I have always had a thing for Aglaonema plants, but I’ve always ended up killing them. However, after a lot of trial and error, I figured out what I was doing wrong.
All I have to say is that caring for Aglaonema is simple if you know a few key points.
Care for Red Aglaonema by using a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer to fertilize once or twice a year and check the leaves for symptoms of pests regularly to prevent future problems.
This article will address a list of conditions that must be met to care for your aglaonema plant properly.
Table of Contents
Does Red Aglaonema Need a lot of Looking After?
Aglaonema plants are exceedingly easy to cultivate and care for, making them popular houseplants worldwide.
When given the right growing circumstances, Aglaonema houseplants take little work.
Aglaonema plant may be the way to go if you’re seeking a lovely, easy-to-care-for houseplant.
It’s the perfect houseplant for someone who has a habit of killing houseplants.
How to Care for Red Aglaonema
It may appear daunting at first, especially if you are new to cultivating Red Aglaonema, but it is actually much easy than you think.
Read the article, and I am confident that you will have a thorough grasp of how to care for the plant by the time you are finished.
1. Proper Watering Habits
The amount of water required by different plant species varies greatly. Some plants require more water, while others demand less.
While excessive watering would hurt the Aglaonema plant, it does prefer moist soil, but not wet.
Before watering a Red Aglaonema houseplant to attain this proportion, allow the top 25 – 30 percent of the soil to dry up properly.
It would help if you watered your Aglaonema more frequently during the summer and warmer months.
Watering should be reduced throughout the winter or cooler months to minimize root rot and tipping.
A moderate watering schedule is required for this houseplant. Never let the plant dry out completely.
Aglaonema will tolerate low water conditions, but they should never be left completely dry for extended lengths of time.
2. Ideal Temperature
Aglaonema will be particular about the temperature and humidity of the air it breaths. However, they are susceptible to cold.
Aglaonema flourishes in a warm, humid, and light environment.
They should never be placed in an area where the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit since the plant will begin to show signs of cold damage if it does.
It is best to keep the temperature between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Soil Mix
This green-leaf infant grows well in a standard houseplant mix.
It’s best to use peat-based potting soil with plenty of perlites. The soil for Aglaonema plants should be able to retain enough moisture without becoming wet.
The soil pH level for Aglaonema should be between 6.1 and 6.5. This suggests that the plant requires slightly acidic soil to thrive.
The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that the soil must drain effectively and be nitrogen-rich.
4. Fertilizer Requirements
When Aglaonema plants are fertilized regularly throughout the year, from spring to fall, they thrive even more.
During the spring and summer, fertilizing with low amounts around once or twice a month is advised. Then, avoid fertilizing during the winter.
It’s critical not to overfertilize the plant. Overfertilizing your houseplants can produce salt build-up, which can cause the roots to burn.
A 20-10-10 NPK is recommended if you’re utilizing a synthetic fertilizer.
One part houseplant soil, one part peat moss, and one part perlite can be mixed. To improve the drainage and organic matter, you might also add some orchid bark.
5. Proper Lighting
Aglaonema treatment begins with the correct placement.
Your mission is to locate the location that receives the least amount of indirect light. Indoors, the plant frequently looks its best in medium or indirect light.
Aglaonemas with variegated leaves require more light than those with deeper green foliage. However, the majority of them do well in partial shade.
Nonetheless, during winter, you may need to relocate the Aglaonema to a brighter spot. The cooler weather and shorter days may slow the plant’s growth.
6. Flower Bloom
Because Aglaonema blooms aren’t particularly beautiful, they’re frequently mistaken for leaves.
Their flowers are made up of a white or green spathe (a spoon-like shell) and a spadix (pollination site).
If you are unaware that these plants can blossom, you may never notice the flowers because they differ significantly from normal flowers.
Blooms can last up to five days and are most noticeable in late spring and early summer.
Tips to Take Care of Red Aglaonema
- Nurture the roots to ensure healthy plants and plentiful blooms, and keep in mind that it is through them that plants acquire nutrients and water from the soil.
- Conditioning the flowers by removing the foliage causes all of the water’s energy to go to the flower’s head rather than the leaves, allowing the blooms to absorb more water.
- Water moderately as excessive watering encourages foliage growth, whereas a lack of water may cause the plant to lose its blossom buds.
