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Chinese Evergreen

4.7 out of 5 (229 experiences)

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

About Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreens have been growing in homes throughout Asia for centuries as symbols of good fortune. They were introduced to the Western world in 1885. Their ancestors were cultivated starting in the 1930s and became especially successful in Florida, where most foliage plants are now produced. 🤞

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Aglaonema commutatum

Genus

Aglaonema

Family

Araceae

Order

Alismatales

Also known as

Golden Evergreen, Philippine Evergreen and Posion Dart Plant

How to care for Chinese Evergreen

💦 Water

How often to water your Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreen needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Chinese Evergreen in your home

Chinese Evergreen can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Chinese Evergreen in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Chinese Evergreen

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Chinese Evergreen: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Chinese Evergreen after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Aglaonema

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Chinese Evergreen is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Chinese Evergreen →

Benefits of Growing Chinese Evergreen →

Indoor Care Guide for Chinese Evergreen →

Outdoor Care Guide for Chinese Evergreen →

💦 Water Needs

Chinese Evergreen is sensitive to dry soil and should be watered frequently. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Chinese Evergreen Water Frequency →

Chinese Evergreen Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Chinese Evergreen can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Chinese Evergreen Light Requirements →

Chinese Evergreen Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Chinese Evergreen is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

💨 Humidity

Chinese Evergreen doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Chinese Evergreen Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Chinese Evergreen does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Chinese Evergreen →

Best Pots for Chinese Evergreen →

When and How to Successfully Repot Chinese Evergreen →

What Are Healthy Chinese Evergreen Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Chinese Evergreen should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Chinese Evergreen →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Chinese Evergreen to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Chinese Evergreen is native to tropical Asia and New Guinea.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Chinese Evergreen bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Chinese Evergreen Flowers →

Is Chinese Evergreen an Annual Plant? →

Is Chinese Evergreen a Perennial Plant? →

Chinese Evergreen Pollination Guide →

Common Chinese Evergreen Flower Problems →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Chinese Evergreen is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Chinese Evergreen Lifecycle →

Chinese Evergreen Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Chinese Evergreen →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Chinese Evergreen can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Chinese Evergreen Temperature Tolerance →

Chinese Evergreen Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Chinese Evergreen →

When to Plant Chinese Evergreen →

How to Plant Chinese Evergreen →

Where to Plant Chinese Evergreen →

Winter Care for Chinese Evergreen →

Best Companion Plants for Chinese Evergreen →

Is Chinese Evergreen a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Chinese Evergreen can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant retiring old leaves.

If it seems like there’s a problem, the most likely cause of yellow leaves in Chinese Evergreen is underwatering. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Yellow leaves can less often be caused by overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Give your plant a good drink and it should perk back up and download Greg to make sure your plant never goes thirsty again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Chinese Evergreen →

What Eats Chinese Evergreen? →

Care Summary for Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreen

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 days

Placement

< 6ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Large, lush leaves 133

Survivor 129

Fast grower 96

Browns easily 25

Blooms easily 21

Easy to propagate 13

Pest magnet 11

@@TaylorMdeBloomz

42 Plants

4,267 XP

03/24/2022

This plant is a slow grower to me. No real issues but I wish it would grow for me.

Survivor

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @TaylorMdeBloomz named Austen on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Agatha

37 Plants

1,147 XP

03/20/2022

Not the most straightforward at first!
My first two plants got severe root rot - which I since learned they are easily prone to.
I am trying to save them by propagation. One took off, other still needs time.
When they are doing well they are some of the most rewarding and lush plants to keep, just maybe save them for when you have a good handle on the easier plants and have your basics down with soil, pots, and root health!

@@Agatha

37 Plants

1,147 XP

03/20/2022

Amazing beautiful plants, took one star down bc they’re not the most straightforward for beginners. Plus Greg’s advice on these to water them often is off, which doesn’t help!
They are VERY prone to root rot.
Mine have finally taken off now that they are in terracotta pots with an aerated mix, I water regularly and let dry in between.

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @Agatha named Greenie on Greg, the plant care app.

@@daniellemathias

8 Plants

312 XP

03/15/2022

Super easy to take care of! Would definitely suggest for someone’s first plant :)

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @daniellemathias named Bigleef Smalls on Greg, the plant care app.

@@ReallyElkweed

2 Plants

94 XP

Chicago, IL

02/28/2022

This was a piece taken from a larger plant. I’m trying to get the roots to start growing so I can repot it. Any advice on what size container or anything else I should be doing?

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @ReallyElkweed named Mama on Greg, the plant care app.

@@hailey.jaynes

25 Plants

643 XP

02/18/2022

Chinese evergreens a very low light tolerant and grow very quickly when given proper lightning. Gorgeous leaves, easy to care for. Beautiful plant!

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @hailey.jaynes named Terra on Greg, the plant care app.

@@PurelyDidelta

27 Plants

1,908 XP

Goldsboro, NC

02/08/2022

I received this from my church when my step mother died. I thought it was a peace Lily. I have never had plants before and didn’t know the difference until I got this app 😆. This plant has been so easy to care for and has brought me so much joy.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @PurelyDidelta named Terra on Greg, the plant care app.

@@madisonvb

5 Plants

98 XP

Charleston, SC

02/04/2022

DO NOT put it in direct light or even bright indirect

Survivor

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @madisonvb named aglaonema commutatum on Greg, the plant care app.

@@AMG

36 Plants

7,580 XP

Phoenix, AZ

01/25/2022

Grows even in low light but will push out bigger leaves if placed in medium indirect lighting.
Well draining potting mix.
Let it completely dry

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Easy to propagate

Survivor

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @AMG named Chinese Evergreen on Greg, the plant care app.

@@MariansOasis

83 Plants

35,241 XP

01/23/2022

Beautiful plant that uplifts your day! Occasionally a leaf turns brown but it seems to happen as a new one appears!

Large, lush leaves

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @MariansOasis named Pinkie on Greg, the plant care app.

@@KaylieS

37 Plants

9,150 XP

Leawood, KS

12/27/2021

One of my fave plants. When I got it, it was in rough shape. With a little TLC it’s thriving

Fast grower

Survivor

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @KaylieS named Evergreen on Greg, the plant care app.

@@BJoyce

57 Plants

10,343 XP

Orlando, FL

12/21/2021

Super fast grower, adjusts to change well, and very forgiving!

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @BJoyce named Allie on Greg, the plant care app.

@@AmysPlantFam

8 Plants

103 XP

Olney, MD

12/11/2021

Super easy plant, doesn’t ask for much light or water. Honestly almost killed this thing once and it’s now four years later and huge, healthy, and still growing! Perfect beginners plant

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Blooms easily

Survivor

Chinese Evergreen plant photo by @AmysPlantFam named Alice on Greg, the plant care app.

@@DanDeLión

50 Plants

6,711 XP

12/08/2021

I bought mine last year and it has been one of my easiest plants to care for.
I’ve actually forgotten to water it a few times and it kept on thriving. Note: Give it bright indirect light for larger leaves and growth. Keep soil moist but NOT WET!

Large, lush leaves

Survivor