Gardening Houseplants How to Plant and Grow Chinese Evergreen Tough-As-Nails Houseplant or Tropical Outdoor Plant with Striking Leaves By Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani Nadia Hassani is a gardening and food writer with more than two decades of hands-on gardening experience in vegetable and fruit gardening, landscaping with native plants, and garden design. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on May 26, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Where to Plant Planting Tips Care Pests and Problems Propagation Types FAQ Trending Videos Close this video player Tough-as-nails Chinese evergreen, also known as Philippine evergreen, is an easy-to-grow houseplant that tolerates virtually all indoor growing conditions. (Beginners: This one's for you!) It's also a showstopper, with verdant green leaves splashed with white, silver, pink, or red—depending on the variety. It rarely flowers when grown inside, though. A slow-growing houseplant, it will happily reside on a desktop for many months before outgrowing the space. Large Chinese evergreen plants are perfect accent pieces for empty corners or for pairing with big furniture pieces. In warm climates (zone 10 and 11) is can also be grown as an outdoor plant. Chinese evergreen is toxic to humans and pets. Chinese Evergreen Overview Genus Name Aglaonema commutatum Common Name Chinese Evergreen Plant Type Houseplant, Perennial Height 1 to 3 feet Width 1 to 3 feet Foliage Color Gray/Silver Special Features Low Maintenance Propagation Division, Stem Cuttings Where to Plant Chinese Evergreen Chinese evergreen is usually grown as a houseplant but in zones 10 and 11 where winter temperatures don’t drop below 40 degrees F, it can also be planted outdoors. Select a location in deep or partial shade, such as underneath a tree, where the soil is moist but well-drained and slightly acidic (pH below 6.0). How and When to Plant Chinese Evergreen When planting Chinese evergreen outdoors, spring is the best time so the plant has the entire growing season to get established. Dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container. Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before placing in the hole. Backfill with soil, tamp lightly, and water well. Space the plants 3 feet apart. Chinese Evergreen Care Tips Light If you're growing Chinese evergreen as a landscape plant, make sure you protect this shade plant from too much light. However, if you're growing it inside, just about anything goes. It grows well with indirect sunlight or in medium- to low-light conditions. Place this houseplant on a desktop under the glow of fluorescent lights, and it will do just fine. Soil and Water Chinese evergreen is easy-going about moisture, too. Plant it in an equal mix of potting soil, perlite, and sand that drains easily. Water the plant regularly to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. The plant does not go dormant during the winter but should be watered less frequently. If planted outdoors, make sure the soil has good drainage and a slightly acidic pH (below 6.0). Temperature and Humidity Keep the plant in a room at least 55 degrees F (70 to 72 degrees F is best). When planting it outdoors, keep in mind that Chinese evergreen is a tropical plant that does not survive frost. High humidity, on the other hand, is not just tolerated but needed. Fertilizer A Chinese evergreen will grow faster and maintain more vibrant foliage if fertilized once or twice a year with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions. Pruning Remove the flower buds so the plant can put all its energy into foliage growth. Chinese evergreen is grown for the beauty of its leaves. The flowers are inconspicuous. Potting and Repotting Chinese Evergreen Plant Chinese evergreen in pots with large drainage holes and fill them with well-draining potting mix and some peat moss for acidity. The plant is a moderate to slow grower so repotting in only necessary every few years when the root system has filled the pot. When it's time to repot, find a container one size up and fill with fresh potting mix before moving the plant to its new home. 4 Tips for Choosing the Best Containers for Your Houseplants Pests and Problems Keep your eyes open for aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites. A telltale sign of mealybugs is a sticky substance on the leaves, which is the honeydew excreted by the insects after feeding on the plant. How to Propagate Chinese Evergreen Chinese evergreen can be easily propagated from stem cuttings. Using scissors or a sharp knife, take a 6-inch cutting that has several stem nodes (the points where leaves attach to the stem). Place them in a jar with water in a place with indirect sunlight. Once the stems have rooted, you can plant them in 4-inch pots filled with potting mix. Types of Chinese Evergreen Aglaonema Silver Bay Aglaonema commutatum ‘Silver Bay’ is a large variegated variety with silver leaves. The leaves can grow up to 12 inches long and the plant can reach up to 3 feet in width. Aglaonema Silver Queen Aglaonema commutatum ‘Silver Queen’, also called painted drop tongue, is another variegated variety with dark green and silver leaves and short stems. Aglaonema Emerald Beauty The lush green leaves of this variegated variety are light green. Aglaonema commutatum ‘Emerald Beauty’ reaches 26 to 30 inches in height at maturity. Frequently Asked Questions Why are the leaves of my Chinese evergreen turning brown? It could either be lack of water or caused by draft, which Chinese evergreen does not like. Keep the plant away from air conditioning vents and other sources of draft. How do you clean Chinese evergreen leaves? Wipe off the leaves once in a while to limit dust accumulation. You can use a soft, damp rag, or briefly place the plant in the shower to wash off the dust, then let it air dry. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Better Homes & Gardens is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Chinese Evergreen. ASPCA. Aglaonema commutatum. North Carolina State University Extension Service.