Philippine evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
Overview
Philippine evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) is truly an amazing plant for many reasons. It has a beautiful, glossy foliage that is decorated with silver brush strokes, giving it an eye-catching appearance. It is also considered one of the most versatile and easy-to-care-for houseplants. It grows quickly, is tolerant of low light, and surviving drought periods. Additionally, the Philippine evergreen is known to be an air-purifying plant, ridding the air of many harmful toxins. It provides a lush, jungle-like atmosphere to your home or office with minimal effort.
Care Guide
Watering
Philippine evergreen should be watered every 1-2 weeks, depending on the season and temperature. During the summer, the plant should be watered more often. During the winter, when the days are shorter, the plant should be watered less often. Philippine evergreen also enjoys evenly moist soil. The best way to ensure this is to water the plant deeply until water seeps out of the bottom of the pot, being careful to avoid over-watering to prevent root rot.
Light
The Philippine evergreen requires about 4 to 5 hours of sunlight each day for optimal growth. It requires indirect light for the best results, as direct sunlight can be too harsh for the plant. During the hottest times of the day, the Philippine evergreen should be kept out of direct sunlight. If possible, position this plant near a bright, sunny east or west-facing window. The direct sunlight should come from the morning, afternoon, or early evening and decrease in intensity as the day progresses.
Temperature
Hardiness zone 10-12.
Pruning
Philippine evergreen should be pruned at least twice a year, around late spring and late summer. The goal should to be to keep the plant healthy and attractive, so try to only cut off what is necessary. Make sure to use sharp pruners and sanitize them before and after use to avoid any spread of disease. For bigger plants, prune up to 1-third of the canopy.
Propagation
Stem Propagation, Division, Air Layering Propagation, Leaf Cutting
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