How to Care for Pink Aglaonema

Part of the Aglaonema plant family, Pink Aglaonema is an attractive houseplant popular for its colorful foliage. Also known as the Chinese Evergreen, the plant’s attractive, patterned foliage is a great way to introduce vibrant interest to a houseplants collection.

Native to Asia, these easy going houseplants require little regular maintenance. This makes them ideal for novice or forgetful plant parents.

Our guide to the Pink Aglaonema plant is designed to introduce you to these colorful houseplants. As well as highlighting some of the most attractive varieties we will also share lots of useful care tips.

These plants are popular for their vibrant foliage 極光粗肋草 by 阿橋 HQ / CC 2.0

Warning: Chinese Evergreen plants are considered toxic to pets. If you do decide to add this plant to your collection make sure that you place it out of reach. Alternatively, there are a number of dog and cat safe plants that you can grow instead.

The plants are also considered moderately toxic to humans. Wear work gloves and a long sleeved top when handling the plants. Remember to wash your hands afterwards.

What is Aglaonema?

Part of the Araceae plant family, the Chinese Evergreen is native to some tropical and subtropical areas of Asia. This means that the plants tolerate a range of conditions including low light, dry air and high humidity.

Many Aglaonemas display colored or patterned foliage. With the right care these markings can become more intense.

Native to Asia, the patterned foliage of these plants is the main attraction.

Ideal for home offices, living rooms and bedrooms, the Aglaonema is one of the best air purifying plants that you can buy.

A herbaceous plant, its common name is derived from two Greek words; “aglos” which means shiny or bright and “nema” meaning thread and refers to the plant’s stamen.

A close relative of the Dieffenbachia, the two plants can look similar. The key differences, if you are struggling to tell the two apart, are that the Aglaonema has narrower leaves and doesn’t flower for as long.It is also a smaller plant. The Aglaonema’s short trunk is only visible on mature plants when it sheds its dense, leathery leaves.

The foliage can be ovate or lanceolate in shape. It can also vary in color. Aglaonema leaves can be green or colored. Many leaves are marked or dappled, adding further interest.

While flowers are produced, these are not the main attraction. Some growers even cut the blooms off to prevent the plant wasting its energy on flowering and producing berries. Removing the flower encourages the plant to focus on maintaining its colorful, interesting leaves.

Flowers are produced but are not the main focus for plant growers. 吉祥粗肋草 Lady Valentine [香港公園 Hong Kong Park] by 阿橋 HQ / CC 2.0

Pink Aglaonema varieties are particularly popular for their bright foliage.

Different Types of Pink Aglaonema

There are over 50 different types of Chinese Evergreen plant growing in the wild. Many are suitable for cultivation as houseplants. The plants are often split into groups depending on how tall they grow:

• Small types grow to a height of 9 inches or 25 cm. The leaves are either drooping or creeping,
• Medium types can reach 20 to 24 inches or 50 to 60 cm tall and produce 12 inch long leaves. Medium height varieties typically have a straight trunk.
• Tall varieties are produced through the selection and breeding of shade-tolerant varieties. A popular choice for plant lovers, tall plants can reach a height of 5 ft. Planting in a pot can help to curtain the height of the plants.

Different varieties produce differently patterned or colored foliage. Source: Aglaonema by Gregoriuz / CC 2.0

Some of the most popular varieties include:

• Pink Dalmation is one of the most attractive Pink Aglaonema varieties currently available. The large leaves are dappled with translucent pink spots.
• Pink Star is one of the rarer types of Pink Aglaonema plant. As the name suggests, this variety produces bright pink leaves that mature to a dark fuchsia color as the plant ages.
• Pink Princess is prized for its pink, ovate leaves with a green edge.
• Prestige is a small variety but its peach and pink marked green leaves help it to stand out from the crowd.
• Aglaonema Rotundum, while not strictly a pink variety,  produces heart shaped dark green foliage that is highlighted by white or bright crimson-blush stripes. These run parallel to the plant’s veins. The flower of the Rotundum has pink-white petals and a blush cob.
• Butterfly also produces emerald green leaves with pink veins. As the plants mature the markings on the foliage expand and increase. Best in a warm, sunny spot Butterfly does best with a regular drink of water.
  Lady Valentine produces large colored leaves with green edging. The color of the leaves becomes more intense when the plant is placed in a lighter position.

