Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), is a beautiful house plant grown for its large leaves, that bring lush, tropical elegance to any interior. It’s easy to grow and tolerates low light levels, and it can live for more than 10 years, given the right care.
Chinese evergreen has been grown as an ornamental plant in Asia for centuries and plant breeders have developed a range of stunning variations. Some have deep green leaves with paler green or silver splashes, stripes, or speckles such as Aglaonema ‘Silver Queen’ or Aglaonema ‘Maria’. Some have pink stems, veins and leaf margins, such as Aglaonema ‘Crete’ or ‘Pink Moon’. In other cultivars, the leaves are almost entirely pink, coral or red, as in Aglaonema ‘Red Star’. While they are slow-growing, cultivated varieties can become substantial clumps, growing to 90cm tall by 90 cm wide, but there are also compact varieties for more restricted spaces, such as Aglaonema ‘Jubilee Compacta’.
Chinese evergreen is a relatively slow-growing plant and is unlikely to need repotting more than once every two to three years, when the strong roots start to emerge from the drainage holes. Don’t be tempted to transfer to a much larger pot – excess compost can hold onto excess water, threatening your plant’s health. Repot it in spring or summer, during the growing season.