A plant for both experienced growers and beginners, able to survive even with minimal care - aglaonema. A guest from the tropics is distinguished by its spectacular appearance and unpretentiousness. In Asia, it is considered a symbol of good luck and they try to breed it in large numbers on their site. Moviegoers, looking at aglaonema, will surely remember the movie "Leon", in which the flower was the only "close friend" of Jean Reno's character. What aglaonema looks like, care and reproduction, plant diseases and pests - all this will be discussed in detail in the article.
Botanical description
Aglaonema is the generic name of evergreen shrubs and herbs from the Aroid family. The genus includes, according to various sources, from 23 to 50 species. Species diversity is represented mainly by evergreen herbs, often with a strong stem: branched and creeping or upright and bare.
The top crown is formed by oval-ellipsoid leaves,often asymmetrical at the base. All types of aglaonema, the care of which is not difficult, are grown for spectacular greenery. Its name is also connected with this: aglaia in Greek sounds like “shine”. The dense, leathery and shiny green leaves, arranged on short stems, are pinnately venated and often streaked or flecked with pale green or silver. In room conditions, the plant can stretch up to 1.5 m in height, while the length of the leaves varies from 10 to 30 cm. However, aglaonema grow slowly.
Flowering of a plant is not the goal of flower growers, but it can be seen with proper care. The photo of aglaonema clearly demonstrates nondescript flowers collected in a club-shaped cob. Fruits are of decorative value - bright and fleshy yellow berries (less often red or white) of an oval shape.
Growth area
Aglaonema is native to Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Representatives of the genus can be found in rain and deciduous forests in India, China, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Java, Philippines, Lesser Sunda and Nicobar Islands, Borneo, New Guinea, Sulawesi, Surinami. Some species are characterized by increased hardiness, they can grow in conditions of very low light and on depleted soils.
Species in room culture
According to various sources, the genus includes from 23 to 50 species. Variegated aglaonemas are of the greatest value for indoor floriculture, butin stores you can also find species with plain leaves. The following are considered the most common:
A. modestum (aglaonema modest or moderate) - a species with ordinary green leaves, devoid of any pigmentation. Grown as an evergreen plant in gardens and indoors. For this type of aglaonema (pictured), home care is as simple as possible. It can be grown even in aquariums with low water levels or at depth. However, it develops rather slowly
A. commutatum (aglaonema modified) - a plant with a regular pattern of narrow gray stripes on the leaves. Wider stripes on the artificially bred form of Elegans. Varieties Silver King and Silver Queen (pictured below) are characterized by silver-marbled leaves. Very effective aglaonema. Care at home requires good lighting, otherwise the pattern will not be as noticeable and contrast
- A. nitida is a plant with large glossy dark green leaves.
- A. crispum, or Robelen's aglaonema, is a species with large gray-green leaves, from the center of which a silver stripe radiates. It is famous for its spindle-shaped bright red fruits.
- A. costatum, or ribbed aglaonema. The shortest species with a creeping branching stem. Broad leaves have a short petiole, painted in rich green. The central vein is light and clearly defined, manysmall dashes, the entire surface of the sheet is abundantly covered with white dots.
- A. pseudo bactreatum is an easy care aglaonema with large green leaves adorned with a pattern of cream, yellow or pale green spots.
Place in the house and lighting
The care depends on the natural conditions for the growth of the plant, where its homeland and structural features are. The description of aglaonema as an unpretentious and very hardy flower is quite true. Many residents of high-rise buildings are faced with the problem of low room lighting. Not every plant tolerates a lack of sun. But aglaonema perfectly tolerates penumbra, moreover, it is preferable for her than bright lighting. You can safely place a planter with a plant in the back of the room. Some species require brighter lighting (east and west windows), but with mandatory protection from direct sunlight.
You can tell if a plant is comfortable by looking at its leaves. An indicator of proper lighting will be the angle of their location in relation to the stem. Ideally, it should be 45-90 degrees, if it is less, then there is probably too much light.
Aglaonems absolutely cannot stand polluted air, smoke and drafts.
The juice of all representatives of the Aroid family is poisonous, and aglaonema is no exception. Care for it must be carried out with a degree of caution, gloves will be useful. It is also best to keep the plant away from pets and small children.
Temperature conditions
High air temperature combined with high humidity is the main condition for growing tropical plants, which include aglaonema. Care at home involves a relatively stable air temperature not only during the day, but throughout the year. A tropical beauty develops well if the thermometer does not fall below +24 ° C, in winter it can drop to +18 ° C, but watering should be reduced. If it gets colder, this will lead to curling of the leaves and the loss of the decorative value of the plant.
Soil and transplant
Aglaonema is a flower that is fairly easy to care for. The choice of soil is of fundamental importance in its cultivation. If the soil is initially chosen incorrectly, then it is pointless to count on a good result. Aglaonema is native to the tropics and prefers nutritious, organic-rich substrates that are well aerated, allow air to pass freely, but still retain moisture.
If you prefer to buy a ready-made substrate, then choose one that is suitable for bulbous plants. In order to prepare a mixture for planting yourself, take garden soil, peat (humus or leaf soil), perlite or coarse sand in a ratio of 1:2:1. For planting, choose wide and low pots with a drip tray and drainage holes.
