Plants / Chinese Evergreen

Chinese Evergreen

Aglaonema commutatum

Also known as: Aglaonema

⚠ïļ Toxic to petsAraceaeEasy to propagate

A complete guide to growing and propagating Chinese Evergreen: its care needs, how to take cuttings and root them, how long propagation takes, and how to fix the most common problems.

Chinese Evergreen care at a glance

☀ïļ Light
Medium, indirect light; green forms tolerate low light while pink/red forms want brighter light.
💧 Water
Water when the top 1-2 inches dry; it tolerates occasional dryness better than overwatering.
ðŸŠī Soil
Well-draining potting mix.
ðŸ’Ļ Humidity
Average humidity is fine; appreciates 50%+.
ðŸū Toxicity
Toxic to cats and dogs (insoluble calcium oxalates).

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Log when you took each cutting, set rooting reminders, and watch your propagation timeline — free on iPhone.

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How to propagate Chinese Evergreen

Division

Difficulty: EasyTimeline: Establishes in 3-6 weeks.
  1. Unpot and find offsets/clumps with their own roots at the base.
  2. Separate a rooted clump by hand or with a clean knife.
  3. Pot into fresh well-draining mix at the same depth.
  4. Keep warm in medium, indirect light while it settles.

Stem cuttings

Difficulty: ModerateTimeline: Roots in 4-8 weeks.
  1. Cut a length of thick stem that includes a couple of nodes.
  2. Lay or insert it into moist mix so the nodes contact the soil.
  3. Cover loosely to hold humidity and keep warm.
  4. New shoots and roots form at the nodes.

Common Chinese Evergreen problems & fixes

Yellow leaves

Usually overwatering. Let the soil dry more between waterings and confirm the pot drains well.

Brown, crispy leaf tips

Low humidity or salt buildup. Raise humidity and flush the soil with plain water occasionally.

Leggy growth / small new leaves

Too little light. Move to brighter indirect light and prune to encourage fuller growth.

Track your chinese evergreen cuttings & propagation in SnipLog

Log when you took each cutting, set rooting reminders, and watch your propagation timeline — free on iPhone.

Get SnipLog →

Toxicity notes are a general guide based on ASPCA-style classifications — if a pet ingests any houseplant, contact your vet. Care needs vary with your home's conditions.