Take the time to find a plant that produces foliage you love. Aglaonema by F Devlenthal / CC 2.0

Where To Place Your Pink Aglaonema

As with many houseplants, finding the right position is key to successful cultivation.

The Chinese Evergreen is a versatile plant. It tolerates dry and moist conditions well. It also tolerates less than ideal light levels.

Chinese Evergreen plants tolerate a wide range of conditions. 

Light Levels

The Chinese Evergreen is best placed in a bright but not direct light. The plants are able to tolerate low light levels but growth may be slow. The color of the foliage may also be not as intense as in a brighter position.

If your Chinese Evergreen plant starts to lose its coloring, move it to a brighter position. If you can’t find a suitable location, grow lights can be used to supplement natural light levels.

These plants thrive in natural light. 

The ideal position is one that enjoys lots of bright morning light but is sheltered from the more intense afternoon light. Too much direct afternoon light can scorch the leaves.

A window with northern exposure or one that faces the east is ideal. This gives the plant plenty of opportunity to bask in the morning sun whilst offering protection from the more intense afternoon light.

Turn your growing plant a couple of times a week. This balances out how much light each part of the plant receives and helps to prevent uneven growth.

During the winter months when natural light levels are lower, you need to reposition your plant, placing it in a lighter spot. This helps to keep the foliage colorful and looking healthy.

Temperature and Humidity Levels

Chinese Evergreen plants likes temperatures to remain at 60 ℉ or warmer.

The Chinese Evergreen is a cold-sensitive plant. Keep it away from any drafts, heating vents and air conditioning systems. Exposure to cooler, wet conditions not only slows growth, it is also a breeding ground for root rot.

If you are growing outside, Chinese Evergreen plants are hardy in USDA Zones 10 and 11.

The Pink Aglaonema originates in subtropical and tropical regions of Asia. This means that the plants do well in humid conditions.

If you are growing the Chinese Evergreen as an indoor plant, a bathroom can be the ideal place. However, this is a versatile plant and can cope just as well in a drier environment meaning that it happily grows in most rooms of the house.

Be careful when selecting your position. If the air becomes too dry the tips of the leaves may turn brown. There are a number of ways that you can artificially raise humidity levels, such as regularly misting the foliage. An easier, more low maintenance option is to place the plant pot on a Humidi-Grow Humidity Tray.

Grouping plants close together naturally raises humidity levels. Aglaonema by Gregoriuz / CC 2.0

When and How to Repot your Pink Aglaonema

In general your Pink Aglaonema requires repotting every 2 to 4 years. Signs that your Chinese Evergreen plant requires repotting include:

• Growth slowing or ceasing,
• Soil drying out more quickly than usual,
• Roots emerging from the drainage holes in the container.

Should you notice any of these signs, it is time to repot the plant.

Repotting is best done in the spring or summer when the plants are actively growing.

You should also repot the plant as soon after purchase as possible. While the plant may look healthy and vibrant, it may be sitting in a container that is too small. The soil may also be old and lacking in nutrients.

Repotting soon after purchase helps your Chinese Evergreen plant to settle into its new home.

If you don’t have a potting bench, place some old newspaper down so that any mess you make is easily cleared up.

To repot the plant carefully remove it from its old container and soak the root system. This is easily done by holding the plant in one hand and carefully watering the roots with a watering can. An alternative method is to water the plants well the day before you remove them from the container.

The new pot should be 2 to 3 inches larger than the old container and have at least one drainage hole. Fill this new container with fresh potting soil.

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Like many other indoor plants, Pink Aglaonema plants struggle in heavy soils that retain lots of moisture. Your chosen potting soil should be one that is light and well draining. To further improve the drainage qualities of the soil work in some pumice or perlite before planting.

