Easy Tropical Toxic to pets

Chinese Evergreen

Aglaonema commutatum

A houseplant with beautifully variegated leaves in green, silver, pink, or red, the Chinese Evergreen is a champion at adapting to low-light conditions.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 7 days
Light

Medium light
Humidity

40–60 %
Temperature

18–27 °C

How to care for your Chinese Evergreen

Everything you need to keep your Chinese Evergreen healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Aglaonema commutatum is native to the tropical understory of the Philippines and northeastern Sulawesi. Its oval-lanceolate leaves, carried on short petioles, come in an impressive variety of patterns and colors depending on the cultivar: from classic silvery green to flamboyant red to soft pink. It is one of the most low-light-tolerant houseplants, making it an ideal choice for dimly lit rooms, offices, and entrance halls. Its slow growth and compact habit make it a low-maintenance plant.

Watering your Chinese Evergreen

Every 7 days

Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry. These plants prefer slightly moist soil but tolerate some drying. Use room temperature water. Reduce in winter.

How to know it needs water

Top 2–3 cm of soil feels dry
Leaves begin to droop slightly
Lower leaves yellow from overwatering

How much light a Chinese Evergreen needs

Medium light

Low to medium indirect light. Dark green varieties tolerate very low light. Red or pink varieties need brighter conditions. No direct sun.

Direct sun tolerated: No direct sun
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, North-west

Humidity and misting

40–60 %

40–60% Appreciates moderate humidity. Occasional misting benefits the plant. Tolerates lower humidity better than most tropical plants.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 30 days

Feed monthly during spring and summer at half strength. Not heavy feeders. Stop fertilizing in late autumn and winter.

Recommended feed: Balanced liquid fertilizer (20-20-20) · 5-10-5

Repotting your Chinese Evergreen

Every 24 months

Use a well-draining peat-based potting mix. Go up one pot size. Divide multi-stemmed plants during repotting if desired. Handle gently to avoid breaking stems.

When: Spring
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre

The tell-tale signs

Roots growing from drainage holes
Plant becomes top-heavy
Water drains through very quickly without being absorbed by the soil

Pruning your Chinese Evergreen

When old leaves yellow or the plant becomes leggy. Remove yellowing leaves at the base. If the plant becomes too tall and leggy, cut back stems to encourage bushier growth from the base. Old stems can be propagated.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 8 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 6 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Toxicity

Contains calcium oxalate crystals. Causes oral irritation, pain, swelling, and difficulty swallowing in both pets and humans if ingested.

Good to know

Aglaonema is on NASA's list of air-purifying plants, capable of filtering benzene and formaldehyde from indoor air.
In Southeast Asia, the Chinese Evergreen is considered a lucky plant, and some rare cultivars with exceptional colors sell for very high prices.

Frequently asked questions about the Chinese Evergreen

How do you care for a Chinese Evergreen?

Water it every 7 days. Give it medium light. Ideal humidity: 40–60 %. Ideal temperature: 18–27 °C. Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry. These plants prefer slightly moist soil but tolerate some drying. Use room temperature water. Reduce in winter.

How often should you water a Chinese Evergreen?

Every 7 days Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry. These plants prefer slightly moist soil but tolerate some drying. Use room temperature water. Reduce in winter. How to know it needs water : Top 2–3 cm of soil feels dry ; Leaves begin to droop slightly ; Lower leaves yellow from overwatering.

How much light does a Chinese Evergreen need?

Medium light Low to medium indirect light. Dark green varieties tolerate very low light. Red or pink varieties need brighter conditions. No direct sun. No direct sun

Is the Chinese Evergreen toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Contains calcium oxalate crystals. Causes oral irritation, pain, swelling, and difficulty swallowing in both pets and humans if ingested. Keep it out of reach of your pets and call a vet if any is swallowed.

Why are my Chinese Evergreen leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Chinese Evergreen?

Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Use a well-draining peat-based potting mix. Go up one pot size. Divide multi-stemmed plants during repotting if desired. Handle gently to avoid breaking stems.