Aglaonema is an inhabitant of the tropics, which is successfully grown by domestic flower growers. Her homeland is the countries of Southeast Asia. A fairly large genus belongs to the Aroid family. Caring for the aglaonema is not complicated, even with minimal attention, it easily retains the attractiveness of foliage. They are the main advantage of the plant, although it is often possible to see unusual inflorescences and bright berries.
Plant description
Aglaonema is a grassy evergreen perennial that lives in shady forests and off the coast of water bodies. The maximum height of the curtain is 70 cm. A short fleshy stem with frequent internodes grows from the ground. On long petioles, lanceolate or widely oval leaves with a pointed edge are attached to the stem. The length of the shiny sheet plate is 10-15 cm. It can be painted in a solid dark green color or have a complex marble pattern of several shades of silver, blue, green and pink. A relief central vein stands out on the smooth surface of the leaf.
Aglaonema blooms in summer, but not every year. On a long peduncle, an inflorescence blossoms in the form of an ears with a large veil resembling a sail. Flowers are not expressive, they are painted in yellow-green tones. After pollination, rounded red berries with a single seed are tied. Seeds retain germination of only 6-8 months.
Aglaonema juice is irritating and can cause poisoning. All work with the plant is best done with gloves. The flower pot should be kept away from children and pets.
Types and varieties of aglaonema
There are about 50 species and several hundred hybrid varieties in the aglaonema genus. The following varieties are most popular in indoor culture:
The aglaonema is modest. A bush up to 50 cm tall has a branched, short stem and long, plain leaves. A relief pattern of veins is visible on the surface of a sheet plate with a pointed edge. The length of the sheet is 15-20 cm, and the width is 6-9 cm.
Aglaonema Maria. The species is adapted for growth in deep shade and forms a dense crown of dark green leaves with a marble pattern.
Aglaonema silver. A bush 40-70 cm high is covered with medium-sized bright foliage. Along the lateral veins of dark green foliage, light spots with uneven borders are located. Due to the variegated leaves, this species of aglaonema plant needs brighter lighting. Decorative varieties:
- silver quin - shiny elongated leaves with a wavy edge;
- silver-blue - the silver center of the sheet is edged with a bluish border;
- silver bay is a tall plant with rare, large leaves of a lighter shade.
Aglaonema is red. The medium-sized plant with beautiful large leaves is even more unpretentious and easy to care for. He has many hybrid varieties with pink, red and beetroot stains or a border on the leaves. Some plants even have almost monophonic pink leaves. The most popular of the red varieties is Aglaonema Crete. On the edges of the foliage and along the veins are thin bright pink stripes.
Aglaonema is changeable. A highly branched plant up to 1.5 m high forms a dense spherical shoot. Long leaf leaves have an oval or ovoid shape with a pointed edge. The length of the sheet plate is 20-30 cm, and the width is 5-10 cm.
Growing Features
The propagation of aglaonema in the natural environment occurs with the help of lateral root processes or self-seeding. In culture, it is often propagated vegetatively. So it is possible to maintain the varietal characteristics of the mother plant.
The easiest way is to divide the bush. In spring, when transplanting, the room aglaonema is freed from the ground and the rhizome is carefully examined. On the sides of the main bush you can see small rooted shoots with 3-4 leaves. They are cut with a knife and immediately planted in the ground. Rooting takes place painlessly and fairly quickly.
For cuttings, apical segments and parts of a semi-lignified trunk are used. Apical cuttings are rooted vertically in sandy peat soil. Lignified stem cuttings with 2-3 internodes are laid horizontally on the soil surface and slightly pressed. The petiole pot is kept in a warm, well-lit place. Young shoots appear within 2-3 weeks.
Sowing seeds can be done within six months after collection. A box with loose and moist soil is used, where seeds are sown in early March. The pot is covered with foil, but aired daily. Dry soil should be sprayed with water. Shoots appear unevenly over 2-4 weeks. Growing plants without picking are planted in individual pots of small diameter.
Perennial Care
At home, care for the aglaonema does not require much effort. Due to the high shade tolerance, it is suitable for houses with low light. Views with plain leaves can even be found in a windowless room. Variegated varieties need more light. Pots are best placed on northern or western windows and shaded from direct sunlight. In summer, you can take a flower to the garden under the shade of trees or to a pond. It is important to choose a place protected from gusts of cold wind.
The optimum air temperature even in summer is + 20 ... + 25 ° C. In winter, the plant normally tolerates a decrease in temperature to + 16 ° C. There is no special need to organize a cool wintering, because the aglaonema does not need a rest period. The temperature must be reduced gradually, otherwise the plant will drop the leaves.
Aglaonema should be watered frequently and abundantly, excess water from the pan must be drained half an hour after watering. Water should be soft and warm. If the room begins to cool, watering is reduced, but the soil can not be dried.
The plant should be kept indoors with high humidity. It is recommended to spray the crown daily and periodically wash it from dust. Some gardeners spray aglaonema foliage with special aerosols to give shine. This can not be done, otherwise the natural processes of moisture exchange are disrupted.
From April to the end of October, aglaonema is fed with mineral fertilizers for flowering plants. A diluted preparation is applied to the ground twice a month.
Aglaonema grows slowly and does not tolerate transplantation, so the manipulation is carried out no more than once every 3-5 years. Do this in spring when the old pot becomes cramped. You need to use a container with large drainage holes and pour a thick layer of clay shards, pebbles or fragments of red brick to the bottom. The soil for the aglaonema is made up of such components:
- leaf or turf land;
- peat;
- river sand.
The substrate should be light and breathable. The roots are only partially freed from the ground so as not to damage.
Diseases and Pests
Aglaonema is susceptible to fungal diseases. They appear brown or gray plaques on the leaves or petioles at the roots. In this case, the damaged areas are cut to a healthy tissue, and then treated with fungicides. A good prevention of rot is proper watering for drainage.
The succulent leaves of even room aglaonema affect aphids, thrips and ticks. Most parasites are so small that they are invisible without a magnifying glass. If dry spots or tiny punctures appear on the leaves, spray the bush with an insecticide.
