Chinese indoor plants are a great option for those hunting for houseplants to revitalize their home. Chinese evergreens are easy to care for and suited to conditions outside as well as in, while the hardy nature of these plants makes them a fantastic option for those new to indoor gardening.
They can also be grown outside in a shady bed in frost-free areas if desired and if space allows. In order to thrive, they necessitate moist soil and an environment that offers a degree of humidity, although a regular misting can ensure your Chinese evergreen has the conditions it needs.
A low maintenance option
Whilst the majority of houseplants require some effort when it comes to appropriate growing conditions (such as temperature, light, humidity, and so on), growing Chinese evergreens can make even the novice indoor gardener look like a pro.
This tropical foliage plant is one of the hardiest houseplants you can grow indoors, as it is able to withstand low light conditions, drought, and dry air.
Tips for growing Chinese evergreens indoors
Growing Chinese evergreens indoors (botanical name Aglaonema) is extremely easy. This beauty of a plant is one of the most prevalent houseplants grown in the home environment, which is down to its ease of care.
Chinese evergreen plants come in a variety of assortments, including a number of variegated forms. Although they are able to withstand the majority of growing conditions, it is important to follow recommendations from expert plant growers, as this will allow you to yield superior results.
One top tip includes placing your Chinese indoor plants in well-draining soil, such as an equal mix of potting soil, sand, and perlite. These popular plants grow well in medium to low light conditions or in indirect sunlight.
Wherever you choose to place this plant in the home, it’s important to make sure that the shrub benefits from warm temperatures and humid conditions.
Despite this, this versatile plant is able to tolerate less than perfect conditions if required. These plants enjoy temperatures no lower than 16°C (c. 60F) with indoor temperatures ranging between 21°C – 22°C (c. 69°F – 72°F) being the preferred environment.
For best results, place Chinese evergreen plants away from draughts, as this can cause the foliage to turn brown over time if the plant is constantly exposed.
Chinese evergreen care
Caring for Chinese evergreen houseplants necessities little effort, which makes them an extremely low maintenance houseplant, especially when provided with the correct growing conditions.
These shrubs benefit from moderate watering, and it’s important that you don’t water them too much, or too little. For best results, and to encourage your Chinese indoor plants to thrive, allow the shrub to dry out in between waterings.
Be careful too, as overwatering can cause root rot. As part of your Chinese evergreen care, it is a good idea to fertilize your plant every now and again, especially if it is an older Chinese evergreen.
This should be done once or twice per year using a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. If your Chinese indoor plants begin to grow too large or leggy, simply give the plant a quick trim.
It’s also worth remembering that it is possible to save cuttings during the pruning process, which will allow you to propagate new plants. These cuttings should root easily in water.
What else do you need to know?
Mature plants will often produce blooms similar to that of calla or peace lilies. This occurs in the spring and summer. Most green-fingered connoisseurs opt to snip the blooms before seed production unless of course, they wish to grow them from seed.
It’s wise to keep in mind that this will take a great deal more effort. To reduce the build-up of dust, it’s wise to clean the leaves every now and again by wiping them down with a soft, damp cloth.
Alternatively, you may wish to place them in the shower and let them air dry. Be careful not to overwater in this instance though, as your Chinese indoor plants will not appreciate being left under the water for too long.
Pests and ailments
Like a number of houseplants, Chinese evergreen houseplants can be affected by pests. These include the likes of scale, spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids.
Regularly assessing the leaves for signs of such pests will help to avoid problems later. These will be evident on the leaves of the plant, with spider mites, in particular, leaving small webs.
There are a number of hybrid varieties of the Chinese evergreen in existence, many of which have been cultivated for more than a century. They’ve certainly grown in popularity in terms of indoor growers, especially among those who wish to use them as ornamental plants to enhance the room decor.
Varieties
These slow-growing plant species include standard green, variegated, speckled, and blotched styles. One of the most popular and sought-after species is the silver queen, which boasts impressive leaves that appear to be covered in flecks of silver, with a few small green patches.
Foliage: The leaves are linear in style, which means they are elongated with parallel sides. Some are oval-shaped, and grow at the tip of the stalks. These leaves can reach a span of up to 30cm in length and measure between five and eight centimetres in width.
An older shrub will often form a short trunk, which can look a little like yucca or dracaena, especially in the way the lower leaves remove themselves and leave scar-like marks.
Blooming: During the summer months, once the shrub matures, it is able to produce extremely small flowers, which then turn into berries. If you’re lucky enough to see these, they tend to grow between the leaves, although they often go unnoticed.
Whenever these plants are grown indoors, they necessitate enough warmth. This is found in the majority of homes, while it’s also a reason why many choose to grow Chinese Evergreens in greenhouses if growing them outside.
Source: gardeningknowhow.com
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