Aglaonema Red Siam

Medium to bright indirect light.

Be sure to water when you receive it. Enjoys being kept consistently moist but not soggy.

Enjoys humidity. Spritz occasionally.

Keep this plant in rooms where the temperature is a comfortable 65°F-80°F and avoid cold drafts or air vents below 60°F.

Outside: Keep it in full shade on a patio out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn where nights are above 60°F.

Fertilize throughout the spring, summer and fall every six weeks. Apply at half-strength a balanced, liquid fertilizer especially formulated for indoor plants and let it rest in the winter.

When receiving the Chinese Evergreen, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months. These plants like to be root-bound and a bit snug in their container so no hurry. 

Repot in the spring, using a 2 inches bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower.) 

Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow it to drain. Use a well-draining indoor potting mix with perlite to help with drainage. 

Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let it sit an hour.

Add soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen. 

Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim off with sterile pruners. If the plant is rootbound, loosen the roots to alleviate continued encircling. 

Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over. 

Water thoroughly, leaving the soil damp but not soggy. If settling occurs, add more soil. 

Water well to dampen the soil and let it drain.

To clean the leaves and alleviate dust particles, give it a shower from above. Fill a watering can with filtered, distilled or tap water that has been sitting for 24 hours. Place the plant in a sink and lightly wash the leaves with a shower spray end watering can.

Trim off discolored spots with a sterile knife. Remove any debris from the soil and replenish soil if needed. Remove any dead or damaged leaves off very carefully with pruners. Refrain from pruning otherwise.  Inspect for any insects at this time.

To propagate your Chinese Evergreen:

Be sure to wear gloves for this project since it can cause contact dermatitis or skin irritation from its sap.                                                                                                                                                                                        Water your plant the night before dividing. 

Inspect your plant for overcrowding. If it is root-bound in the pot, loosen the dirt around the root clump and brush away the soil.

Begin to tease and pull apart the mass of roots.

Ensure you have several healthy stalks and leaves attached to the clumps.

Divide each clump into its pot, measuring 2 inches wider than the root mass and deep enough for its roots to grow.

Plant in well draining potting mix amended with rooting hormone.  Place the plant at the same level as the previous pot adding soil at the bottom. Water the soil and add more if settling occurs. Set it in medium, indirect sunlight.

Check the moisture and humidity each day and add misting to keep the soil moist while the roots establish. After 6-8 weeks, roots will begin to develop. You can tug onto the stem to ensure the roots are anchoring well. 

Keep the air humid around it with a pebble tray and misting. 

Some die off of stems may occur from transplant shock. If this happens, cut the branches away and continue to hydrate, and keep the humidity level at a medium level while it recovers.