Aglaonema 'Red Zircon'

Cultivated form and natural range of Aglaonema 'Red Zircon'

‘Red Zircon’ is a cultivated Aglaonema. Aglaonema occurs naturally across tropical Asia from north-eastern India eastwards to Papua New Guinea, and many species are terrestrial plants of humid forest floors.

Care for compact Aglaonema ‘Red Zircon’

• Match the pot to the roots: Do not move ‘Red Zircon’ into a much larger container before the root system needs the extra space. Use a drainage-holed pot and an airy mix with bark and perlite or pumice.
• Water after partial drying: Check the centre of the pot as well as the surface. Once the upper portion has dried, water thoroughly and drain; a tightly leafed top can hide a root ball that is still wet.
• Use bright, diffused light and steady warmth: Keep strong direct sun off the leaves and protect the plant from cold draughts or cold glass. If moving it brighter, increase exposure gradually.
• Feed and propagate in step with growth: Apply a complete fertiliser at a low dose while new leaves are opening, then reduce it when growth slows. Separate basal shoots only after they have roots of their own; healthy stem nodes can also be rooted warm.

Diagnosing problems on Aglaonema ‘Red Zircon’

• Yellow leaves and a soft centre while the mix stays wet: Stop adding water and check drainage first. If the base continues to soften, inspect the root system and remove only tissue that is clearly rotten; repot into fresh airy mix sized to the remaining healthy roots. The root rot guide explains what to remove and how to repot healthy roots.
• Brown, brittle tips: Check for repeated drying and fertiliser residue before increasing humidity. Water evenly, flush the substrate if salts have accumulated and reduce the fertiliser dose if tip burn follows feeding.
• Bleached or dry patches: Strong direct sun and excessive heat can wash out or scorch Aglaonema leaves. Move the plant to filtered light and judge improvement by the next leaves; the damaged patch will remain.
• Fine pale stippling with webbing — spider mites: Isolate the plant and separate the leaves enough to check the compact centre, folded growth and both leaf surfaces for moving mites or fine webbing. After confirmation, rinse the plant and apply a treatment labelled for spider mites, such as an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil suitable for houseplants, to both leaf surfaces. Repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course, checking the tight centre between treatments.
• Silvery scarring and black specks on the newest leaf — thrips: Keep the plant isolated and inspect the folded growth, both leaf surfaces and petiole bases for slender moving insects or black specks beside fresh silver scarring. Once thrips are confirmed, apply a houseplant treatment labelled for thrips to the folded growth, both leaf surfaces and petiole bases. Follow the label-directed intervals for the full course and reopen the compact centre for each recheck.
• Cottony clusters or sticky fixed bumps — mealybugs or scale: Isolate the plant, then confirm mealybugs from cottony or waxy clusters or scale from fixed brown or tan bumps with sticky residue around the petiole bases and affected leaves. Remove visible insects first and apply a treatment labelled for the confirmed pest, such as an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil suitable for houseplants, to the affected leaf and petiole areas. Repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course, including the hidden centre in every check.

Aglaonema ‘Red Zircon’ 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.