Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’

A pink cultivated line with no known cross

Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’ is maintained in cultivation for broad pink leaves and dark green veins. No breeder, parent combination, selection site or introduction year is known for the cultivar. The plant therefore has an unresolved species family tree and cannot be tied reliably to the wild habitat of any named Aglaonema.

Care for Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’

• 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: Turn the pot occasionally if light comes mainly from one side, and remove lower leaves after they have fully yellowed.
• 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.

Stretched growth and simultaneous yellowing on Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’

• Stretched growth: Repeatedly small leaves, widening gaps between them and a crown leaning towards the window indicate insufficient usable light. Increase filtered light in stages and compare subsequent growth.
• Several yellow leaves: Check moisture deep in the pot and recent cold exposure. One ageing lower leaf is less concerning than yellowing that moves through the crown.
• Pests: Inspect the coloured leaves for silvery thrips scars, fine spider-mite stippling and sticky residue from mealybugs or scale, especially around the petiole bases.

Pet safety: Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’

Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’ 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.

Why Aglaonema means “shining stamen”

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.