The Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema Modestrum) are a rich foliage plant that is native to tropical regions of Asia. The leaves of the Chinese evergreen feel thick and slightly leathery. The plant comes in a variety of different colors and patterns, making it a popular choice for houseplants. It can be an eye-catching addition to any room. They are sturdy plants that can handle high temperatures and many different indoor conditions.
The Chinese evergreen makes for an easy-to-care-for houseplant. There are several different varieties of the Chinese evergreen. Depending on which one you’ve selected, you will have different lighting requirements to ensure that your plant flourishes.
As they are tropical plants, Chinese evergreens favor conditions that are warm and moist. Because of this, they do better as indoor houseplants. They are also a slow-growing plant. Their thick leaves take time to reach maturity. When growing a Chinese evergreen, the first step is to find the right balance in your care routine. Once you’ve figured out this, your Chinese evergreen will become a stunning houseplant that needs little attention to keep it growing strong.
Other Names of Chinese Evergreen Plants
Most plants are known by several different names. This includes both scientific names, and names that people use when referring to the plant. Many times, the name that you call the plant depends on the region that you are in. Knowing the different names that the Chinese evergreen can be referred to can assist you when you are trying to find answers on plant care – or when you are looking to purchase a new plant. Just because you can do it one thing, doesn’t mean that someone else calls it something completely different.
Like most plants, the Chinese evergreen has a few different common names that are referred to by. The Chinese evergreen’s scientific name is Aglaonema Modestrum. It is also known by a few other names, including, golden evergreen, Philippine evergreen, diamond bay, emerald bay, and poison dart plant.
There are also many different types of Chinese evergreen. Each is named differently depending on the variety.
Front Tolerance and USDA Hardiness Zone of Chinese Evergreen Plant
If you are looking to plant your Chinese evergreen outside, or if you’ve got potted plants that you’d like to put outside, you need very specific conditions to be successful. The Chinese evergreen is a tropical plant that is not accustomed to very cold conditions. So, before you decide to add Chinese evergreen to your garden or home, it is important to know what conditions you need to ensure that it will thrive.
The Chinese evergreen has no frost tolerance. It cannot withstand frost. The lowest temperature that the plant can thrive in is between 50 and 55°F. Anything lower than that will kill the plant. The Chinese evergreen has a USDA hardiness zone of 10.8 to 11.
If you want to be successful in growing your Chinese evergreen, the best way to do it is as a household plant. That gives you more control over the temperature and weather conditions that your plant will endure.
How Many Hours of Sunlight Does a Chinese Evergreen Plant Need?
Oftentimes when people hear the word tropical they think of plenty of suns. However, tropical plants grow in a variety of different areas and sunlight levels. The Chinese evergreen is a plant that needs different levels of sun, depending on its variety. The lighter the leaves, the more sun that it needs. It is a plan that can also do well in dim or shaded lighting conditions.
The Chinese evergreen needs around five to six hours of sunlight for the lighter varieties of the plant. The Chinese evergreens that have darker leaves only require about three to four hours of sunlight a day.
Do Chinese Evergreen Plant Needs Direct or Indirect Sunlight?
When it comes to determining where to place your Chinese evergreen plants, you need to consider the lighting situation. Chinese evergreen plants come in a variety of shades of color and patterns. The lighter the color of the leaves is, the more sunshine they will need to flourish. Darker leaves can handle dimly lit conditions without suffering.
No matter the color of the leaves, your Chinese evergreen should never be placed in direct sunlight. If you have lighter leaves, you want to place your plant somewhere that has bright but still filtered sunlight. If your leaves are darker, you want to place your Chinese evergreen out of direct sunlight.
The ability to have different levels of light is what makes the Chinese evergreen such a popular choice for a household. Depending on how much light you get within your home, you can select a variant of the Chinese evergreen that suits your lighting location.
Is the Chinese Evergreen Plant an Indoor Plant or an Outdoor Plant, or Both?
Many popular plants that are favored for their ease of growing double as both indoor and outdoor plants. However, depending on your climate and environment, it may not be possible to properly grow your plants in one of the two areas. The Chinese evergreen is a sturdy, slow-growing plant with thick leaves that comes from the tropical regions of Asia.
Chinese evergreen plants are best grown as indoor plants. They favor warm conditions with lots of moisture. They do not do well in cold weather. Because of this, growing them indoors is the best method. They also make for stunning house plants with. their color varieties.
What are the Lighting Requirements for a Chinese Evergreen?
Finding the ideal lighting conditions for your plants is essential in making sure that they flourish properly. Even if you know the country of origin for your plant, determining just how much light is needed to grow your plant can be difficult. There are a lot of different factors and conditions that go into selecting the right lighting conditions.
The lighting requirements for the Chinese evergreen, when growing indoors, depends on the colors of the leaves. The lighter the color of the leaves are, the more sunshine the plant will require. Both the light and dark variants should not be placed in an area of direct sunlight.
With the lighter variants you should position them in an area that gets bright, but filtered sunlight. With the darker variants, you can place them in shaded to dim lighting and still have thriving plants.
What Soil Requirements Does a Chinese Evergreen Plant Need?
