Le Mie Ricompense
English name:
Chinese Evergreen 'Cutlass'Latin name:
Aglaonema 'Cutlass'About me:
I am one of 21 members of the Chinese Evergreen genus. We are all tough, good looking and the perfect combo of striking foliage and low maintenance. I'll make a statement whichever room you place me in.Useful to know:
Origin
I grow wild in the subtropical rainforests of Asia and New Guinea.
Height/Growth
I'm a proper indoor plant - slow-growing and unlikely to get taller than .5m in height.
Light
In the wild I grow beneath the leaf canopy of larger trees and shrubs, so no direct sun reaches my leaves. I like dappled light but I'm a tough cookie and can deal with low light too.
Water
I like to be watered thoroughly in the summer. Mist me often to raise the humidity. During the winter, reduce watering but do not let my soil dry out completely.
Temperature
I prefer warm to high temperatures, ideally between 18-23°C but can cope with as low as 15°C.
Feeding
A wee bit of liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks during growing season is all I need.
Grooming
You can cut my straggly stems back to 5cm from the soil to stimulate healthy growth. Otherwise, all I need is a little dusting!
Care
If you notice the tips of my leaves turning brown, it could be because there's too much fluoride, chlorine and salt in your tap water. Leave the water in an open container overnight or give me rainwater. You would also love to know about Chinese Evergreen 'Crete'.
Toxicity
My leaves contain insoluble calcium oxalates which are poisonous to pets and children if ingested, so best to keep me away from nibblers.
Fact
The darker coloured varieties of aglaonema can grow in near shade, while the variegated varieties require brighter light.
