Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’

Background of ‘Cintho King’

‘Cintho King’ is a named horticultural Aglaonema cultivar with green leaves and conspicuously pale petioles. The genus is native from northeastern India through Southeast Asia to New Guinea, where many species grow as evergreen herbs on or close to the floor of humid forest.

Care for Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’

• Watering: Let roughly the upper 2–5 cm of substrate dry before watering the root ball thoroughly. The thick clustered bases should not sit in mix that remains saturated for days.
• Light: Medium indirect light supports steady growth. The solid-green leaves can continue growing in lower indirect light, although growth becomes slower in a very dark position.
• Substrate: Use a loose blend with organic fibre, fine bark and perlite or pumice so water drains while some moisture remains available.
• Temperature and humidity: Warm rooms suit it; aim for about 18–27 °C and keep the pot away from chilled windows or draughts. Average room humidity is suitable unless persistent dry heat is affecting the leaves.
• Feeding and handling: Feed moderately during active growth, then reduce the dose when growth slows. Wipe the broad leaves gently and avoid forcing a new leaf open.
• Propagation: Divide rooted basal shoots or root a firm cane section with an active node in warm, aerated substrate.

Issues to check on Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’

• Several leaves turn yellow: Check whether the root zone has stayed wet, dried severely or been chilled. For a wet root zone, extend drying and improve drainage; for severe dryness, soak the root ball; after chilling, restore stable warmth. A broader checklist is in the yellow-leaf guide.
• Creases or tears on new leaves: A dry, fixed split usually comes from pressure while the leaf was soft. Leave healthy damaged tissue in place and give future leaves more clearance without forcing them open.
• Scale insects: Firm brown or tan bumps, sticky residue and local yellowing can indicate scale. If you confirm it, isolate the plant and wipe or scrape off accessible insects gently. Apply a treatment labelled for scale to the veins, petioles and leaf undersides, then repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course to reach newly hatched crawlers; see the scale guide.
• Cold damage: Grey-brown or water-soaked tissue appearing after exposure to cold glass or draughts is chilling injury. Move the plant to stable warmth and remove only tissue that has fully collapsed.
• Soft stem or base: Darkening, a sour smell or a soft base while the substrate remains wet suggests decay. Inspect the roots, remove clearly rotten tissue with clean tools and restart a firm healthy section if necessary.

Aglaonema ‘Cintho King’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Why is it called Aglaonema?

Aglaonema combines Greek aglaos, meaning shining or splendid, with nema, meaning thread or filament.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Aglaonema in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 1829, page 892.