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Plant Profile: Chinese Evergreen


Written by: Jenelle Schafer



Variegation, uniform shape, and low maintenance, in addition to some other unique features, make Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) a great addition to any plant collection. I love how, other than normal plant care ~watering, fertilizing, etc.~, I don't have to do anything to make the plant look great, it just naturally grows in a symmetrically pleasing pattern. Like a snowflake, no plant or leaf have the same pattern of silvery variegation. Tolerant of low light conditions, you can put it almost anywhere in your home, making it super versatile. It is even a sturdy enough plant I can let it take a summer vacation on my shady deck! I got my first Chinese evergreen in 2019 while in college, and to date, I have propagated 10 more Chinese evergreens from it ~pretty great ROI. Now that I'm sure you are convinced you should get a Chinese evergreen for yourself, here is some information so you can have a happy and healthy one in your home.



Plant Description


Scientific Name: Aglaonema commutatum

Family: Araceae

Vascular System: Monocotyledon

Leaf Description: Spiral leaf arrangement, simple, pinnate, elliptical, entire leaves. The leaf texture is smooth and leathery. Petioles are winged. New leaves emerge tightly twisted and slowly unroll. Variegation can be yellow or red colored, but the plant we grow has silver variegation.

Stem Description: Green stem segmented by circumventing leaf scars.

Flower Description: Spadix flower consisting of a cream cylinder wrapped in a green sheath.



Chinese Evergreen Care


Light: Part-shade to shade. Tolerant of low light or indirect light.

Temperature: Prefers warm temperatures.

Humidity: Medium to high humidity.

Water: Water thoroughly spring through fall and reduce water frequency during the winter.

Media: Well-drained potting soil with a peat moss component.

Fertilizer: During the growing season, March to September, fertilize regularly, 1-2 times a month.


Propagation

There are several different ways to propagate Chinese evergreen. Cane and shoot cuttings can be taken and rooted. To take a cane cutting, the stem is cut into small sections, 2-4 in., which contain at least 1 node. Canes should be laid in the media horizontally and buried halfway with the node exposed. The top of the stem, once cut, can be struck in media and rooted. These cuttings will benefit from well-drained media, high humidity and bottom heat.

The method I prefer in propagating Chinese evergreen is division. As the plant gets older, a small green shoot will likely emerge from the potting media. This shoot will develop its own root system. When it is time to repot the original plant, you can tease the new plant's roots out from among the old plants and continue repotting them separately. If you can't get the roots untangled, you can take a serrated knife and cut the root ball in between the 2 plants, making sure each still has a substantial amount left. A healthy root system for Chinese evergreen has thick creamy roots in abundance and is very resilient, not impacted much by the cut roots. For me, this method works well since the root system is already formed and I don't have to give the plant much special care beyond repotting.

Chinese evergreen can technically be propagated from seed. However, it is not super common to have viable seeds develop from flowers, so it is probably a better option to stick to vegetative propagation.


Common Problems


Insects: Mealybugs, scale, aphids and spider mites are common pests of Chinese evergreen and all feed on the plant's sap causing wilting.

Diseases: Root rot can occur when the potting soil doesn't dry out sufficiently between waterings.

Disorders: Browning leaves may indicate either low humidity or cold drafts. Yellowing of leaves may be incited by watering infrequency.


Conclusion

The Chinese evergreen is definitely one that I would recommend to anyone. It doesn't really matter what your house looks like or how good you are at maintaining houseplants because it's needs are all very simple. Easy to grow, easy to propagate and easy to enjoy!


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