The plant, both for experienced florists and for beginners, capable of surviving even with minimal care, is an aglaonema. A guest from the tropics has a spectacular appearance and unpretentiousness. In Asia, they consider her a symbol of good luck and try to breed in large numbers on their site. Cinema fans, looking at the aglaonema, will surely recall the film “Leon”, in which the flower was the only “close friend” of the character of Jean Reno. What aglaonema looks like, care and reproduction, diseases and plant pests - all this will be discussed in detail in the article.
Botanical Description
Aglaonema is the generic name for evergreen shrubs and herbs from the Aroid family. The genus totals, according to various sources, from 23 to 50 species. Species diversity is represented mainly by evergreen herbs, often with a strong stalk: branched and creeping or vertical and bare.
The apical crown is formed by oval-ellipsoid leaves, often asymmetric at the base. All types of aglaonema, care for which is not difficult, are grown for spectacular greens. Its name is also connected with this: aglaia translated from Greek sounds like “brilliance”. Dense, leathery and shiny green leaves located on short stems have cirrus venation and are often decorated with stripes or pale green or silver spots. At room conditions, the plant can stretch up to 1.5 m in height, while the length of the leaves varies from 10 to 30 cm. However, aglaonemes grow slowly.
Flowering plants is not the goal of gardeners, but it can be seen, providing him with proper care. A photo of an aglaonema demonstrates inconspicuous flowers gathered in an ear of club-shaped form. Of decorative value are the fruits - bright and fleshy yellow berries (less often - red or white) oval.
Habitat
The birthplace of the aglaonema is Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Representatives of the genus can be found in rain and deciduous forests in India, China, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Java, the Philippines, the Lesser Sunda and Nicobar Islands, Borneo, New Guinea, Sulawesi, Suriname. Certain species are characterized by increased endurance, they can grow in very low light conditions and on depleted soils.
Views in room culture
According to various sources, the genus has from 23 to 50 species. Variegated aglaonemes are of the greatest value for indoor floriculture, but in stores you can also find species with plain leaves. The following are considered the most common:
- A. modestum (modest or moderate aglaonema) - a species with ordinary green leaves without any pigmentation. Grown as an evergreen in gardens and indoor conditions. For this type of aglaonema (pictured) home care is as simple as possible. It can be grown even in aquariums with low water levels or in depth. However, it develops at the same time rather slowly.
- A. commutatum (altered aglaonema) - a plant with a regular pattern of narrow gray stripes on the leaves. Wider bands in the artificially derived form of Elegans. Varieties of Silver King and Silver Queen (pictured below) are characterized by silver-marble leaves. Very effective aglaonemes. Home care requires good lighting, otherwise the pattern will not be so noticeable and contrasting.
- A. nitida - a plant with large glossy dark green leaves.
- A. crispum, or Robelen aglaonema, is a species with large gray-green leaves, from which a silver stripe diverges from the center. She is famous for her spindle-shaped bright red fruits.
- A. costatum, or ribbed aglaonema. The smallest species with a creeping branching stalk. Wide leaves have a short petiole, painted in a deep green color. The central vein is light and pronounced, many small lines depart from it, the entire surface of the sheet is abundantly covered with white dots.
- A. pseudo bactreatum - an easy-care aglaonema with large green leaves, decorated with a pattern of cream, yellow or pale green spots.
Place in the house and lighting
From what are the natural conditions for the growth of the plant, where is its homeland and structural features, care depends. The description of the aglaonema as an unpretentious and very hardy flower is quite fair. Many residents of multi-storey buildings are faced with the problem of low light rooms. Not every plant puts up with a lack of sun. But the aglaonema perfectly tolerates partial shade, moreover, it is preferable to it than bright lighting. You can safely place a cache-pot with a plant deep in the room. Some species require brighter lighting (eastern and western windows), but with mandatory protection from direct sunlight.
You can determine whether a plant is comfortable by looking at its leaves. An indicator of proper lighting will be the angle of their location with respect to the stem. Ideally, it should be 45-90 degrees, if it is less, then there is probably too much light.
Aglaonems do not tolerate gassed air, smoke and drafts at all.
The juice of all the representatives of the Aroid family is poisonous, and the aglaonema is no exception. Care for it must be carried out with caution, gloves will be useful. In addition, it is better to keep the plant away from pets and small children.
Temperature mode
High air temperature in combination with high humidity is the main condition for growing tropical plants, to which aglaonema also belongs. Home care requires a relatively stable air temperature not only during the day, but throughout the year. A tropical beauty develops well if the thermometer does not fall below +24 ° C, in winter it is permissible to drop to +18 ° C, but watering should be reduced. If it gets colder, this will lead to curl of the leaves and loss of decorative value of the plant.
Soil and transplant
Aglaonema is a flower, the care of which is quite simple. Of fundamental importance in its cultivation is the choice of soil. If the soil was initially improperly selected, then it makes no sense to count on a good result. Aglaonema comes from the tropics, she prefers nutritious, rich in organic substrates, having good aeration, freely letting air through, but at the same time able to retain moisture.
