Whether you’re looking to add a touch of the tropics to your indoor space or create a lush and exotic environment in your outdoor living area, aglaonema commutatum are an excellent, low maintenance choice.
Scientific Name: Aglaonema Commutatum
Common Names: Chinese Evergreen, Golden Evergreen, Philippine Evergreen, Poison Dart Plant
Aglaonema commutatum are a great choice for anyone looking for an easy-to-care-for houseplant. This plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, and is known for its beautiful foliage. They are very hardy and low maintenance, making them an excellent choice for beginners. With its striking leaves and elegant appearance, the aglaonema commutatum is sure to add a touch of sophistication to any home.
As an added bonus aglaonema commutatums may help purify indoor air. According to a NASA study, the plants were discovered to be efficient in removing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air in the study.
In this post, we’ll give you everything you need to know about caring for these awesome plants.
Description
These striking plants are known for their glossy, green leaves, which can grow up to 10 inches in length. Some varieties also feature variegated (like aglaonema commutatum variegated) or speckled leaves in shades of green, yellow, and white.
They are easy to grow and care for, making them a popular choice for both beginners and experienced gardeners alike. These versatile plants can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, including low light levels and poor soil quality. In addition, aglaonema are relatively resistant to pests and diseases, making them a low-maintenance option for the home or garden.
Best Environment to Grow Aglaonema Commutatums
Light
Your a glaonema commutatum will do best in low or medium light. Plants with red foliage along with the ones with green foliage appreciate lower light while the variegated ones can take more light.
In all cases, keep your plants out of direct sun to prevent the leaves and stems from burning.
Temperature
Your plant will be happy in the same temperature range that you like. For best results temperature in your home should be between 68 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They do not do well in extreme heat or cold.
Water
Aglaonema commutatums appreciate a good, long drink so water them deeply. By that I mean water them thoroughly, until the excess runs out of the pot’s drainage holes.
However, they are prone to root rot so take care not to allow the soil to become soggy. You should let the top 2 inches of soil dry out before watering them.
Signs that you may be over watering include yellowing leaves and stems, soggy soil and soft, rotting leaves and/or stems.
Soil
Easy going, undemanding plants that they are, they are also not picky about their potting mix. The important things to remember are that the mix must drain well, retain adequate moisture and it needs to contain organic matter. Ideally, the soil should be slightly acidic.
A mix of general purpose potting soil, peat moss and perlite or sand is a popular choice. The perlite or sand helps to aerate the soil while the peat moss makes it acidic enough to keep your plant happy. Another option is to use a mix of sand and peat moss, which also allows for good drainage while still providing moisture to the roots.
Fertilizer
Although they are not heavy feeders, aglaonema commutatums do benefit from regular fertilization. When using liquid fertilizer, feed according to directions on the package every 2 – 3 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). For time release dry pellets, feed twice during the growing season as directed on the package.
Potting Tips
Since they are relatively slow growing plants they won’t quickly outgrow their pots. Generally speaking, you should plan on repotting yours every 2 to 3 years. Just about any container with good drainage will be fine, although many plant parents like terra cotta or fabric pots because they are so porous. This helps insure that the soil will not stay wet and helps protect against root rot.
Sizewise, try to go up no more than one size when you repot your plant.. In other words if the current pot is 6 inches in diameter, the new pot should be 8 inches in diameter. Avoid using containers that are too large. Soil in a large container with a small plant stays wet longer than it does in a smaller pot. If your plant sits in wet soil for too long, you run the risk of the plant drowning or rotting.
Propagation
These plants are easy to propagate. You can root them from cuttings or by separating the new growth from the parent plant.
When it comes to cuttings, you can either root them in soil or water. With either method, you’ll want to use a clean, sharp blade to take your cuttings from healthy stems – ones that don’t have wilted or yellowing/brown leaves. Each cutting should be 5-7 inches long and also have 2-3 healthy leaves.
If you’re rooting the cuttings in water, place each cutting in a container with an inch or so of room-temperature water. Put the container(s) in indirect light and change the water 3-4 times per week. When the roots are 1 1/2 – 2 inches long, you can transplant them into a pot with the same type of soil that the parent plant is growing in.
When rooting the cuttings in soil, use a container with good drainage and fill it with the same soil mix that the parent plant is growing in. Take a pen, pencil, or chopstick and poke a hole in the soil. Gently put the cutting in the soil and tamp it down gently around the cutting. You can put multiple cuttings in one pot for a fuller look. Water lightly and put the container in a place with indirect light. Keep the soil moist.
Roots should begin to form in 1 – 2 weeks. New shoots will grow from the plants in about a month or so.
You can also propagate your plant by dividing it. This works best with older, more mature plants that need to be repotted. In order to divide your Chinese evergreen, you need to remove it from its current pot.
After removing the plant from the pot, check for any signs of disease or root rot. If you see any, using a clean, sharp blade, carefully cut away the diseased/damaged parts of the roots. Now gently remove the soil from the roots. Using a sharp clean blade, carefully cut away sections of the plant, keeping the roots attached to each section. You should now have several small individual plants with roots attached. You can either divide the entire plant into several new plants, or just make a few new plants, leaving the original parent plant intact.
Put all of the plants in fresh soil. Water lightly and keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Place pots in indirect light.
