Avatar for Ladyinthemeadow
Jun 7, 2015 2:25 AM CST
Thread OP

Hello Everyone!

I just got my first plant, a red aglaonema. Shortly after I purchased it I noticed a leaf was torn pretty good...is that cause for concern? Does it need to be left alone or clipped? Also I was thinking of getting a different pot for it instead of the flimsy one it came in. Is it too soon to put it in a new pot with some fresh soil? I'm new to this so any answers will help! Thanks! Smiling
Avatar for Dutchlady1
Jun 7, 2015 4:00 AM CST

Plumerias Photo Contest Winner: 2015 Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
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Welcome! Ladyinthemeadow; I'm sure someone knowledgeable will be along soon to answer your question.
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Jun 22, 2015 8:12 PM CST
Name: Gita Veskimets
Baltimore or Nottingham MD-212 (Zone 7a)
Life is "mind over matter". If I d
Lady.....

AHHH--The red Agloneamas are so pretty! A new color for this plant. They also have
created a pink one and a speckled one. Aglonema is also known as "Chinese Evergreen
and, "back when"....they only came in green with silvery spots in the leaves.

Aglonemas are easy. LOW LIGHT plants to grow. Just do not overwater them..
They can take a bit of drying out before you water them again. Check soil w/your finger.

A torn leaf is just damage from shipping--handling-- or such. It can be cut back all the way
down to where the leaf grows from. It will NOT affect the plant in any way.

Do not hurry to pot-up newly purchased houseplants. They are fine in the pots they come in.
When the time comes to pot-up--make sure you only choose a pot ONE SIZE bigger and NEVER EVER
add extra soil on top of the existing level the plant has been growing at when you do re-pot.

Lets say--your plant is now in an 8" pot. You would go to a 10" pot when re-potting. 2" wider--also means 2" deeper.
SO--add the extra 2" of soil to the bottom of the pot and sides--NOT on top of it. That may be a death sentence...

Hope this helps. Gita
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Jun 23, 2015 9:34 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
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Welcome!

Agree except that for this kind of plant, I always remove the old soil & replace with new when repotting, whether changing the size of pot or not. If roots are coming out of the holes at the bottom of the pot, it's time for repotting. Often plants fit back into the same size pot. Most people do want a nicer looking pot than the one from the store. When replacing with new soil, as said above, it should be at the same level, where the stem/roots disappear under the surface, not higher or lower.

It's also common to sit a fugly smaller pot inside a nice looking bigger one. When it's time for a drink, sit plant in sink, gently apply water (so the force of gushing water doesn't cause soil to compact.) When it's finished dripping, sit back inside decorative pot. Don't allow water to sit in a drip saucer or in the decorative outer pot, which can cause the roots to rot.

Low light doesn't mean a dark corner, just a spot where sun coming through a window doesn't hit directly on it for very long, if at all. When I put these outside for summer, the sun shines on them for a while in the morning, as a basis for comparison. (Takes some adjustment in shade first before that can be done without burning leaves that have been inside all winter. Not necessary to take your plant outside, I wouldn't recommend it to a newb with just one.)
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
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Jun 23, 2015 10:00 AM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
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I must have missed this thread at the beginning of the month! I have a couple of Aglaonema plants.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema 'Siam Red') Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema 'Silver Bay')
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema 'Creta')

As Purple/Tiffany mentioned, leaves tear due to being moved around at garden centers, in shipment etc. and leaves sometimes turn brown ... I just yank them off but you can be more gentle and snip them with scissors. Green Grin!
I don't like the flimsy nursery pots so I usually re-pot my plants after purchase into a more decorative container, especially if it's going to be inside the house; or I camouflage the flimsy pot by sitting it down into a prettier one. I use a fast draining, chunky potting mixture for all of my plants; a combination of potting soil and orchid bark mix but adding extra perlite to potting soil will help with drainage too. Just be sure that whatever container your plant is growing in, that it has good drainage. If the pot has no drainage holes, be very careful about watering so as not to incur root rot. Sometimes soil looks very dry on top and may even feel dry an inch or so down when you stick your finger in it but if there is no drainage in the container the soil at the very bottom where the roots are can get soggy and cause rotting of the roots.
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


Avatar for Ladyinthemeadow
Jun 23, 2015 2:03 PM CST
Thread OP

Thanks for the replies! Hurray!

How often do you all water your aglaonemas? Dr. Google says less in the winter and a few to several times a week during the summer. I find these answers vague to be honest. Confused
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Jun 23, 2015 2:39 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
No doubt! That's because nobody can know how fast your plant might dry out, which would depend on temp, humidity, air movement, light, pot size compared to plant size, so many variables. When the pot feels lighter, it's probably time for a drink. Knowing how often someone else waters their plant doesn't help you gauge yours at all.

Most plants will use less water during winter, just because the air is cooler, less daylight hours for growing, though some people with really dry air from their heating system can end up watering even more.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Avatar for Ladyinthemeadow
Jun 23, 2015 3:53 PM CST
Thread OP

Now that makes sense! Thank You!
There's good humidity where I live. This Saturday we're expecting 98 degrees out (eeek). This week due to the heat I have watered everyday because the plant was very thirsty, but not planning that as a regular thing. Just seemed to be what was needed this week and it is doing alot better.
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Jun 23, 2015 4:03 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

Region: Ukraine Region: United States of America Bird Bath, Fountain and Waterfall Region: Florida Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Butterflies Bee Lover Hummingbirder Container Gardener
I agree with Tiffany; with so many variables (climate conditions, potting medium, size of plant etc.) it's impossible to tell someone how often they should water their plants. I don't know Mr. Google ... but watering several times a week sounds really extreme, unless of course the plants are growing in the desert!

Many years ago (late 1960's, early 70's) I couldn't seem to keep any container plant alive for very long because I used a very heavy, water retaining potting soil and also, for some reason I thought I needed to water them two or three times a week ... so I literally drowned every plant I tried to grow.

Nowadays, I go three or four weeks between watering; I take my indoor plants out to the back deck and use a garden hose to thoroughly soak them, as well as all of the many container plants that reside on my screened porch and on two outside decks. The water runs through the pots very quickly so I water, water, water for awhile to be sure to thoroughly soak the soil. I don't have a schedule for watering plants (the older I get the shorter my attention span seems to be) so the plants get watered when I think about it or when I notice that they appear to be screaming for a drink. I live in Florida and grow everything in a very chunky, fast draining potting medium so I'm sure that all the extra moisture in the air helps somewhat ... it seems to be what my plants have become accustomed to and they seem to thrive. Green Grin!

I'd say you should just take your time and find out what works best for your growing conditions.
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!


Avatar for Buttons
Feb 26, 2016 4:09 PM CST
Name: Kim Smythe
Auburn, WA
Just got a Red Aglaonema for bedroom. Window has southern exposure but blinds are shut most of the time. Is this area okay for this plant?

Thanks,
Buttons
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Feb 26, 2016 5:05 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
Hi & welcome, Kim! Are they heavy blinds, or more like sheers?
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
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