Soil plays a big part in the growth of your plants. While you may think that the key factors are sunlight and water, soil provides some much-needed nutrients to foster the growth and health of your plant. Soil requirements can become especially prevalent when you’re potting houseplants. This is because your plants may miss out on nutrients that they would regularly get in nature, that they aren’t getting from the potting soil mixture that you’ve selected.
While the Chinese evergreen is a hearty plant, there are still some soil requirements that you should take into account when potting your plant. The Chinese evergreen will flourish with a soil that has a higher acidity level. Many soils that are designated for potted plants have the right pH.
You also want soil that isn’t too dense. Even though the Chinese evergreen is a tropical plant that likes damp conditions, if the soil is too dense, you run the risk of root rot. Some people find that adding sand to their pot can promote filtered drainage. This leads to the water draining, but the minerals and other nutrients still remain in your soil and can be accessed by your plant’s roots.
How Much Water Does the Chinese Evergreen Plant Need?
Both overwatering and over watering are dangerous to your plants. They can both cause your plant to die. The Chinese evergreen is a plant that is found in the tropical regions of Asia. While it is a heady plant that is relatively easy to grow, you still need to observe a careful watering schedule when it comes to your plant.
Because the Chinese evergreen is a tropical plant it favors moisture. However, this doesn’t mean that your soil should constantly be wet, a little dampness is found, but any more than that and you run the risk of developing root or stem rot.
As a general rule, you want to let your Chinese evergreen plant’s soil dry out in-between watering sessions. You don’t want it to be bone dry, but just dry enough that to feel moisture you need to feel down in the soil with your fingertip. Water your Chinese evergreen about once a week. You can mist it with a spray bottle in-between waterings if your plant seems to be drying out.
Is My Chinese Evergreen Plant Overwatered? What are the Symptoms?
While the Chinese evergreen is a hardy and tropical plant, that doesn’t mean that it is not immune to overwatering. Overwatering can be as harmful to your plant as under-watering can. An overwatered plant can face several different issues, which if not addressed, will result in your plant dying.
You will know if your Chinese evergreen is overwatered if the leaves begin to start turning yellow. You’ll also notice that the stalks seem sickly, with a gradual yellowing, and will feel mushy to the touch. You may also notice that leaves will begin to fall off of the plant.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to stop watering your plants until the soil dries out. You want to give your plant enough time to process the over-excess moisture. If you continue to water it, you run the risk of developing root or stem rot, which once that sets in, will usually kill off your plant.
Once your plant has had time to dry out, cut back on your watering schedule and make sure that your pot is draining properly.
Is my Chinese Evergreen Plant Underwatered? What are the Symptoms?
Underwatering is a common issue, especially with household plants. If you’ve got a variety of household plants that all require different watering schedules, it can be easy to skip a week for some of your plants. Chinese evergreen plants are tropical plants. They grow in a damp, warm, and humid environment.
Your Chinese evergreen plant will begin to turn brown and brittle if it is underwatered. You may notice that the leaves are beginning to turn yellow and fall off. Unlike when your plant is overwatered, when you touch your leaves and the stalk of the plant they will feel fragile and stiff.
Underwatering can lead to killing off your plant. If your plant has progressed past a certain point, you may not be able to save it from dying.
How Much Fertilizer Do Chinese Evergreen Plants Need?
Fertilizer can be extremely beneficial when it comes to houseplants. Depending on the soil mix that you get, your plant may be missing out on beneficial nutrients that it would typically get from the soil in nature. Adding fertilizer can give your plant that extra boost to allow it to thrive. It can be overwhelming when looking at fertilizers, as there are several different types available for you to choose from.
When it comes to the Chinese evergreen, the best fertilizer is a slow-release pellet. If you do a slow release you can do it once to twice a year, ideally at the start and the end of the plant’s growing season. You can also use a liquid fertilizer, but be sure to use it sparingly.
If you decide to use a liquid fertilizer, only use it once a year, and aim to do it at the start of the growing season.
Chinese Evergreen Plant Diseases to be Aware of
Some plants are more resistant to disease than others. On that same thought, the diseases that may affect your houseplants can range from severe, to an issue that can be righted with a change in your plant care routine.
Chinese evergreen plants don’t have many diseases that affect them. They do tend to be more susceptible to root rot, as there is a lot of misconceptions when it comes to them being a tropical plant.
Are there Different Types of Chinese Evergreen Plants?
When it comes to plants, oftentimes there are more varieties to one plant than we knew. Variants in the same species can develop due to adapting over time to different environmental or climate conditions. Variants in species can also be related to human intervention. Hybrid species are often popular, especially when it comes to house plants. Almost all genera of plants have more than one type of plant within the same species.
There are 24 known species of the Chinese evergreen plant. They vary in coloring and patterns. You can find Chinese evergreen plants in light green, gray, silver, and dark green. They all exhibit different distinctive markings, making each plant unique.
Some of the most popular varieties of the Chinese evergreen plant are Moonlight Bay, Emerald Bay, Diamond Bay, Strips, Arrowhead, Candelabra cactus, Elephant’s Ear, Skunk Cabbage, and Devils Ivy.
