Aglaonema commutatum

Native range and botanical background of Aglaonema commutatum

Aglaonema commutatum is native to the Philippines and Sulawesi and grows in wet tropical habitat.

Indoor care for Aglaonema commutatum

• Water and substrate: Check moisture through the upper part of the pot and water when roughly the top third has dried. Rewet the root ball evenly and allow surplus water to drain. A rich but open mix suits the fleshy roots because it retains some moisture without becoming airless.
• Light: Medium filtered light is sufficient, while brighter indirect light is also suitable. Keep the leaves out of strong direct sun.
• Growth and propagation: As stems lengthen, allow room for older growth to lean or rest closer to the substrate. Multi-stem plants can be divided with roots attached, and healthy stem or tip cuttings with viable nodes can also be propagated.
• Temperature and feeding: Aim for a steady 18–24 °C. Keep the pot clear of cold draughts and avoid extended periods below roughly 15 °C. Apply a low-strength feed while the plant is making active new growth.

Common problems with Aglaonema commutatum

• Ageing leaf or wet-root yellowing: One old lower leaf yellowing while the rest of the plant stays firm can be normal ageing. If several leaves yellow together and the mix is still wet, extend the drying interval and make sure excess water can leave the pot. If the decline continues, inspect the roots and remove only roots that are soft, hollow or foul-smelling before repotting in fresh airy mix.
• Cold injury: Grey, dark or translucent patches after cold exposure can be chilling injury. Move the plant into stable warmth and remove only tissue that becomes soft or starts to decay.
• Soft stem or root rot: A soft stem base or sour-smelling wet substrate indicates a more serious rot problem. Inspect the roots before cutting, remove confirmed soft dark tissue and replant only firm healthy material in fresh airy mix.
• Pests: Look for aphid colonies on soft growth, cottony mealybugs, fixed scale bumps, or the fine stippling and webbing caused by mites. Isolate the plant and inspect the soft growth, petiole bases and both leaf surfaces. Remove visible pests or heavily affected material where practical, then apply a treatment labelled for the confirmed pest to the soft growth, petiole bases and both leaf surfaces. Repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course.

Aglaonema commutatum 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.

What does Aglaonema commutatum mean, and who first published it?

Aglaonema combines Greek aglaos, meaning shining or splendid, with nema, meaning thread or filament. The epithet commutatum is Latin for altered or changed.

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

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott first described Aglaonema commutatum in 1856 in Synopsis Aroidearum, page 123.