Aglaonema Red (Red Siam Chinese evergreen) care

Light

Picture the indirect light an east-facing window gives mid-morning — that's the brightness aglaonema red grows fastest in. Medium to bright indirect light brings out the strongest red and pink tones; the green-and-red varieties tolerate lower light better than all-green ones. Avoid direct midday sun, which scorches the leaves. 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 red, 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. Let the upper third of the soil dry before watering thoroughly and draining fully. It stores moisture and far prefers slightly dry to soggy; overwatering is the main killer, especially in cooler, lower-light conditions.

Soil and pot

Aglaonema Red grows best in well-draining, peat- or coir-based potting mix. A standard houseplant mix lightened with perlite and a little bark drains well while holding some moisture. Aim for slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0); avoid dense soils that stay wet around the roots. 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 Red sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 18-29°C (65-85°F). Average household humidity is fine, though it appreciates 50% or more. Very dry air can brown the leaf tips; grouping plants or a pebble tray helps in heated winter 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 red sparingly. Feed every 4-6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. It is a light feeder; stop entirely in autumn and winter. Excess fertiliser causes leaf-tip burn, so under-feeding is safer than overdoing it. 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 red in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Yellowing leaves — Most often overwatering or cold, soggy soil. Let the top third dry between waterings and keep it above 16°C; chilling causes yellowing and collapse.
• Brown leaf tips or edges — Caused by dry air, fluoride/salt buildup or over-fertilising. Use filtered water, flush the soil and ease off feeding.
• Faded red coloration — Too little light mutes the pink and crimson. Move to brighter indirect light, but avoid harsh direct sun that bleaches and burns.
• Cold damage — Greyish, water-soaked patches appear below about 15°C or in cold drafts. Keep away from windows in winter and chilly entryways.

Propagation

Propagate by division of the clumping crown when repotting, or by stem cuttings with a few nodes rooted in water or moist mix. Division is the most reliable and keeps the strong colour true to the variety. 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 Red is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA. Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), an aroid, contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes intense oral pain, 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 Red deep-dive guides

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

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Aglaonema Red 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 Red is also commonly called Red Siam Chinese evergreen or red aglaonema.

• 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