How to Propagate Chinese Evergreen Plant
Propagation is an interesting and fun process. It’s where you grow new plants from parts of your mature plant. This can be done in a number of different ways with different parts of the plant, depending on the species. Propagation is typically done in either soil or water. The main deciding factor as to which you should choose depends on how much moisture the plant needs and how long it will take to propagate. Once your propagated plant has grown a significant amount of roots, it can then be transplanted.
There are three simple ways that you can propagate the Chinese evergreen plant. The first method is to divide the plant. When dividing the plant you want to select and off-shoot, you want this to be on the outside of the plant, taking an off-shoot that is close to the center will kill the plant.
You can directly place that off-shoot into a new pot with soil. You then want to give it water and place it in bright light.
You can also propagate by cutting the leaves from a mature plant. You want to cut the leaf as close to the stem as possible. You want to put it into a glass of water, making sure that the water is just high enough to cover the base. You want this to encourage root growth, without causing the leaf cutting to become too saturated and rot. Place the cutting in an area of bright, but indirect sunlight. Make sure that the section of leaves that you cut has a small amount of stem on the bottom.
You can also propagate offshoot cuttings from your Chinese evergreen in soil. You want to cut an offshoot that has leaves and a bit of stem. When potting it, you can mix in additional growing nutrients into the soil to promote faster growth of the roots. You want to put the propagated shoot at least two inches into the soil. After doing so make sure that the propagated shoot is sturdy and not leaning. You then want to make sure that the soil remains moist and that your propagated plant is in an area that gets plenty of sunlight.
Is Chinese Evergreen Toxic to Humans?
There are plenty of plants that we can come in contact with and consume safely. On the other end, there are also plenty of toxic plants out there. There are different levels of toxicity. Some plants simply cannot be consumed, while others can be toxic even when touched. The reaction to these plants can also vary in severity, depending on the chemical compound that makes them toxic. If you are in a household with young children, looking into the toxicity of your houseplants can be especially important.
Chinese evergreen is toxic to humans. The chemical compound that is found in the leaves of the Chinese evergreen plant is insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. When ingested, the spine-like crystals cause pain and irritation to the mouth and airway. If you or your child has ingested Chinese evergreen, seek medical attention.
Chinese evergreen will cause swelling of the mouth and lips and can cause the airway to swell which results in labored breathing. Other common symptoms are radiating pain in and around the mouth, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Is Chinese Evergreen Toxic to Dogs?
When selecting plants for your home, indoors and outside, it’s important to be cautious when putting plants that are accessible to your dogs. Dogs have a habit of following their nose, getting themselves into some things that they should not be around. With so many plants, it can be hard to determine the toxic ones from the non-toxic ones, which is why doing a little research before you pick out plants is essential.
Chinese evergreen is toxic to dogs. The Chinese evergreen plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. These are needle-like crystals that are present in the leaves of the plant. When Chinese evergreen comes into contact with your dog’s mouth, or if they ingest it, it will lead to pain and swelling.
If your dog has come in contact with a Chinese evergreen, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Anyone with dogs knows that it can be hard to keep a watchful eye on them 24/7. If you have Chinese evergreen, there are many symptoms to indicate whether your dog has come in contact with it and needs veterinary care.
Some of the common symptoms include excessive drooling, struggling to breathe, pawing at their mouth, horse or restricted barking, swelling of the tongue and lips, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you notice that your dog is suffering from any of these symptoms, you need to seek veterinary attention immediately. It can lead to your dog’s throat closing up to the point where it is unable to breathe.
We at Plants To Trees first published this article on August 24, 2022. Copyright protected.
If you have Chinese evergreen, putting it in a spot where your dog can’t reach it will help keep your furry friend safe.
Is Chinese Evergreen Toxic to Cats?
If you’re a cat owner, you know that nothing is off-limits to your cat’s curiosity. This includes your houseplants. Cats have a habit of eating or chewing on plants that are within their reach. Not only is this frustrating because your cats will damage and can kill your plants, but it also puts your cats in danger. With so many different species of plants in the world, it can be hard to differentiate toxic plants from non-toxic plants, but before you decide on getting a plant, you want to do a little research first.
Chinese evergreen is toxic to cats. The Chinese evergreen plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate. These come in the form of needle-shaped crystals in the leaves of the plant. If your cat chews on or ingests the leaves of the Chinese evergreen, it will experience pain and swelling.
If your cat has come into contact with a Chinese evergreen, you need to contact your veterinarian immediately.
While you can’t supervise your cat all the time, if you have Chinese evergreen, there are some common symptoms that can alert you to the fact that your cat has come into contact with your Chinese evergreen plant. You may notice excessive drooling, pawing at the face or the mouth, wheezing or other difficulties breathing, swelling of the lips or mouth, dilated pupils, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The article owner is Plants To Trees dot Com and this article was first published on August 24, 2022.
If you notice any of these symptoms, your cat needs to see a veterinarian immediately. Not only is your cat in danger of having its airway close up, but it can also cause lasting damage to your cat’s kidneys that can end up being fatal.
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PlantsToTrees.com is the owner of this article and we first published this on August 24, 2022.