Light
Chinese Evergreen plants are one of the few houseplants with light green and gray in the leaves that can grow in
low light. The newer varieties of Chinese Evergreen houseplants that have bright red, pink, yellow, and orange in the leaves require medium to
bright light. Never place a Chinese Evergreen in the direct sun.
Water
Allow the top 25-30% of the soil of a Chinese Evergreen houseplant to dry out before watering. When the soil of a Chinese Evergreen Plant stays too wet for a long period of time, the stalks rot and die. If the soil of a Chinese Evergreen Plant gets too dry or too wet, yellow leaves develop.
Fertilizer
Chinese Evergreen houseplants do not need much
fertilizer. Feed a Chinese Evergreen Plant every other month with a basic houseplant food at 1/4 the recommended strength when the plant is actively growing.
Temperature
Temperatures below 50 degrees can damage the leaves of Chinese Evergreen houseplants. Keep Chinese Evergreen Plants out of cold winter drafts and away from air conditioners.
Humidity
Chinese Evergreen plants prefer regular household humidity or higher if possible.
Flowering
If your Chinese Evergreen houseplant produces flowers, immediately cut them off. The flowers are not very attractive and use energy that the plant needs to produce its beautiful leaves.
Pests
Diseases
In high humidity, the large leaves of a Chinese Evergreen plant may develop bacterial diseases such as Leaf Spot.
Soil
The best soil for Chinese Evergreen houseplants is a basic, well-aerated houseplant potting soil that drains quickly.
Pot Size
Keep a Chinese Evergreen Plant in a small pot so the soil can dry out quickly and the roots are not constantly wet.
Pruning
If a Chinese Evergreen plant becomes thin and leggy, prune the stems a few inches above the soil line. The plant will send out new growth at the bottom of the stem and along the length of the stem.
Propagation
Chinese Evergreen plants are propagated using stem cuttings and by
plant division.
Clean Air Plant
NASA lists the Chinese Evergreen Plant as one of the top 10 best houseplants to clean the air of harmful toxins.
Poisonous Plant Info
Chinese Evergreen Plants are
Poisonous Houseplants with a #2 toxicity
level due to the calcium oxalate crystals in the plant. Adverse reactions to a Chinese Evergreen Plant include skin irritations after contact with the sap, irritation of mouth, lips, throat, and tongue if the leaves are eaten.