Aglaonema 'Crete' aka 'Siam Aurora' aka 'Jungle Red'

Aglaonema 'Crete' aka 'Siam Aurora' aka 'Jungle Red'

Aglaonema 'Crete', also known as 'Siam Aurora' and 'Jungle Red', is a red-edged Chinese evergreen with green leaf centres, pink-red margins and flushed petioles. The colour follows the edge, midrib and stem line, giving the plant a clear red-green outline from the centre of the crown outward.

This cultivar grows as a compact upright clump from a short base. The leaves sit close together at first, then angle outward as the petioles lengthen, giving even a smaller plant a defined crown and visible colour from several sides.

Aglaonema 'Crete' red-margin traits

• Green leaf centres framed by red to pink leaf margins
• Flushed petioles that keep colour visible from the side
• Compact upright crown with a self-heading growth habit
• Glossy oval to elliptic leaves with a slightly leathery feel
• Also listed under the trade names 'Siam Aurora' and 'Jungle Red'

Crown growth, red margins and petioles

Aglaonema 'Crete' carries its strongest visual detail along the margin and petiole. Young leaves open from the centre with softer colour, then flatten and firm as the blade matures. Older leaves can deepen along the edge while the green centre remains the main surface area of the blade.

The wider Aglaonema genus is associated with warm, shaded tropical habitats across Asia and New Guinea. In indoor cultivation, that background translates into stable warmth, filtered light and a substrate that holds moisture while allowing oxygen around the roots. The compact crown of Aglaonema 'Crete' makes airflow around the base important, especially in cooler months.

Care routine for Aglaonema 'Crete'

• Light: Give medium to bright indirect light. A sheer curtain or position away from direct midday rays protects the glossy surface.
• Watering: Water when the upper 40–60% of the potting mix has dried. Keep the root zone lightly moist during active growth and let it dry further in winter.
• Substrate: Use a balanced, aerated houseplant mix with fine bark, coir or peat-free fibre, and mineral drainage.
• Drainage: A free-draining nursery pot is important because the compact basal crown needs air around the root zone.
• Temperature: Aim for 18–24 °C indoors. Keep away from cold glass, unheated rooms and winter draughts.
• Humidity: Normal household humidity is usually suitable. Grouping plants or using a humidifier can support smoother new leaf expansion in dry rooms.
• Feeding: Feed lightly in spring and summer. Use a diluted balanced fertiliser and flush the pot occasionally to reduce salt build-up.
• Pot choice: Keep the pot close to root size. A compact Aglaonema in a deep oversized pot stays wet for too long at the base.
• Repotting: Repot when roots circle the pot or the mix compacts. Keep the crown at the same depth after repotting.
• Pruning: Remove spent lower leaves cleanly at the base. This keeps the upright crown tidy and reduces hidden damp leaf material.
• Outdoor summer placement: Move outside only in warm, sheltered shade once nights stay above 16 °C. Bring back indoors before cool nights return.
• Propagation: Divide only mature clumps with separate rooted shoots. Fresh divisions need warmth and even moisture while roots re-establish.

Aglaonema 'Crete' leaf and crown signals

• Yellow base leaves: Check the bottom of the pot and the crown base. Several fading lower leaves can indicate wet mix or a cool root zone.
• Brown patches on leaves: Check for direct sun, cold exposure or water sitting on leaves in a cool room.
• Soft petioles: Check root firmness and reduce watering until the mix breathes again. Firm petioles should hold the leaf edge clearly.
• Dry leaf edges: Check watering gaps, fertiliser strength and warm airflow. Red margins show edge stress quickly.
• Uneven crown: Rotate the pot every few weeks so new leaves develop evenly around the centre.

The names 'Crete', 'Siam Aurora' and 'Jungle Red' are used for this red-edged Aglaonema type. The key visible traits are green blades, red-pink margins, flushed petioles and a compact crown.

Pet safety and removed foliage

Aglaonema 'Crete' contains calcium oxalate crystals. Place it away from pets and small children, and clear away removed leaves after pruning.

Cultivar name and trade names

Aglaonema is a genus in the Araceae family. The name comes from Greek roots meaning bright or clear and thread, in reference to the stamens. The names 'Crete', 'Siam Aurora' and 'Jungle Red' refer to this red-edged Aglaonema selection in cultivation.

Aglaonema 'Crete' adds red margins, green leaf centres and coloured petioles in a compact upright plant.