Aglaonema: home care, photos, types, varieties, replanting, diseases and flower pests

Types and varieties of aglaonema

Several species of aglaonema are grown in culture, some have cultivars.

Aglaonema commutatum. This species is most often grown at home. Her homeland is the Philippines. In nature it can reach a height of 1.5 m, but at home it is much lower - usually within 30 - 50 cm. The leaves of the natural form are dark green with a silvery pattern. They are oblong in shape, on long petioles (up to 25 - 30 cm).

This species has several interesting varieties that differ in leaf color.

Silver Queen - silver leaves with green spots;
Silver King - similar to the previous species, the leaves are also silver with green spots, but the spots are larger and located along the veins;
Maria Christina - leaves are silvery-white, with a green edging along the edge and a few green spots along the veins;
Maria Anna is an almost exact copy of Maria Christina, with the same leaf color, but they are smaller in size;
Treubii - leaves are green with ash-gray spots along the central vein.

Photo: Tiia Pakk, pexels.com
Aglaonema modestum. This species naturally lives in tropical forests and on the mountain slopes of China, in the southeastern part of Bangladesh, in the northern regions of Thailand and Laos. Plants are 40 - 70 cm high, leaves 15 - 20 cm long, green, without a pattern - hence the name of the species - modest.

Aglaonema ribbed (Aglaonema costatum). This is the shortest among the aglaonemas, its height usually does not exceed 30 cm. It is found naturally in the tropical forests of Malaysia. Its leaves are about 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, dark green, with a white vein in the center and numerous white spots and streaks over the entire surface.

Aglaonema shiny (Aglaonema nitidum). In nature, this species is found in the tropical forests of Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The plant is quite large, about 1 m high, and the leaves reach a length of 45 cm. They are green, glossy, without a pattern. But unlike other species, this one produces white fruits after flowering (the others have red ones), which gives this aglaonema a special charm.

Aglaonema pictum. Perhaps one of the most beautiful species, this Aglaonema has stunning velvety green leaves with wavy edges and lots of fancy flecks of light cream, gray and silver. That is why botanists gave the species the name – painted. It is native to the tropical rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Reaches a height of 60 cm.

Aglaonema has many varieties that were developed by crossing different species.

Crete (Crete) - this aglaonema belongs to the so-called group of “red varieties”, at a young age its leaves are completely red, but with age green shades appear in them - from grass to olive, but the central vein remains scarlet;
Pink Moon - with dark green leaves, a pink central vein and a few pale pink spots;
Green Papaya - with dark green leaves, pale pink petioles and central vein, numerous yellow streaks;
Chocolate (Chocolate) - with spectacular striped leaves, which alternate shades of dark green, silver and pink;
Prestige - with beautiful spotted leaves in shades of green, pink, red and cream;
Pink Dalmatian - with stunning jade-hued leaves with lots of splashes of hot pink;
Red Valentine - with beautiful leaves of red and pink, along the edges of which a green edging of spots is scattered;
Sparkling Sarah - with green leaves and numerous spots of pink and cream shades;
Red Anjamani - with bright red leaves and green edges;
Siam Aurora - with dark green leaves and a thin pink edge.
Bidadari - with creamy pink leaves and a few green spots;
Super White - with pure white leaves with a green central vein and green spots;
Harlequin - with green leaves, along which are scattered numerous touches of cream and pink.

Aglaonema (Green Papaya). Photo: pixabay.com

Aglaonema (Red Valentine). Photo: pixabay.com

Dicentra, or broken heart (Dicentra)

Dicentra can be white, pink, crimson, red. These unusual small hearts (up to 2 cm in diameter) decorate the flowerbed in the summer. The flowering period of the magnificent dicentra lasts from early May to mid-June, and, for example, the beautiful dicentra pleases the eye from early summer to autumn. After flowering, the aboveground part of both “falls asleep” until spring. Sometimes dicentras bloom again in August-September.

The flower grows well in both sun and partial shade. The plant prefers light, nutritious and well-drained soil.

Growing dicentra in the garden
Everyone knows this amazing plant with clusters of hearts hanging from the branches. But how to grow it?

Caring for aglaonema at home

Aglaonema is a rather unpretentious plant, but there are several features of agricultural technology that are worth considering.

Priming

For aglaonema, store-bought soil for decorative foliage plants is suitable, but it is useful to add vermiculite to it so that moisture is retained in the soil longer.

Lighting

Since aglaonemas grow in tropical rain forests, they easily tolerate a lack of light, so they can be grown even in the back of a room. But where they definitely don’t belong is on a south-facing windowsill, because the leaves “burn” under the direct rays of the sun.

Humidity

All types of aglaonema love high humidity, both soil and air. They need to be watered frequently, or even better, place the pot in a tray with damp pebbles or sand. And spray as often as possible.

In winter, watering should be reduced - once a week will be enough.

Photo: A. Jagel, globallookpress.com

Fertilizers

When planting a plant in the soil, you do not need to add any fertilizers - for the first time, the nutrients contained in the soil will be enough.

Feeding

During the period of active growth (usually from March to October), aglaonemas need to be fed once every 2 weeks with liquid complex fertilizer for indoor plants. In winter, fertilizing is not needed.

Trimming

In tall species of aglaonema, over time the stems become bare, the leaves remain only at the top. In this case, the plant can be trimmed - the top can be rooted, and new shoots will grow from the buds located on the trimmed stem, and the bush will be dense.

Philodendron pink princess - photo of a houseplant

Flower photo gallery for your inspiration. If you want such a houseplant in your collection, don’t hesitate. It is easy to care for and very beautiful.

Aglaonema diseases

Problems with aglaonema can occur with improper care.

The roots are rotting. This happens when a plant is overwatered, especially if it stands on a cold windowsill in winter.

