Aglaonemas are a genus comprised of 40 accepted species and hundreds of cultivars. They are native to Asia and New Guinea, growing mainly as low light understory plants in very humid forest. They usually obtain a good portion of the moisture that they need from humidity, as water can be sparse in their natural environment. They are commonly referred to as 'Chinese evergreens' and are common houseplants. When humidity is not high enough for their liking, they will exhibit brown leaf edges, folding of leaves, and other leaf deformities.

These plants are cold sensitive, preferring temperatures between 60-85F year round. They like moist but well draining soil. Best grown in a well draining mix of peat, orchid bark and perlite, that do not like soil that is compacted.

Of the many species and cultivars grown, one is standing out right now as the most popular Aglaonema on the market: the variegated form of A. pictum called 'Tricolor'.

Unlike its cousins, in order to maintain the much sought after variegation on the leaves, this particular plant needs very bright diffuse light. It grows naturally on volcanic slope at elevation between 1000-2000 meters in Sumatra and on Nias Island.

I have had my plant for about 15 years give or take. One plant has now become 3. I thought I had lost it to cold, but it re-emerged and is now growing well again.

This plant is currently a collector's item, although this was not always the case. I paid perhaps $20-25 for mine back in the day. The median selling price for a small specimen of this plant currently is about $260 USD, although one did sell at auction within the past 6 months for a whopping $430.

Only the buyer can decide what a plant is really worth to them, but I personally feel like these prices are beyond ridiculous. However, the 'Tricolor' is a lovely plant and makes a beautiful addition to a terrarium, vivarium, greenhouse or houseplant collection.


Even though the conventional wisdom about Aglaonema is that they are terrestrial, I have had phenomenal success growing some as emersed aquatics in my pond and stream. These specimens below are firmly established and have tripled and even quadrupled in size since I placed them directly into the water (no pots, just bare root)








And a few others just grown as regular terrestrials. I don't have a huge collection of these, only 5 different ones, but I love them and definitely want to collect more in the future.





I'd sure love to see your plants and find out names of them and where you might have bought them. Please show yours!

The tricolor really is a legendary plant. I couldn't even find a trustworthy seller on Etsy (not that I could afford the plant anyway). I have a love-hate relationship with aglaonemas. I think they're really tough and amazing plants, but don't find them incredibly interesting. I abused the heck out of my poor aglaonema. I left it in a corner by one of those front door windows - the windows you typically see by a doorbell. It did not get enough light there, so it faded. Then I recently moved it back to the side of a south facing window where it used to do well, but get burnt at. It was probably on its way back to being a nice plant, but then I stupidly left it outside after watering it. The temp dropped to 50 degrees, and the morning sun burnt it even more.

Here is my aglaonema today.


If I'd have known they could function as a bog plant, I would've tried to propagate some and stick it in my fish tank!

Hey dude don't give up yet! See this one?


I accidentally left it out in a freeze 3-4 years ago. I thought it was toast. But it came back! I never thought it would. And it was a gift from a friend....I'm glad it came back I never would have wanted to admit I axed it LOL

Yes they do live in the stream and pond. It was an experiment, and it was a huge success. Dieffenbachia will also do this.

That aglao is so beautiful. It's impressive it survived a freeze!

I won't give up on my Walmart aglao yet. It has red variegation AND it was $10. That's two really good reasons for me to hold out hope.

Are they like colocasia that can be bog plants forever or more like pothos that will fade out over time? My fish tank pothos are not very happy campers as of lately.

Another reason for me to get a dieffenbachia!

I put mine into the water as an experiment last spring. They are actively MULTIPLYING (the common one whose name I don't know in the fourth photo? That was a single plant. There are 4 now.) I think its forever. At least for mine.

It being low light, makes it a really good fish tank plant! I'll definitely have to try growing some in my tank... after I rehome my silver dollar. That guy eats EVERY plant.

I have 2 spathes coming out! Hope I get seeds!!!!!!

That is such a unique leaf pattern. It really reminds me of camouflage pattern.

Here's my one and only Aglaonema.


The light is fairly low but very consistent throughout the day. It seems happy because it's lived there for quite a while. I don't know what the humidity is, but it's near my Philodendron Burle Marx which has a humidifier. This photo is actually an old one because I don't want to actually get up and go snap a new picture

Well that one is a BEAUTY!

Could one of you tell if the aglaonema pictum tricolor sends out runners?

Yes. I have a new plant coming up now in an established container which came up from under the soil

Gina, did you end up getting any seeds from your tricolor?

Deanna

No. But one is growing an offset LOL go figure

Has anyone ever tried propagation of the tricolor pictum by seeds? If so, may I ask how it is done?

I have gotten mine to start to form seeds a few times but they always abort