Chinese evergreen plants are popular houseplants, and for good reason. These low-maintenance beauties are not only resilient but also come in a variety of attractive foliage colors and patterns. They’re known for their ability to tolerate a range of light conditions and neglect, so they’re perfect for both beginner and seasoned plant enthusiasts.
Caring for a Chinese evergreen is relatively simple, but like all plants, it benefits from a bit of attention. Understanding its basic needs—proper light, watering, and humidity—will go a long way in helping your plant thrive. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know to keep your plant happy and flourishing in your indoor space.
About Chinese Evergreen Plants
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) is an herbaceous plant that thrives in warm weather. Despite its common name, it’s native to parts of the Philippines and Indonesia rather than China. Since it remains evergreen and enjoys warm conditions, people often grow it as a houseplant.
The herbaceous plants have large, oval-shaped leaves that appear on short stems. The plant’s foliage comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, from deep green to silver, white, and even shades of red. Some cultivars feature bold, silvery streaks or spots against a dark green backdrop, while others boast softer, more muted hues.
Beyond their beauty and ease of care, Chinese evergreens are also known for their air-purifying qualities. According to studies, they can help remove toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the air, contributing to a healthier indoor environment.
How to Care for a Chinese Evergreen Plant
Although Chinese evergreen care isn’t difficult, knowing the ideal environment and care practices will help keep your plant healthy.
Choose a Suitable Container and Potting Mix
Since you’ll be growing your plant indoors, selecting the proper pot and soil mix is key to a healthy plant. Look for a container that’s a few inches larger than the base of the plant. Avoid choosing a container that’s too large since this can lead to saturated soils and problems with root rot. Make sure the bottom of the pot contains drainage holes that allow excess water to escape.
Standard houseplant potting mixes work well for Chinese evergreen plants. If you’re not sure if a mix is appropriate, look at the ingredients. Suitable mixes should contain peat moss or coco coir, drainage materials like perlite, pine bark fines, or pumice, and a small amount of compost. These mixes hold water while providing air pockets that allow for drainage and gas exchange.
Provide the Proper Light
One of the most attractive features of the Chinese evergreen is its ability to thrive in low to medium light. These plants are perfectly content in areas with indirect light, such as rooms with north-facing windows. They can also tolerate lower light levels, so they’re suitable for darker corners or areas that don’t receive much natural light.
While the plant can adapt to low light, it’s important to note that its growth may slow down in very dim conditions. If your plant seems stunted, muted in color, or generally struggling, consider moving it to a spot that receives more hours of indirect light.
Take note that these plants don’t like direct light. Bright, direct rays can damage the plant’s leaves and cause white or brown spots. Therefore, keep your plant away from south-facing windows and other areas with extremely bright light.
Water Only When Dry
Providing the ideal soil moisture level is a key part of proper Chinese evergreen plant care. These plants are relatively forgiving when it comes to watering, but it’s still possible to provide too much and too little water. These plants like the soil to dry out slightly in between waterings, so don’t make the mistake of keeping the soil constantly moist. If you’re not sure if you need to water, it’s best to err on keeping the soil dry.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to check if your plant needs water—simply insert your finger into the top two inches of the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water; if it feels damp, wait a few more days before checking again. When you water, slowly add water until all of the potting mix is moist.
Factors like temperature, light, humidity, and time of year all impact how often you should water. Therefore, don’t assume your plants require the same watering schedule throughout the year. In general, you should plan to water your Chinese evergreen once every one to two weeks.
Keep the Air Warm and Humid
Chinese evergreens are tropical plants, so they thrive in warm temperatures. They prefer a consistent indoor temperature between 65°F and 80°F. Avoid placing your Aglaonema in spots that experience drafts or temperature fluctuations, like near air conditioners, heaters, or open windows. While the plant can tolerate short periods of cooler temperatures, prolonged exposure to temperatures below 50°F can cause stress and lead to slowed growth or disease.
These plants prefer moderate to high humidity, so they won’t thrive in dry homes. Average household humidity is typically fine, but you may need to boost the moisture level if your home is extra dry due to heaters or air conditioners. Adding a humidifier is the most reliable way to boost humidity, but you can also try sitting your plant on a pebble tray filled with water.
Avoid Over Fertilizing
Chinese evergreens don’t require many nutrients to thrive, so there’s no need to fertilize every week or month. In fact, applying too much fertilizer is often more harmful than applying too little!
If you want to keep your plant happy, apply a low-dose balanced houseplant fertilizer once in the early spring and again in the early summer. You can find many different fertilizers, but a liquid product with an NPK ratio of 1-1-1 is often a good choice.
Common Chinese Evergreen Problems
Providing excellent Chinese evergreen care also means keeping an eye out for common issues and remedying them ASAP. Here are some common problems these plants often experience.
Yellow Leaves
If you notice your plant’s leaves are turning yellow, check the soil moisture. Overwatering is one of the most common causes of yellow leaves, so if the soil is wet, this is likely the problem. You can remedy this issue by decreasing the frequency you water.
Other possible causes of yellow leaves include sudden changes in temperature, sap-sucking pests like aphids or spider mites, a lack of nutrients, and sustained temperatures below 60°F.
Brown Leaf Tips
Sometimes, plants have green leaves that develop dry and crunchy tips. This often indicates dry air, too much fertilizer, or a lack of water. If the air seems dry, you can move your plant to a more humid area of your home, like a bathroom or kitchen. Adding a humidifier is another way to remedy the problem.
Drooping Leaves
Wilting leaves often indicate a problem with water, but too much water is just as probable a cause as too little water! If you’ve forgotten to water your plant for a few weeks and the soil is dry, adding water will likely revive your plant. However, if the soil is wet, your plant may have developed root rot. Decrease the frequency you irrigate, and remember to only water when the top two inches of soil are dry.
Brighten Your Life with Plants
Now that you know all about Chinese evergreen care, you’re ready to keep your plant healthy. If you want to know more about caring for other plants, check out our article on caring for parlor palms or read our cordyline care guide.
If you are looking for new plants for yourself or your loved ones, we make it easy to send plants. We carry houseplants ranging from carefree succulents and cacti to tropical prayer plants and ferns. And if plants aren’t your thing, you can brighten your home with one of our many farm-fresh bouquets.
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