Aglaonema ‘Emerald Stone’

Background of ‘Emerald Stone’

‘Emerald Stone’ is a horticultural Aglaonema cultivar with layered green-and-silver marbling. Aglaonema species occur naturally from northeastern India through Southeast Asia to New Guinea, and many grow as terrestrial evergreen herbs in humid forest beneath taller vegetation.

Care for Aglaonema ‘Emerald Stone’

• Watering: Let the upper 2–5 cm of substrate dry, then water thoroughly and let all excess water drain away. Do not keep the lower root zone permanently wet.
• Light: Medium to bright indirect light suits the olive, lime and silver foliage. Avoid prolonged direct sun, including on the greener leaves.
• Substrate: Use an airy mix with coir or peat, fine bark and perlite or pumice so moisture is buffered without shutting air out of the roots.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep it within about 18–27 °C and above 15 °C. Normal indoor humidity is usually enough, although persistent dry heat can contribute to crisp edges.
• Leaf care: Support each petiole when cleaning the broad foliage, and remove a leaf only after it has fully yellowed or dried.
• Feeding: Apply a balanced complete fertiliser during active growth, keeping the dose moderate and flushing the mix if salts collect at the surface.
• Propagation: Separate a rooted basal shoot or root a firm stem section with a healthy node in warm, lightly moist substrate.

Common problems with Aglaonema ‘Emerald Stone’

• Pale surface film: Mineral or water residue should wipe away with a soft damp cloth. A mark that remains inside the tissue after gentle wiping is leaf damage. Stop cleaning once the surface deposit is gone.
• Scale insects: Firm brown or tan bumps on veins and petioles, often with sticky residue, can indicate scale. If you confirm it, isolate the plant and remove 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.
• Several leaves turn yellow: Abrupt changes in moisture or temperature can trigger broader yellowing. If the root zone is still wet, extend the drying interval and make sure drainage is open; after recent chilling, return the plant to stable warmth. The yellow-leaf guide helps distinguish other patterns.
• Cold damage: Dark water-soaked patches after chilling can expand for a short time. Return the plant to steady warmth, keep it away from the cold source and cut away only tissue that has completely collapsed.
• Bent or split leaves: A sharp fold in one otherwise healthy blade usually comes from pressure or handling. Leave the leaf if it remains firm and protect new growth from the same contact.

Aglaonema ‘Emerald Stone’ 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 mean, and who first published it?

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.