A potting mix with a ratio of 1 part perlite or pumice to 3 parts potting soil is ideal. To further improve matters a handful of coco coir can also be added during planting or repotting.

Ideally, the potting medium should also be slightly acidic, 5.5 to 6.5. The easiest way to find out the pH level of your soil is to use a soil test kit.

Center the plant in the pot and fill any remaining holes with more potting soil. Stake the plant if necessary and return it to its usual position.

How to Care for Pink Aglaonema

Once planted and placed in a favorable position these are easy going plants. Compared to some indoor plants, they only require a little regular attention in order to flourish.

A compact plant, Pink Agaolemna achieves a mature height of 12 inches or 30 cm. It spreads around 5 inches or 12 cm wide. In most positions the plants enjoy a moderate growth rate. This can be slower in darker positions. However, the foliage may not be as colorful as it would be in a  lighter position.

When to Water

The most difficult aspect of Pink Aglaonema care, it is important that you don’t underwater the plant. Aim to keep the soil just the right side of drying out.

Don’t allow the soil to dry out. aglaonema modestum by Marissa Anderson / CC 2.0

During the growing season the plants require more frequent watering than at other times of the year. Don’t be surprised if you need to water the plant as frequently as once every 10 days during the summer months. When watering, water the plant well, until excess moisture starts to pour from the drainage holes.

Leaves starting to droop is the most visible sign that the soil is too dry. A good drink of water should revive the plant.

Leaves yellowing is usually a sign that you are overwatering a plant.

 

If you struggle to get this aspect of care right, our How Often to Water Houseplants guide is filled with useful tips to help you get your watering routine right.

Fertilizing Your Plants

A lightly feeding plant, all the Pink Aglaonema requires is a dose of complete or balanced liquid fertilizer once in the spring and again in the summer. A slow release fertilizer provides a long lasting nutritional boost. You can also use a fish or seaweed emulsion such as Fertilome Fish Emulsion Fertilizer.

Worm compost can also be lightly applied.

Do not over fertilize your plant. This can lead to a buildup of salt in the soil which may burn the root system. Allowing salt to buildup in the soil can also cause brown spots to develop on the leaves.

Never fertilize a stressed plant. That is a specimen that is sitting in either dry or soggy soil. This can do more harm than good. Instead water the plant and a few weeks later, when it looks more healthy and happy, apply a light dose of fertilizer.

Pruning and Supporting Growing Plants

A low maintenance plant, there is no need to prune your Pink Aglaonema plants regularly. The main reason that you need to prune these plants is to remove yellow leaves or spent flowers. You may also want to prune away some leaves for propagation.

Chinese Evergreen can become top heavy if not supported or pruned regularly.

You can also prune the plants back if they become overly top heavy. Cutting away tall or leggy growth can encourage the plant’s growth to become denser.

Tip prune new growth as it emerges. To do this, prune the stems 2 to 3 nodes above the soil line. Curtailing the stems in this manner encourages new growth to emerge at the base of the plant.

As the plants grow and new leaves form on the top, the stems can become top heavy and flop over. The easiest solution is to tie them to a stake. Garsum Green Bamboo Sticks provide sturdy growth and blend into the foliage.

How to Propagate Pink Aglaonema

The Pink Aglaonema can be easily propagated by taking and rooting stem cuttings. These can be rooted in either pots filled with soil or jars of water.

The best time to propagate your Pink Aglaonema is in the spring or summer, when the plants are actively growing.

Begin by identifying a healthy shoot that is roughly 6 inches long. The stem should also have at least 5 leaves. It doesn’t matter if it is an older or new shoot. Use a sharp scissors or knife to make a diagonal cut in the stem just below a leaf node, separating it from the parent plant.

 

Remove the lower leaves from the cut stem. This creates fresh leaf nodes, best described as bumps on the stem. From these nodes new roots can emerge.

If you are rooting in water, fill a jar or glass with enough water to cover the newly created nodes. Place the cutting in the water. The nodes should be covered but the remaining leaves should not touch the water.

Change the water every day. Once roots have developed, transplant the cutting into a pot filled with potting medium.

