Chinese Evergreen Aglaonema commutatum

Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this

One of the most forgiving houseplants you can own — a slow, bushy tropical grown for its patterned leaves splashed in silver, cream, pink, or red. It tolerates low light and irregular watering, making it a near-foolproof choice for offices, beginners, and dim corners.

Light

Chinese Evergreen is one of the few houseplants genuinely happy in low to medium indirect light, which is why it thrives in offices and north-facing rooms. The green-and-silver varieties tolerate the dimmest spots; the brightly variegated pink and red cultivars (like 'Siam Aurora' or 'Red Valentine') need medium to bright indirect light to keep their color from fading to plain green. Never give it direct sun — even a few hours through unshaded glass scorches the leaves with bleached, papery patches. If a colorful variety dulls, move it brighter; if leaves pale or stretch, it's reaching for light.

Watering

Let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry before watering, then water thoroughly until it drains and empty the saucer. In a warm home that's roughly every 7–10 days in spring and summer and every 2–3 weeks in winter, but always test the soil first. Chinese Evergreen handles a missed watering far better than soggy feet — overwatering is the single most common way to kill it. Drooping leaves that recover after a drink mean it ran dry; yellowing lower leaves with wet soil mean too much water and the start of root trouble.

Soil & potting

Use a well-draining, peat-based potting mix loosened with a generous handful of perlite for airflow around the roots. A standard houseplant or aroid mix works well; the goal is something that holds a little moisture without staying waterlogged. Always pot into a container with drainage holes. Chinese Evergreen is a slow grower that likes being a touch snug, so repot only every 2–3 years in spring when roots fill the pot, moving up just one size — an oversized pot holds excess water and invites rot.

Humidity & temperature

Average household humidity suits Chinese Evergreen fine, though it grows lusher and gets fewer brown leaf tips above 50%. In dry winter rooms, group it with other plants, set it on a pebble tray, or run a small humidifier. Keep it warm — between 65–80°F — and well away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents, and chilly windows. This is a true tropical that resents the cold: growth stalls below 60°F and leaves can blacken if exposed below about 50°F.

Fertilizing

Feed with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half strength every 4–6 weeks during spring and summer. Because Chinese Evergreen grows slowly, it needs less feeding than fast growers, and over-fertilizing shows quickly as brown, crispy leaf tips and a white crust on the soil surface. Stop feeding entirely in fall and winter while growth pauses, then resume in spring. If you see salt build-up, flush the pot with plain water to clear it.

Pruning & maintenance

Chinese Evergreen needs little pruning. Snip off any yellowed, browned, or damaged leaves at the base with clean scissors to keep it tidy and direct energy to healthy growth. Older plants can lose lower leaves and develop a bare, leggy stem over time; if that happens, you can cut the stem back hard in spring to encourage bushier regrowth, or simply propagate the top. Pinching back occasional leggy shoots also keeps the plant full and compact.

Propagation

Propagate most reliably by division — at repotting time, gently separate a clump with its own roots and pot it up on its own. You can also root stem cuttings: take a section with a few leaves and at least one node, then root it in water (change it weekly) or moist potting mix. Cuttings root slowly to match the plant's pace, often taking 4–8 weeks, so be patient. Warmth and bright indirect light speed the process along.

Common problems

Yellow leavesUsually overwatering or cold — check the soil moisture and room temperature first.→Brown leaf tips and edgesTypically dry air, tap-water minerals, or fertilizer build-up.→

Something look wrong?

Walk through it step by step in the Plant Doctor — pick the symptom, answer a couple of quick questions, and land on a specific diagnosis with an exact fix.

Diagnose your Chinese Evergreen →

Through the year

Spring

Growth resumes — return to regular watering, start feeding lightly, and divide or repot if the plant has filled its pot.

Summer

Peak (but still gentle) growth. Water when the top inch or two dries, feed every 4–6 weeks, and keep colorful varieties in good indirect light.

Fall

Growth slows — stretch out the time between waterings and stop fertilizing.

Winter

Near-dormant and cold-sensitive. Water sparingly, skip fertilizer, and keep it well away from cold windows, drafts, and heat vents.

Recommended supplies for Chinese Evergreen

Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Dumb Cane Peace Lily ZZ Plant Snake Plant

Go deeper

The complete Houseplants care library

Every species in one printable, organized reference — side-by-side care, a pet-toxicity table, and a seasonal calendar.

Guide coming soon