Aglaonema 'Silver Bay'

Origin and breeding history of Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’

‘Silver Bay’ was developed by the University of Florida’s foliage-plant breeding programme and released in 1992. It is an interspecific hybrid between Aglaonema ‘Manila Whirl’ and Aglaonema nitidum ‘Ernesto’s Favorite’.

Aglaonema itself ranges from north-eastern India eastwards to Papua New Guinea. Many wild species live as ground-rooted plants under the filtered light of humid tropical forest.

Indoor care for Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’

• Light: Medium indirect light is a good fit for ‘Silver Bay’, and the cultivar also performs reliably in lower indoor light. Keep it out of full sun, which can bleach or scorch the broad blades.
• Moisture and root aeration: Keep moisture reasonably even around the roots but never leave the mix saturated. Let the upper layer dry, water the complete root ball and use a mix with enough bark, perlite or pumice to stay airy after watering.
• Warmth: Maintain normal warm-room conditions and avoid prolonged temperatures below about 15 °C. Do not allow the large leaves to rest against cold winter glass.
• Feeding: Use modest amounts of complete fertiliser during active growth. Indoor Aglaonema are sensitive to soluble-salt build-up, so avoid heavy or unnecessary feeding and occasionally flush the substrate if fertiliser is used regularly.
• Basal shoots: Free branching is normal for ‘Silver Bay’ and does not by itself mean the plant needs a larger pot. Repot when roots fill the container; a well-rooted shoot can then be divided, or a healthy cane section can be rooted separately.

Troubleshooting Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’

• Brown, brittle leaf tips: Fertiliser salts, repeated hard drying and very dry air are common contributors. Flush the substrate thoroughly, reduce fertiliser if needed and make watering more even. See the brown leaf tips guide for symptom comparisons.
• Yellowing lower leaves over a wet root ball: Let the mix dry further and confirm that the drainage holes are open. If multiple leaves continue to yellow or the base softens, inspect the roots, remove only clearly decayed tissue and replant the firm roots in fresh, well-draining mix.
• Washed-out colour or unusually upright leaves: Excessive light or heat can change Aglaonema leaf colour and angle. Move ‘Silver Bay’ to gentler indirect light and a cooler stable position; severely bleached leaves may remain marked.
• New leaves emerge with a hooked or trapped tip: Fluctuations in water, temperature, nutrition or light can contribute to this bent-tip disorder. Stabilise the growing conditions and avoid forcing the caught leaf open; the next leaf is the better indicator of recovery.

Aglaonema ‘Silver Bay’ 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.