Aglaonema is a slow growing species, so it does not need frequent transplants. Falling lower leaves may indicate its need whenactive growth of the apex. A transplant may be necessary for "medical" indications when the root system has rotted. In this case, after removing the earthy clod from the old pot, the damaged roots are removed with a sharp knife, and the cuts are treated with crushed charcoal.
Water and air humidity
Adjusted light, heat and water regime are three pillars on which care is based. Aglaonema flower at home should be watered abundantly and regularly. Water should be warm and soft, preferably rain or melt, in extreme cases, you can use tap water, but first you need to let it settle.
The frequency of watering in the summer is 2-3 times a week. It is necessary to take into account the indicators of the microclimate of the room and remember that a clod of earth in a pot with aglaonema should never dry out. In winter, watering is significantly reduced, especially if there is a decrease in air temperature. It is enough to water the plant once a week.
When growing aglaonema, care includes regular spraying with soft, cool water. Dry air is the scourge of rooms with a central heating system. Aglaonema is a child of the tropics and high humidity is vital for her. Therefore, spray the plant 2-3 times a week. Sometimes you can "wash" it in the shower, after covering the surface of the soil with polyethylene. Aglaonema reacts to dry air very quickly: the leaves begin to wrinkle.
With insufficient or poor care at home aglaonemaflowers (photo) does not form.
Feeding with mineral and organic fertilizers
It's no secret that indoor plants need extra nutrition. Aglaonema in the period from March to August (the time of active vegetation) must be watered with solutions of organic and complex mineral fertilizers. The frequency is once every two weeks. It is impossible to mix mineral and organic fertilizers, you need to alternate top dressing.
Assessing the he alth of a flower by the condition of the leaves
If the care of aglaonema is correct and regular, then it will thank you with a luxurious appearance, large, juicy and shiny leaves with a beautiful pattern. Note that the slow growth of aglaonema is not a deviation, but the norm. In a year, the plant is able to release only 4-5 new leaves. It is their appearance that can tell you a lot about the plant. After analyzing this information, you can adjust the care of aglaonema.
If the leaves have darkened and changed shape, lost turgor, then the plant clearly lacks moisture. The gray coating that accompanies this phenomenon may indicate dry air in the room. It is necessary to increase the humidity, ventilate the room more often, but at the same time avoid drafts, which are detrimental to aglaonema.
Yellowing of the leaves indicates changes in the plant. Causes can range from benign (lack of light, natural aging process) to quite serious (improper watering, waterlogging followed by root rot, lack of nutrition, pests).
Dried leaf tips are a signal of too dry air, if their edges turn brown, then the plant is probably cold or drafty.
The appearance of spots is also a very disturbing symptom. If they are white-yellow in color, then most likely the plant received a sunburn. It is necessary to remove it in the shade, let it "cool", and then spray it with cool water.
It is not only the prevention of diseases of a bacterial and fungal nature that is important, but also what kind of care aglaonema receives. The photo shows a flower affected by anthracnose. The disease has a fungal nature, developing, it covers the entire aerial part of the plant. An effective remedy is a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.
Sustained waterlogging of aglaonema in combination with hypothermia is a direct path to the development of fungal diseases. Most often, this species suffers from gray rot, various spots.
Pests
Aglaonema pests are typical for room conditions - scale insects, aphids, mealybugs and thrips. If the room has high air temperature combined with its dryness, then the risk of spider mites increases. Inspect the flower regularly to notice pests in time and prevent their spread.
With a small number of pests, folk remedies can help, for example, treating with soapy water, washing the plant in the shower. If the situation is already out of control, then only special preparations from the group of insecticides will save. You should work with thembeing careful and adhering to the dosage indicated on the package. An infected plant is best isolated from other indoor flowers for a while.
Preparations such as Actellik, Fitoverm, Agravertin, Vertimek, Karbofos, Akarin, etc. will help against pests.
Reproduction
Three or four years after planting, the aglaonema gradually loses its decorative effect, no matter how good care is for the indoor flower. Aglaonema stretches, its leaves turn pale, the pattern of variegated forms loses its contrast. This is a natural process, the plant ages. It is best to get a new one from the mother instance.
The most affordable and easy way to propagate is cuttings. You can use both the top of the plant and parts of the bare stem. The optimal length of the cuttings is 8-10 cm. They are rooted in wet sand, after drying the cut, or placed in water.
The second variant of vegetative propagation is the division of the bush. The best time is late spring. When transplanting aglaonema, young plants are separated from the mother bush and immediately rooted in the ground. In the first few weeks, they need to provide constant care and an air temperature of +20 ° С.
The most troublesome and lengthy is the seed method of reproduction. It is relevant in the case of rare varietal aglaonemes, which are difficult to find on sale. Activity for enthusiasts. Sowing dates - February-March. Small seeds are sown in a bowl with a moistened loose soil mixture, do not sprinkle. From above, the dishes are covered with glass and placed in a warm (+27 ° C) and bright place. After 2-3 weeks shoots appear.
