Aglaonema Red

How to care for Aglaonema Red

Light

Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora' performs best in bright, indirect light, which encourages the most vivid pink-red colouration in its leaves. It will tolerate low light better than many houseplants, though the red pigmentation may fade and growth will slow noticeably. Direct sunlight, particularly through south-facing glass, should be avoided as it scorches the foliage. An east- or north-facing windowsill, or a position a metre or so back from a bright south- or west-facing window, is typically ideal.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the top 2-3 cm of compost has dried out, then allow excess water to drain freely from the pot. In autumn and winter, reduce watering frequency as growth slows. Aglaonemas are sensitive to both overwatering, which causes root rot, and to fluoride and chlorine in tap water, which can cause brown leaf tips. Using room-temperature filtered or rainwater, or leaving tap water to stand overnight before use, is advisable.

Soil and potting

A well-draining, moisture-retentive compost is ideal. A mix of good-quality peat-free multipurpose compost combined with perlite or coarse grit in roughly a 2:1 ratio works well. Dedicated aroid mixes are also suitable. The key requirement is that the mix does not become waterlogged, as the roots are prone to rot in poorly aerated, compacted compost.

Feeding

Feed once a month during the growing season from April to September using a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half the recommended strength. Aglaonemas are not heavy feeders and overfeeding causes salt build-up in the compost, which leads to brown leaf tips. Do not feed during autumn and winter when the plant is resting.

Humidity and temperature

This cultivar prefers moderate to high humidity, ideally between 50 and 70 per cent. In centrally heated homes with dry air, humidity can be increased by grouping plants together, placing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles, or using a room humidifier. Misting is a common practice but has limited lasting effect and can encourage fungal issues if air circulation is poor. Temperatures between 18 and 27 C are ideal; the plant should never be exposed to temperatures below 13 C or to cold draughts, as chilling causes rapid leaf damage.

Repotting

Repot every two to three years in spring when the plant has become root-bound, moving it into a pot one size larger. Aglaonemas do not object to slightly restricted roots and are not in a hurry to be repotted. Use fresh compost each time and handle the roots gently, as they are somewhat brittle. Terracotta pots are beneficial as they allow the compost to dry more evenly.

Pruning

Little pruning is required. Remove any yellowing or damaged leaves by cutting them cleanly at the base of their petiole with clean scissors or a blade. If the plant produces a flower spathe, which is inconspicuous and similar to that of other aroids, it is best removed promptly as it drains energy the plant could direct into foliage. Leggy older stems can be cut back in spring to encourage bushier growth, though this is seldom necessary in younger plants.

Is Aglaonema Red toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Stem cuttings

Take a healthy stem cutting of 10-15 cm with at least two nodes and allow the cut end to callous for an hour before placing it in water or moist compost. Roots typically develop within four to six weeks in warm conditions.

Division

When repotting, separate offsets or basal shoots that have developed their own root systems from the parent plant and pot them individually into fresh compost. This is the most reliable method and causes minimal stress to the plant.

Seed

Seeds can be collected from the berries produced after flowering, though germination is slow and variable, and seedlings rarely resemble the parent cultivar reliably. Division or cuttings are strongly preferred for propagating named cultivars.

Where Aglaonema Red comes from

Native to southern China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, northeastern India.

Story and origins

The genus name Aglaonema derives from the Greek words 'aglaos', meaning bright or clear, and 'nema', meaning thread or filament, referring to the conspicuous stamens of the flowers. The cultivar name 'Siam Aurora' reflects its origins in Thailand (historically Siam) and 'aurora', the Latin word for dawn, alluding to the rosy-red colouration of its foliage. The common name Chinese Evergreen reflects both the plant's broad Asian distribution and its evergreen nature as a houseplant.

Aglaonema species are native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South and Southeast Asia and have been grown as ornamental plants in China, Japan, and across Southeast Asia for many centuries, long before they became popular in Western horticulture. The genus was first formally described by the German botanist Heinrich Wilhelm Schott in 1829. Colourful hybrids such as Siam Aurora were developed primarily by Thai horticulturalists in the latter decades of the twentieth century, who created a wide range of pink and red-leaved cultivars by selective breeding. These cultivars reached mainstream European and American houseplant markets in the early 2000s and rapidly became popular due to their unusual colouration combined with tolerance of indoor conditions.

Varieties to know

Aglaonema 'Red Anjamani'

A similar red-leafed cultivar with deeper, more uniform red colouration across the leaf surface.

Aglaonema 'Creta'

Features vivid pink-red leaves with narrow green margins, offering a more intense overall colour than Siam Aurora.

Aglaonema 'Wishes'

A cultivar with predominantly red-pink foliage and minimal green patterning, popular for its bold appearance.

Aglaonema 'Silver Bay'

A contrasting cultivar with silvery-green variegation rather than red colouration, widely grown for offices.

Aglaonema 'Cutlass'

A green-and-silver cultivar with long, narrow leaves, useful for comparison with the broader, coloured forms.

Fun facts

• Aglaonemas have been cultivated as indoor plants in Asia for centuries and are considered symbols of good luck in parts of Southeast Asia.
• NASA's Clean Air Study listed Chinese Evergreens among the houseplants that can remove trace amounts of benzene and formaldehyde from indoor air.
• The red and pink pigmentation in cultivars such as Siam Aurora is enhanced by higher light levels; in very low light the leaves shift towards green as chlorophyll production increases.
• Aglaonema is one of the most species-rich aroid genera cultivated as houseplants, with over 20 known species and hundreds of named cultivars.
• The flowers of aglaonema are insignificant spathe-and-spadix structures typical of the arum family; they are often removed by growers to redirect the plant's energy into foliage production.

Aglaonema Red FAQ