Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) (Red Aglaonema) care

Light

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) wants the spot a few feet back from a sunny window — bright enough to read a paperback at noon, but the sun never falls directly on the leaves. Medium, bright-indirect light keeps the pink and red variegation vibrant. It tolerates lower light, but colour fades and growth slows. Keep out of direct sun, which scorches the leaves. A faint hand shadow at midday is the right amount; a sharp dark shadow means it's getting direct sun and probably too much.

Watering

Water aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) every 7-10 days; when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy. Let the top 1-2 inches dry between waterings and empty any saucer so roots don't sit in water. It tolerates short dry spells better than overwatering, which causes root rot.

Soil and pot

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) grows best in well-draining, peat-based potting mix. Use a loose, well-draining soilless mix enriched with extra humus or compost; adding perlite or orchid bark improves aeration. Always pot in a container with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging and root rot. 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 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) sits happiest at around 50-70% humidity and 18-27C (65-80F). Prefers moderate to high humidity, which keeps leaf edges from browning, but it adapts to average household humidity. In dry rooms a pebble tray or nearby humidifier helps; misting offers only a brief boost. 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) sparingly. Feed monthly during spring and summer with a balanced, diluted liquid houseplant fertiliser (half strength). Stop feeding in autumn and winter. Avoid over-fertilising, which causes leaf-tip and edge burn; flush the soil occasionally to clear salt buildup. 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 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Brown or crispy leaf edges — Usually caused by low humidity, underwatering, or fertiliser/salt buildup. Raise humidity, keep watering consistent, and flush the soil; sensitivity to fluoride and chlorine in tap water can also brown tips, so use filtered or left-out water.
• Yellowing leaves — Most often overwatering and soggy soil leading to early root rot. Let the top 1-2 inches dry between waterings, ensure drainage holes, and check roots are firm and white, not mushy.
• Faded or reverting variegation — Too little light dulls the pink-and-red colour and can revert leaves toward plain green. Move to brighter indirect light (but not direct sun) to restore the markings.
• Drooping and curling from cold — Temperatures below 13-15C (55-59F) and cold drafts cause wilting, curling and dark patches. Keep it away from windows, doors and AC vents in winter and maintain 18-27C.
• Sap-sucking pests — Mealybugs, aphids, scale and spider mites are the common pests, often appearing in leaf joints and undersides. Wipe leaves, isolate the plant, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
• Root rot — Caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Repot into fresh well-draining mix, trim any blackened roots, and water only once the top of the soil has dried.

Propagation

Propagate by division when repotting in spring: separate rooted offsets or clumps from the base, each with its own roots and a few leaves, and pot them up individually. Stem cuttings rooted in water or moist mix also work but are slower. Warmth and moderate humidity speed establishment. 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 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) is toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) as toxic to cats, dogs and horses; the toxic principle is insoluble calcium oxalate crystals found throughout the plant. 'Siam Aurora' is a cultivar of this genus, so treat it as toxic. Chewing causes oral irritation, intense burning and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Keep it out of reach of pets and children. 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 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) deep-dive guides

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

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

Related guides

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) is also known as Red Aglaonema, Red Chinese Evergreen, Siam Aurora, and Aglaonema Siam.

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