Chinese evergreen – Aglaonema modestum

Growing aglaonema – basic information

Aglaonema comes from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. She is easy to grow and is great for people who are new to growing plants.

It can be successfully used to purify the air in the bedroom. However, you need to take care of the right growing conditions, namely:

• Position. Light to partial shade, away from the direct sun that can burn the leaves. Modest aglaonema tolerates low light intensity well, but then its leaves may be less colorful.
• Temperature. Moderate, from 18 to 25°C. The plant does not tolerate temperatures below 15 ° C and drafts.
• Watering. Regular but moderate. The substrate should always be slightly moist, but not wet. Water for watering should be soft and lukewarm. In winter, watering should be limited and excessive soil moisture should be avoided.
• Fertilization. From spring to autumn, every 2-3 weeks with a compound fertilizer for green plants. In winter, fertilization should be stopped or used very rarely and in low concentration.
• Exaggeration. Every 2-3 years, in spring, to fresh, permeable, and fertile soil with a slightly acidic pH. You can use universal soil with the addition of perlite or sand. The pot should be slightly larger than the previous one and have drainage holes.
• Multiplication. By dividing the clump or by stem or leaf cuttings. The cuttings are rooted in a moist substrate or in water with the addition of charcoal. Propagation is best done in spring or summer.
• Pests and diseases. Aglaonema modest is resistant to most pests and diseases, but can be attacked by spider mites, aphids, mealybugs or scale insects. Appropriate plant protection products can be used if necessary. The plant can also suffer from root rot caused by over-watering or too low temperatures. In this case, it is necessary to remove the diseased parts of the plant and change the growing conditions.

During the research conducted by NASA, the following aglaonema purifying properties were established :