Chinese Evergreen 'Siam Aurora'
Chinese Evergreen 'Siam Aurora'
Aglaonema 'Siam Aurora'
❦ ❧ ❦
Difficulty — BeginnerA plant that seems to glow from within — deep green leaves flushed with rose and crimson toward the stem, on a compact, clumping habit that furnishes a shelf beautifully. She belongs to a genus famous for tolerating precisely the conditions that discourage most other houseplants, which makes her a generous and forgiving companion.
Notes on Cultivation
☀Light
She tolerates low light better than almost anything else I keep, though medium to bright indirect light brings out her richest pink and red tones. Keep her from direct sun, which bleaches and scorches her leaves.
❦Water
Let the top inch or two of soil dry between waterings. She is fairly forgiving of an inconsistent schedule, though she prefers not to dry out completely for long stretches.
☁Humidity
Average household humidity suits her well, though a little extra rewards her with larger, glossier leaves. She makes no serious demands.
✵Temperature
Keep her between 65 and 80 Fahrenheit, and protect her from anything below 60 — she is sensitive to cold and shows it quickly with drooping, discolored leaves.
❧Soil
A standard, well-draining potting mix suits her fine. She is not particular, so long as her roots are not left sitting in water.
❀Fertilizing
A light, balanced feed monthly through the growing season is plenty. She is a modest feeder.
✿Propagation
She is most easily increased by dividing the offsets that form around her clumping base once they have roots of their own; a stem that has grown some length can also be cut and rooted in a clear cup of moist Fluval Stratum. Read the full field method.
Field Observations
She is famously one of the most tolerant houseplants of low light and general neglect, which has earned Aglaonema a well-deserved reputation as an office and dim-hallway staple. Give her a bit more light than the bare minimum, though, and her pink coloring will thank you for it.
She is toxic if chewed, in common with the rest of the aroid family, so keep her away from curious pets and small children.
— faithfully recorded by Mr. Phileas Plant
