Care guide
Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema spp.
Painterly foliage in creams, pinks and greens on a plant that shrugs off low light and the occasional missed watering — colour without the fuss.
At a glance
tap for detail ↓Just arrived?
Welcome home! A little settling-in is completely normal — here’s what to know in week one.
- A dropped leaf or a little droop in the first week is just travel shock — give it a calm, bright spot and time.
- Don’t repot for at least 4 weeks. It ships happy in its nursery pot — just sit that inside your decorative cover.
- Check the plant-specific watering guidance below before giving it a drink — different plants prefer very different levels of dryness.
Light
One of the best plants for less-bright rooms. Bright shade keeps the leaf patterns vivid — the paler and pinker the variety (like Cherry Baby and Light Pink Star), the more light it wants, though never direct sun.
Watering
Check weekly and water when the top few centimetres have dried, then let it drain. Aglaonemas are forgiving of the odd missed watering but not of sitting wet.
Humidity & temperature
Ordinary room humidity is fine. What it really minds is cold — keep it above 16°C, away from draughty doors and single-glazed winter windowsills, and it will grow steadily all year.
Feeding
A monthly balanced feed from April to September is ample; it’s a slow, steady grower rather than a sprinter.
Repotting & size
Slow roots mean infrequent repotting — every two to three years, one size up, in a standard free-draining peat-free mix. It positively likes being a little snug.
Something wrong?
Most problems are fixable — find the symptom below.
Colours fading to plain green
Cause
Not enough light for the variegation.
Fix
Move it somewhere brighter (still no direct sun) — new leaves will come through with the pinks and creams restored.
Yellowing lower leaves
Cause
Overwatering, or just natural turnover of old leaves.
Fix
Let the compost dry further between drinks; the occasional yellow lower leaf on an otherwise happy plant is nothing to worry about.
Brown, greasy-looking patches
Cause
Cold damage.
Fix
Move it away from draughts and cold glass — damaged leaves won’t recover, but new growth will be clean.
Brown crispy tips
Cause
Dry air or erratic watering.
Fix
More consistent soil checks; a slightly more humid spot helps.
Leggy, sparse stems
Cause
Low light over a long period.
Fix
Brighter position; you can also cut leggy stems back in spring and they’ll reshoot bushier.
Drooping all over
Cause
Usually thirst; occasionally cold.
Fix
Feel the compost — if dry, water thoroughly; if moist, check the temperature of the spot.
Meet the plant
About Chinese Evergreen
Common names include: Chinese evergreen, Philippine evergreen.
- Aglaonemas are often associated with good fortune and are popular, easy-going foliage plants.
- Modern colourful Aglaonema cultivars are the result of intensive ornamental breeding, especially in Asia; brighter pink and cream forms usually need brighter indirect light.
- It’s among the most shade-tolerant of patterned houseplants — colour where most colourful plants give up. Note it’s toxic to pets if chewed.
Shop this plant
Seasonal care tips, four times a year
What to change as the light changes — no spam, ever.