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You can also plant the prepared stems in small pots filled with well draining potting soil. Water the soil before planting the stem. Plant deeply enough that the nodes are covered. The leaves should sit just above soil level.

Place the cutting in a light position and mist the soil regularly with a Plant Sprayer.

Placing the cutting in a Propagator with Humidity Vents can help you to maintain an even temperature around the developing plant. 

 

New growth developing is a sign that a root system has developed below the soil level. At this stage you can start to treat and care for the cutting as you would a larger Pink Aglaonmea plant. Transplant the cutting into a larger pot when it starts to outgrow its pot.

Common Pink Aglaonema Pests and Problems

Caring for Pink Aglaonema plants correctly reduces the chances of problems occurring. Should an issue develop, being able to quickly identify it makes treating and curing the problem a lot easier. It also helps your plants to stay healthy and productive.

Keep the soil around the plants weed free and regularly check the foliage and stem for signs of any problems developing. Sab Mongkol by Leonora Enking / CC 2.0

The Pink Aglaonema is a light loving plant. It requires moderate to high levels of light to keep the foliage rich and colorful. If your house doesn’t receive enough natural light, you can use grow lights to artificially boost light levels around the plant.

Be careful not to expose the plant to too much light. This can cause the foliage to turn brown and crispy.

Occasionally the lower leaves of your Pink Aglaonema plant may die. While it can look unsightly this is simply how the plant grows and is not a symptom of a major issue.

The foliage of the Pink Aglaonema develops on the top of the stem. This can make the plant top heavy and may cause stems to bend, break or plants to fall over. Top heaviness can also develop if the plant doesn’t get enough light. Should the stems start to flop over, prune them down. You can also stake the stems to keep them upright.

Yellowing foliage is a sign that you are overwatering your Pink Aglaonema. Allow the soil to dry out before applying a reduced amount of water.

Drooping leaves are often a sign of dehydration. Water the soil well and your plant should perk up.

If your plants frequently show signs either under or over watering, why not invest in a soil moisture sensor? This useful little device measures the moisture content of your soil, helping you to work out exactly when to water your plants.

Dry leaf tips can be an indication of a number of different issues. Often correctly watering and fertilizing the plant prevents or corrects this issue.

Deformed or crisp leaf tips can indicate one of many problems.  

Pink Aglaonema plants can become infested with spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs. During watering is a good time to inspect the foliage for signs of infestation.

If you are growing Pink Aglaonema as a part of an indoor plant collection, isolate the infected plant from the rest of your collection. This helps to prevent the infestation from spreading to other plants.

To treat the infestation wipe neem oil onto the affected leaves. If you have never used this product before our Guide to Using Neem Oil on Plants explains how to safely and successfully apply the product.

A homemade insecticidal soap can also be used. Once the plant is free from infestation it can be returned to its usual position alongside your other houseplants.

Bacterial Leaf Spot is a nasty disease that causes small dark and gray-green spots to develop on the plant’s foliage. If allowed to, these grow in size and darken to a black or brown. More prevalent on older leaves, young foliage can also quickly succumb. Cut away and destroy affected leaves.

If you are growing Pink Aglaonema in the ground a simple crop rotation system can help to keep the soil healthy and disease free. Other preventative measures include keeping the soil around the plants clean and weed free and keeping the leaves as dry as possible when watering.

Wet foliage, particularly in the evening, is more prone to disease than dry leaves. You can also apply a preventative copper treatment, such as Bonide Copper Fungicide, to the foliage.

Curvularia infections can cause the plants to wilt. Upon closer inspection you may notice the stem starting to rot. Correctly watering your Pink Aglaonema plants, so they are neither overwatered or forced to sit in dry soil for prolonged periods, is the easiest way to prevent a Curvularia infection from developing.

Requiring just a little care, these are colorful, vibrant plants. 

An attractive houseplant, Pink Aglaonema is popular for its fascinating, patterned foliage. An easy going plant, as long as you get the water and light levels right, these plants are suitable for growing in most areas of your home. They are also an ideal starting plant for novice gardeners.