Aglaonema 'Silver Bay'

Aglaonema grow in the shady undergrowth of rainforests, often near streams and rivers, so they prefer semi-shady conditions and high humidity. Nevertheless, they are robust, pest-resistant and adaptable plants that are also well-suited for beginners. Varieties with mostly green leaves, in particular, are very good for an introduction to the Araceae family.

When kept as houseplants, any emerging flower stalks should be removed, especially in winter. The plants put a lot of energy into their flowering phase, and with low light and weakened plants, this can negatively affect the plant's overall health.

Aglaonema originate from the undergrowth of rainforests, and accordingly, they are adapted to semi-shady to shady conditions.

As houseplants, they should be placed where they receive bright but indirect light, e.g., next to a south-facing window or directly at a north-facing window. They also tolerate a few hours of morning sun well, but must be protected from intense midday sun, especially in summer.

When caring for them under grow lights, e.g., in a plant cabinet, in a terrarium, or in a grow tent, weak to medium lighting is sufficient. At 1,000 to 4,000 Lux or 20 to 40 PPFD (µmol/m²/s), they grow well, and their leaves develop ideal coloration.

Red-leaved cultivars can tolerate a bit more light, which also helps them develop better coloration.

Aglaonema like loose, airy substrate. They grow perfectly in our Aroid Mix or, depending on whether you want to water a bit more, even better in pure Coconut Chips.

They can stay in their pots for a long time and don't need to be repotted very often if they are in good substrate. Repotting only becomes necessary when the plant has formed numerous new stems and these overshadow each other with their leaves. When repotting, the roots can be loosened and the plant can be divided if desired.

Aglaonema should always be kept moderately moist and never completely dry out. They can be watered with medium-hard tap water. Regular flushing with soft water, such as rainwater, distilled water, or RO water, approximately every 3 months, is beneficial and prevents limescale buildup in the substrate.

Aglaonema grow slowly, which is why they don't need too much fertilizer. As houseplants, they can be fertilized every 2 weeks during the growing season (approx. April to October) with a good complete fertilizer (N-P-K + trace elements) for houseplants, such as Wuxal Universal Fertilizer. We recommend halving the manufacturer's recommended dosage. This corresponds to about 500 µS/cm conductivity of fertilizer. The conductivity can be determined with a TDS meter. During the autumn and winter months, fertilization should be reduced, as the plants then do not get enough light to utilize the nutrients. A very weak fertilization of about 100 – 200 µS/cm monthly is sufficient here.

When caring for them under grow lights, they can be fertilized year-round with approx. 500 µS/cm every 2 weeks.

If they are only watered with soft water (e.g., when cared for in a terrarium), a calcium and magnesium fertilizer (so-called CalMag fertilizer) should also be used.

Regular foliar fertilization with an iron fertilizer ensures even better leaf coloration, especially when the plants receive a lot of light.