Aglaonema ‘Pink Leopard’

A spotted pink cultivar with an open history

Aglaonema ‘Pink Leopard’ is a cultivated selection identified by irregular pink speckles and patches. The breeder and parent plants are unknown, and the name carries no established place of selection or release date. Its species background cannot be reconstructed from the foliage pattern, leaving its natural habitat connection unresolved.

Care for Aglaonema ‘Pink Leopard’

• 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: Clean mature leaves gently and do not pull at a new leaf that is still folded.
• 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.

Scorch or active brown spots on Aglaonema ‘Pink Leopard’

• Scorch: Fixed tan patches on the most exposed leaves follow direct window light or heat. Shift the plant into filtered light and assess future growth.
• Active brown spots: Stable dry marks are old damage. Soft spots that continue to expand require dry leaves, isolation and clean tools if removal becomes necessary.
• Pests: Patterned leaves can hide early thrips and spider-mite feeding. Inspect both surfaces for scars, black specks or webbing, then check the petiole bases for mealybugs and scale.

Pet safety: Aglaonema ‘Pink Leopard’

Aglaonema ‘Pink Leopard’ 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.

How Aglaonema got its name

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.