If you prefer to buy a ready-made substrate, then choose the one that is suitable for bulbous plants. In order to prepare the mixture for planting yourself, take garden soil, peat (humus or leafy soil), perlite or coarse sand in a ratio of 1: 2: 1. For planting, choose wide and low pots with a tray and drainage holes.
Aglaonema is a slowly growing species, so it does not need frequent transplants. Falling lower leaves with the active growth of the apex can testify to its necessity. Transplantation is necessary for "medical" reasons, when the root system is rotten. In this case, after removing the earthen coma from the old pot, the damaged roots are removed with a sharp knife, and the sections are treated with crushed charcoal.
Watering and humidity
Adjusted light, heat and water conditions are the three whales on which care is based. Flower aglaonema at home should be watered abundantly and regularly. The water should be warm and soft, preferably rain or melt, in extreme cases, you can use tap water, but first you need to let it settle.
The frequency of watering in the summer is 2-3 times a week. It is necessary to take into account the microclimate of the room and remember that the lump of land in the pot with aglaonema should never dry out. In winter, watering is significantly reduced, especially if there is a decrease in air temperature. It is enough to water the plant once a week.
When growing aglaonema, care for it includes regular spraying with soft, cool water. Dry air is a scourge of rooms with a central heating system. Aglaonema is a child of the tropics and high humidity for her is vital. Therefore, spray the plant 2-3 times a week. Sometimes you can "wash" it in the shower, after covering the surface of the soil with polyethylene. Aglaonema reacts very quickly to dry air: leaves begin to wrinkle.
With insufficient or poor care at home, the aglaoneme of flowers (photo) does not form.
Fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers
It is no secret that indoor plants need additional nutrition. Aglaonem in the period from March to August (time of active vegetation) must be watered with solutions of organic and complex mineral fertilizers. Frequency - once every two weeks. You can not mix mineral fertilizers and organic fertilizers, you need to alternate feeding.
Assessment of flower health by leaf condition
If the care for the aglaonema is correct and regular, then it will thank you with a luxurious appearance, large, juicy and shiny leaves with a beautiful pattern. Note that the slow growth of aglaonema is not a deviation, but the norm. In a year, the plant is able to produce only 4-5 new leaves. It is their appearance that can tell you a lot about the plant. After analyzing this information, you can adjust the care of the sinter.
If the leaves darkened and changed shape, lost turgor, then the plant is clearly not enough moisture. The gray plaque accompanying this phenomenon may indicate dry air in the room. It is necessary to increase humidity, often ventilate the room, but at the same time avoid drafts, which are destructive for aglaonemes.
Yellowing of the leaves indicates changes in the plant. The reasons can be both harmless (lack of light, the natural aging process), and quite serious (improper watering, waterlogging, accompanied by rotting of the roots, lack of nutrition, pests).
The dried ends of the leaves are a signal of too dry air, if their edges become brown, then the plant is probably cold or prone to drafts.
The appearance of spots is also a very alarming symptom. If they are white-yellow in color, then most likely the plant received a sunburn. It is necessary to remove it in the shade, let it cool, and then spray it with cool water.
It is not only the prevention of diseases of a bacterial and fungal nature that is important, the type of aglaoneme care also matters. In the photo, a flower affected by anthracnose. The disease has a fungal nature, developing, it covers the entire aerial part of the plant. An effective remedy is a 1 percent solution of Bordeaux fluid.
Sustainable overmoistening of aglaonema in combination with hypothermia is a direct path to the development of fungal diseases. Most often, this species suffers from gray rot, various spotting.
Pests
Aglaonema pests are typical of indoor conditions - scale insects, aphids, mealybug and thrips. If the room has a high air temperature combined with its dryness, then the risk of spider mite increases. Inspect the flower regularly to notice pests in time and prevent them from spreading.
With a small amount of pests, folk remedies can help, for example, processing with a soap solution, washing the plants in the shower. If the situation is already out of control, then only special drugs from the group of insecticides will be saved. Work with them should be careful and adhering to the dosage indicated on the package. An infected plant is best temporarily isolated from other indoor flowers.
From pests, such drugs as Actellik, Fitoverm, Agravertin, Vertimek, Karbofos, Akarin, etc. will help.
Breeding
Three to four years after planting, the aglaonema gradually loses its decorative effect, no matter how good the indoor flower care is. The aglaonema is extended, its leaves turn pale, the pattern of variegated forms loses its contrast. This is a natural process, the plant is aging. It is best to get a new one from the parent.
The most affordable and easy way to propagate is cuttings. You can use both the top of the plant and parts of the bare stem. The optimal length of the cuttings is 8-10 cm. They are rooted in wet sand, after having dried the slice or placed in water.
The second option for vegetative propagation is dividing the bush. The best time is late spring. When transplanting aglaonems, young plants are separated from the mother bush and immediately root them in the ground. In the first few weeks, they need to provide constant care and an air temperature of +20 ° C.
The most troublesome and longest is the seed method of reproduction. It is relevant in the case of rare varietal aglaonemes, which are difficult to find on sale. Occupation for enthusiasts. Sowing dates - February-March. Small seeds are sown in a bowl with moistened loose soil mixture, not sprinkled. From above, the dishes are covered with glass and placed in a warm (+27 ° C) and bright place. After 2-3 weeks, seedlings appear.