Aglaonemas

Aglaonema, also known as Chinese Evergreens are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. They are herbaceous evergreen perennials, with over twenty species, and hundreds of different varieties and cultivars within those species. These varieties differ in leaf color, pattern, and size.

Besides favoured as a luck-bringing plant, Aglaonema is considered as a very effective indoor air cleaning plant cleaning out formaldehyde and benzene from the air. They adapt well to the humid tropical weather, and dislike the cold, or excessive sunlight. They like bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.

They are popular houseplants, and are also grown as luck-bringing ornamental plants in Asia. This is news to me. I have two of them now. I hope they bring me lots of luck.

My sister was given this plant by her school’s gardener. An aglaonema with silver and white variegated leaves. For months, after being transplanted, it wasn’t showing any growth. Then, one day a new leaf appeared. After that, it grew quite prolifically.

As you can see, it is very healthy now. It has grown a new plant. I guess it needed time to settle down in a new environment.

Recently, my sister brought home another Aglaoenma. This one has red and pink variegated leaves. So now we have two Aglaonemas. Both are healthy and doing well.

I walked past these in a garden. They look healthy and nice – big, wide leaves variegated with silver and green colouration. I couldn’t help but take out my camera and took a couple of shots.

A word of caution. Aglaonema’s sap is poisonous. It can cause skin irritation resulting in painful rashes.

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