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

Three trade names for a red-edged line

‘Crete’, ‘Siam Aurora’ and ‘Jungle Red’ are commonly applied to the same red-edged Aglaonema line, with naming varying between growers. Its breeder, parentage and introduction date have not been documented, so its species ancestry and habitat background remain unknown.

Care for Aglaonema ‘Crete’

• Light: Medium to bright indirect light is suitable. Lower light slows growth and keeps the pot wet longer; strong sun through glass can scorch the leaves.
• Watering: Water when the surface feels dry and the pot is noticeably lighter, after checking that the root ball below is no longer wet. Small pots and brighter, warmer positions dry sooner. Wet the whole root ball and let the pot drain.
• Temperature, humidity and airflow: Keep it at 18–27 °C and above 15 °C, especially when the substrate is wet. Around 45–60% humidity is usually sufficient. If humidity stays below about 40% and edges keep drying, move the plant away from heating or use a humidifier. Normal room airflow is enough; avoid cold draughts and direct hot air.
• Feeding: Use a complete houseplant fertiliser at a low dose every three to four waterings during active growth. Feed less often whenever growth slows, regardless of the season, and never fertilise a dry root ball or a stressed plant.
• Substrate and repotting: Use an open mix of coco coir or peat, small bark and perlite or pumice in a draining pot. Let a newly delivered plant settle in its original pot. Repot when roots fill the container or the mix compacts, using a pot only slightly larger than the root system and keeping the stems at the same depth.
• Leaf care: Wipe dusty leaves with a soft damp cloth and remove fully yellow lower leaves with a clean cut.
• Propagation: Division is simplest: separate a basal shoot after it develops its own roots. Cane sections with at least one healthy node can also root in warm, lightly moist substrate.

Dry red margins and root problems on Aglaonema ‘Crete’

• Dry red margins: Browning along several coloured edges usually reflects uneven moisture, hot dry airflow or concentrated fertiliser salts. The brown-tip guide helps compare these causes. Check deep moisture and visible deposits before changing the watering cycle.
• Sun scorch: Tan patches on the window-facing leaves indicate direct sun or heat through glass. Move the plant into filtered light; the damaged tissue stays visible.
• Loose base in wet mix: Soft dark roots and an unstable stem confirm decay. Photograph the base and roots before changing the pot, then remove only dark soft roots and preserve every firm pale section of the system. Once the soft roots are clearly separated from firm ones, remove dead roots and use fresh aerated substrate around the firm remainder.
• Pests: Inspect the leaf undersides and the junctions between the coloured petioles and stems for thrips, spider mites, mealybugs and scale.

Pet safety: Aglaonema ‘Crete’ aka ‘Siam Aurora’ aka ‘Jungle Red’

Aglaonema ‘Crete’ is not pet-safe. Aglaonema contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause immediate mouth pain and irritation, swelling of the mouth, tongue or lips, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing if chewed. Sap may also irritate skin and eyes.

Where the genus name in ‘Crete’ comes from

Aglaonema combines Greek aglaos, meaning shining or splendid, with nema, meaning thread or filament. Botanist Dan H. Nicolson rendered the resulting name as “shining stamen” in his monograph of the genus. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established Aglaonema on 8 September 1829 on page 892 of issue 108 of Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Litteratur, Theater und Mode.