In this case, it needs to be replanted in new soil, a good layer of drainage should be placed on the bottom, and, of course, all rotten roots should be cut off.

The tips of the leaves dry out. This happens if the air in the room is too dry.

Frequent spraying or bowls of water that need to be placed on the windowsill will help solve the problem.

Common Pests and Diseases

Philodendron pink princess is susceptible to a number of common houseplant pests and diseases.

Common pests include mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, and fungus gnats. Common diseases are root rot, which is the result of waterlogging, and rust, which is the result of a fungal infection.

Philodendron root rot

Are your philodendron leaves turning yellow, blackened or drooping? Does your plant just look unhealthy? You may be dealing with root rot.

This is a serious problem caused by waterlogging. If the soil has recently been waterlogged or the pot has an unpleasant odor, it's time to act.

How to deal with root rot:

Remove the plant from the pot and look at the roots. They will be slimy, soft, brownish or black, and smell bad. The lesion may spread to the lower part of the stem if the problem progresses further.
Cut off any and all affected tissue. If all roots need to be removed, so be it. The plant will grow back. It is better to remove too much than to remove too little and leave the affected areas.
Dip the roots in a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water and let them dry. Dilute 1 to 3. Hydrogen peroxide effectively destroys fungi and pathogens that cause root rot.
Replant your philodendron in dry soil using a pot with a drainage hole. Follow all the details of care so that this does not happen again.

Proper lighting, good drainage, and knowing when to water rather than on a schedule are great allies in preventing root rot problems in the future.

The ABC of investment or what are “pink sheets”

Many stock market investors have likely heard of “pink sheets.” But how many of you know what it is? “Pink Sheets” are lists of stocks and their prices, both offered and asked, on the over-the-counter market. They are not traded on major stock exchanges. But that doesn't mean they're any less valuable than regular stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds. In fact, “pink sheets” can bring good profits, but to do this you need to know how to use them. Either way, they are worth adding to your investment portfolio.

Pink Sheets: Trading Basics It all started when a company called Pink Sheets LLC (translated as “pink sheets”) began publishing stock quotes on pink paper. Over-the-counter trading of these stocks is not regulated by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) or the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), which helps companies avoid multiple, time-consuming verification procedures, thereby allowing them to trade their stocks more efficiently and quickly. Some companies begin to trade their shares through pink sheets, thus taking the first step towards an initial public offering of their shares on one of the major stock exchanges. A subsequent initial public offering can itself cause the price of such a company's shares to rise, as investors who were previously wary of buying (what they perceive as) dubious shares begin to enter the market. However, this type of trading lacks transparency, which poses a certain amount of risk for investors. These types of companies are not required to disclose information about their affairs, and no one comes to them with inspections. Of course, this does not mean that such companies should be avoided. The fact that regulators do not control the “pink sheets” only gives reason to treat them as the “wild west” of the modern world of finance. Please note that fraudulent misrepresentation is a crime regardless of where a company's shares are traded. To reassure investors, Pink Sheets LLC recently introduced a new classification system to help investors determine the reliability and legitimacy of the companies on their list. "PremierOX" - the highest position in the classification - includes stocks priced at $1 and above, which, in addition, meet the requirements of major stock exchanges. “Caveat Emptor” (literally translated from Latin: “Buyer beware”) is the lowest position in the classification. the Pink Sheets website . The main problem in trading “pink sheets” is that at the moment there is no organization that would constantly and timely provide complete information about the shares being traded. That is why prudent and experienced investors treat such investments with extreme caution, having first studied all available information. Some Pink List companies still provide incomplete information on the Pink Sheets website, even though they may not do so. Investors should be sure to review this information before purchasing shares. After studying information about a particular company on the Pink Sheets website, for more detailed information you should contact the company itself in which you are interested. In any convenient way (via email, by phone, etc.) contact a representative of this company and ask for all possible information (about the financial condition of the company, about its products, about the company’s prospects, etc.) You should also study the legislation , the political and economic situation in the country where the company is located (many companies on the “pink list” are located abroad). In other words, do your research to help you evaluate a company's potential and the risks associated with investing in its stock. Some companies may be reluctant to provide information about themselves. Some of them may even be hostile towards the “researchers”. Beware of such companies. Often, shares of foreign companies (that is, those located outside the United States) are traded on local regulated stock exchanges. If so, find out how (if at all) stock trading is regulated in that country. For example, in London or Frankfurt the regulation is quite strict, which cannot be said about Shanghai. This does not mean that information about a company whose shares are traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange will be false or distorted. But this factor should definitely be taken into account when buying these shares. Long-term investments If you decide to invest your money in buying “pink” stocks, be prepared for the fact that this is a long-term investment. It should be remembered that these are shares of relatively small companies; specialists do not conduct daily analysis of these markets.

Sometimes stock prices do not change for several days. Short-term speculators and those who love market action will likely be disappointed, while more experienced and rational traders will be able to avoid the roller coaster of the market and focus on the potential of the company and the natural growth in the value of its shares as the company develops. Regularly check company information, both from the original source and from third-party sources. You should not immediately get rid of shares just because the quotes have not budged for several days.

Now that you know the basics of trading in the “pink sheets” market, spend enough time analyzing the market and collecting information about a particular company. You should do your homework before making an investment decision.

Chelone oblique, or pink flamingo (Chelone)

This decorative perennial came to us from America. People often call it perennial snapdragon. Helone blooms from July-August until late autumn. The color of the flowers can be white, light pink, crimson, or reddish. The height of the plant depends on the species and can reach from 50 to 200 cm.

Despite its overseas origin, chelone is capable of spending the winter without shelter, even in the middle zone. The plant is only mulched with peat (10 cm layer) - that’s all the preparation for wintering.