Aglaonema ‘Spring Red’

Horticultural background of Aglaonema ‘Spring Red’

‘Spring Red’ is a horticultural Aglaonema cultivar within the cultivated Chinese-evergreen group. The genus Aglaonema is native across tropical and subtropical Asia, extending east to New Guinea.

How to grow Aglaonema ‘Spring Red’

• Water: Use the moisture in the pot as the cue: when roughly the upper third has dried, rewet the entire root ball. Allow excess water to escape and pour away anything collected in a cover pot or saucer.
• Light: Give the plant bright indirect light and protect the glossy leaves from prolonged direct sun.
• Substrate and temperature: Use a loose organic-mineral mix and keep the plant warm, ideally around 18–27 °C. Avoid cold draughts and prolonged temperatures below about 15 °C.
• Feeding and division: Feed modestly during active growth. If a mature plant becomes crowded, divide it by separating a basal shoot that already has its own roots.

Common problems with Aglaonema ‘Spring Red’

• Normal red pattern: A green-dominant leaf is normal for this cultivar when the pink-to-red midrib and leaf stalk remain clear and the surrounding tissue is firm and healthy. No corrective action is needed.
• Yellowing in wet mix: Several yellow leaves on a plant that remains wet for days point first to excess moisture around the roots. Give the root ball more time to dry and confirm that excess water can leave the pot. If the plant continues to decline, inspect the roots and remove only soft dark tissue before repotting in fresh airy mix.
• Sun scorch: Dry bleached patches on the window-facing side are consistent with sun scorch. Move the plant into filtered light; damaged areas remain marked, so use later leaves to judge recovery.
• Pests: Fine stippling with webbing points to mites, clustered aphids gather on soft growth, fixed bumps indicate scale, and cottony pests indicate mealybugs. Sticky honeydew can accompany aphids, scale or mealybugs. Isolate the plant and inspect new growth, petiole bases and leaf undersides. Remove visible pests or heavily affected material where practical, then apply a treatment labelled for the confirmed pest to the new growth, petiole bases and leaf undersides. Repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course.

Aglaonema ‘Spring Red’ 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.

How did Aglaonema get its name?

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.