup or over-feeding readily. Raise humidity, use filtered water and flush the soil to clear salts.
• Overwatering / yellowing — Soggy soil rots the roots and yellows lower leaves. Let the top third dry, use a free-draining mix and water less in low light and winter.
• Slow, leggy growth — Too little light thins the clump and stretches stems. Move to brighter indirect light to keep the slender leaves dense and well-marked.
• Cold injury — Below about 15°C the leaves develop greyish, water-soaked blotches. Keep away from cold drafts and unheated rooms in winter.

Propagation

Propagate by dividing the clump at repotting time, separating rooted shoots into new pots, or by rooting stem cuttings with several nodes in moist mix. Division best preserves the narrow-leaved 'Cutlass' form. 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 Cutlass is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA. Aglaonema commutatum (Chinese evergreen) is an aroid containing insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes oral burning, excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. 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 Cutlass deep-dive guides

Every aspect of aglaonema cutlass care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Aglaonema Cutlass watering schedule
• Aglaonema Cutlass light requirements
• Best soil mix for aglaonema cutlass
• Aglaonema Cutlass fertilizing guide
• When to repot aglaonema cutlass
• How to propagate aglaonema cutlass
• Aglaonema Cutlass growth rate & size
• Aglaonema Cutlass cold hardiness
• Aglaonema Cutlass temperature & humidity
• Is aglaonema cutlass toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is aglaonema cutlass toxic to cats?
• Is aglaonema cutlass toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Aglaonema Cutlass qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best low-light houseplants — Houseplants that need no direct sun and cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from a window.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Aglaonema Cutlass is also commonly called Cutlass Chinese evergreen.

• Types of Chinese evergreen — varieties identified, with care and pet-safety
• Monstera care — light, water and common problems
• Pothos care — light, water and common problems
• Fiddle leaf fig care — light, water and common problems
• All 2464 plant care guides in the Growli library