Chinese evergreen
Aglaonema species · also called Aglaonema
Foliage and indoor
- Light
- Part sun, Shade or indoors
- Pot size
- Small pot (up to about 5 litres)
- Care level
- Easy
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; no cold limit in our source
- Pets
- ASPCA: toxic to pets
Light and position
Does well in diffuse sun or good indirect light; listed for part and deep shade.
Size and pot
NC State lists about 1 to 1.7 feet tall. Our pot band: small pot (up to about 5 litres).
Watering
Keep the mix moist from spring to autumn and water less in winter. Let it dry slightly between waterings and avoid cold water, which can lead to root rot.
Potting mix and feeding
Well-drained mix. Remove flowers to direct energy to the leaves.
Growing through the year
NC State describes it as intolerant of cold and suggests daytime temperatures around 70 to 80 °F. Keep it indoors in cool weather.
Winter outdoors
Cold limit: not given by our source. NC State lists USDA zones 10b to 11b but also calls the plant intolerant of cold, so we do not give an outdoor winter limit.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
Aphids, mealybugs, spider mites and scale; brown leaves in very dry or draughty spots.
Pets and people
ASPCA lists Chinese evergreen as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (insoluble calcium oxalates). Signs include mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Low). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.