7. Pest Infestation
While the Red Aglaonema is not particularly sensitive to pests or diseases, it can occasionally succumb to common houseplant problems like scale, mealybugs, or spider mites.
| Pests | Symptoms of Infestation | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Scale Insects | Scale insects deplete the sap of essential plants, making them feeble and causing their leaves to yellow and fall off. | To remove and kill damaged plant components, scrub scales from twigs with a soft brush and soapy water, then rinse. Dormant oil or summer oil spray should be used to treat larger infestations. |
| Spider Mites | Because they feed on plant liquids, they zap a plant's vigor by causing leaves to turn yellow, brown, or gray and drop off. | Saturate plants, especially the undersides of leaves, with insecticidal soap, neem oil extract, or a sulfur-based pesticide, or spray with insecticidal soap, neem oil extract, or a sulfur-based insecticide. |
| Mealy Bugs | They eat the sap from the leaves, causing stunted and distorted growth as well as, in certain circumstances, plant death. | A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol can be used to remove individual mealybugs. It's also possible to apply an insecticidal soap spray. |
| Aphids | They are found on the underside of the foliage and take the vital fluid off of red aglaonema. A large number of aphids will stunt growth, distort leaves, and cover the plant in honeydew. | Wipe indoor plant with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing oil, spray water hose on the outdoor plant to force aphids off the plant, and use insecticidal soap for a larger infection. |
Learn more indepth about pests in Red Aglaonema.
8. Propagate Timely
Aglaonema stem cuttings are very easy to reproduce in water or soil.
Steps to Propagate Red Aglaonema
All you have to do to propagate a Red Aglaonema is follow the steps below.
- Carefully remove the root ball from the pot.
- Look for sections with at least two or three leaves developing on them.
- Make a diagonal incision below a leaf node in the shoot’s stem with a clean, sharp blade or gardening shears.
- Remove a couple of the cutting’s bottom leaves.
- If you are using the soil method, fill a small plant container with well-draining potting soil.
- Soak the dirt, then make a hole a few inches deep with your finger or a pencil and plant the cutting.
- To secure the cutting, carefully pat the earth around the root.
- If you will use the water approach, fill a glass or jar with enough water to cover the leaf nodes.
- Then submerge the cutting in the water.
Planting your cutting in water is not only a quick and easy way to reproduce, but it’s also a fascinating way to watch the roots grow.
If you’re trying the water approach, make sure you replace the water when it gets hazy. In four to six weeks, the plant should have new roots.
After that, continue to look after your plants as usual.
Check out my article on how to propagate snake plant in water. You can use the same approach with Red Aglaonema.
9. Repotting the Plant
You only need to change pots every 2 to 3 years because Aglaonemas are slow-growing houseplants.
Fresh soil should be used to repot Aglaonema. This not only replenishes the soil but also allows you to divide or increase the size of your plant’s pot if desired.
To accommodate for growth, use a potting vessel 1 to 2 inches bigger in diameter. However, please don’t use a considerably bigger pot than the old one because it can result in too much moisture.
Too much water in the soil might cause root rot and drown your plant.
Plants are at their strongest during the growing season; thus, repotting should be done in the spring or summer.
10. Grooming the Plant
Pruning an Aglaonema is rather simple.
Cut the stems to 2 – 3 inches (5 – 7 cm) above the soil line for grooming.
This approach promotes growth and renewal. You don’t have to toss the cuttings away; instead, you can replant them in a new container to start a new plant.
Trimming encourages the growth of a bushy houseplant and removes any dead foliage.
Cut off any dead leaves or leaves with brown tips if Aglaonema needs to be groomed. Cut the stem near where it grows out of the earth to remove these leaves.
11. Rotating Frequently
Crop rotation is utilized to keep your soil healthy and fertile while reducing pest damage and limiting the spread of plant diseases.
Soil-borne diseases can pile up after years of growing in the same spot since each generation of comparable plantings is plagued by the same pests and diseases.
So, rotate your plant regularly to guarantee development on all sides, and dust the leaves frequently to ensure effective photosynthetic efficiency.
This is especially crucial if the plant is in a low-light environment, as the plant’s ability to photosynthesize is reduced.
12. Toxicity of the Plant
Chinese Evergreen or Red Aglaonema plants contain insoluble calcium oxalates, according to the ASPCA.
If swallowed, these poisonous crystals can irritate mucous membranes. Furthermore, when the juice comes into contact with the skin, it can cause an unpleasant rash and discomfort.
Check this article as I have covered the toxicity of the plant in depth: Is Chinese Evergreen Toxic to Cats?.
Conclusion
Aglaonemas are lovely and slow-growing plants that make excellent house plants.
The term “durable” is frequently used to describe Aglaonema. That’s because the plant can resist and survive a good bit of abuse and neglect, but that doesn’t imply you should disregard it totally.
I’m confident that if you follow all of the guidelines outlined in this article, you will have a healthy and happy Aglaonema plant.
