Aglaonema 'First Diamond' (First Diamond Chinese Evergreen) care

Light

The Goldilocks zone. Not the south-facing windowsill (too hot, too direct), not the back of the room (too dim, growth stalls). Bright but filtered light keeps the silvery variegation vivid; tolerates low light, though pale leaves green up and growth slows. Avoid direct midday sun, which scorches the near-white foliage. If you can't decide, a free phone lux-meter app aimed at the leaf at noon should read between 800 and 1,500 lux.

Watering

Watering aglaonema 'first diamond': when the top 3-4 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 days. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water thoroughly until it drains, then let the upper third of the pot dry before the next drink. Cut back in winter. Soggy, cold soil causes stem and root rot faster than underwatering.

Soil and pot

Aglaonema 'First Diamond' grows best in loose, well-draining aroid or peat-based potting mix. Use a free-draining mix of peat or coir, perlite and a little bark or compost. Aim for pH 5.6-6.5. Always pot into a container with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. 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 'First Diamond' sits happiest at around 50-60% humidity and 18-27°C (65-80°F). Tolerates average household humidity but colours and leaf condition improve above 50%. Brown leaf tips often signal dry air; group with other plants or use a pebble tray in 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 'first diamond' sparingly. Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half strength. Stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth pauses. Flush the pot occasionally to clear salt build-up that browns leaf edges. 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 'first diamond' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown leaf tips — Usually from dry air, fluoride or salt build-up in tap water. Raise humidity and flush the pot occasionally.
• Yellowing lower leaves — Most often overwatering or cold, soggy soil. Let the top third of the mix dry and check drainage.
• Faded or greening variegation — Too little light dulls the silvery colour. Move to brighter indirect light, but never direct sun.
• Drooping in cold spells — Temperatures below 15°C or cold draughts cause wilting and dark blotches; keep it warm and away from windows and doors.

Propagation

Propagate by division of the clump at repotting, or by stem cuttings with a few nodes rooted in water or moist mix. Spring and summer give the fastest, most reliable rooting. 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 'First Diamond' is toxic to pets. Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) is listed by the ASPCA as toxic to cats and dogs. The toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep out of reach of pets. 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 'First Diamond' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of aglaonema 'first diamond' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Aglaonema 'First Diamond' qualifies for 5 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.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best bathroom plants — Humidity-loving houseplants that also cope with lower light — suited to the steamy, often-dim conditions of a typical bathroom.
• 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 'First Diamond' is also commonly called First Diamond Chinese Evergreen.

• 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 2464 plant care guides in the Growli library