Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) (Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora')
Also called Red Aglaonema, Red Chinese Evergreen, Siam Aurora, Aglaonema Siam.
More about aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)
About Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen)
Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' · also called Red Aglaonema, Red Chinese Evergreen · houseplant
Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' is a striking red-and-green Chinese evergreen prized as a low-maintenance foliage houseplant. Give it medium, indirect light to keep its pink-red variegation vivid, water when the top inch dries, and keep it warm (18-27C). Note: the ASPCA lists Aglaonema as toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of reach.
Preferred mix: Well-draining, peat-based potting mix
Watch for — 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.
Why aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) needs this mix
Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)'s roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen).
pH — does it matter for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?
Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)'s mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) covers the timing and technique step by step.
Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)'s roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) need a special pH?
Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)?
Refresh aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen)'s mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' (Red Chinese Evergreen) care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting aglaonema 'siam aurora' (red chinese evergreen) — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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