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How to Grow Aglaonema as Houseplants

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Aglaonema make easy going gorgeous houseplants. They are regarded as good luck plants in Asian culture which says a lot about them. As tropical plants they are not tolerant of cold weather and do very well as houseplants. There are many different varieties of of Aglaonemas to choose from and they are all so gorgeous. Here’s how to grow this beautiful plant.

close up shot of aglaonema leaves

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

Light

Aglaonemas grow do best in medium light and low light conditions. So place this plant within a few feet of a window. Some direct light is ok but be careful of the intensity of the light. The Aglaonema with white variegation will need more light and Aglaonemas with mostly dark foliage do well in lower light. If your home lacks light you can add grow lights. Grow lights are so helpful on darker winter days or in that dark corner of the house that desperately needs a plant.

Water

These plants are so tolerant of irregular watering. What works really well is waiting to water until the soil is dry about half way down. Aglaonema have decently thick stems that can store some water allowing them do dry out longer.

In the winter months your plant may need less water depending on how dry your home is and if the plant has gone dormant. Our winters are cold and dry so I base my watering on how dry the soil is as opposed to how long its been since I watered it last.

Aglaonema
Aglaonema

For winter houseplant care tips read this!

Humidity

Aglaonemas do great in normal home humidity. Adding a humidifier wouldn’t hurt especially if your home is dry. You’ll notice changes in your plants when you provide more humidity. Such as more growth and potentially bigger foliage.

Aglaonema
Aglaonema

Soil

Plant your Aglaonema in a good well draining mix. They enjoy moist but not wet soil so make sure your soil mix has perlite, orchid bark or some other medium to help with drainage.

Fertilizing

This Plant loves to be fed during the growing season and isn’t particular about what fertilizer you use. Organic fertilizer tend to be my go to for all plants with my favorite being fish emulsion. Fertilize weekly during the growing season and give an extremely diluted amount during winter.

Extras

The Aglaonema is an amazing houseplant. It can grow very large if you provide the proper care. Be sure to provide this plant a prime location in your home because it’s a showstopper!

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

7 easy to find Gorgeous Variegated Houseplants that are Cheap!

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We all know the plant buying game can be a tough one when your searching for the trendy variegated houseplants but there are so many beautiful variegated plants without the hefty price tag.

Pothos

Pothos are one of my favorite easy to grow variegated houseplants! They are so forgiving and propagate so easily. Pothos will also push out leaves with higher variegation if you give them more light!

Golden Pothos
Golden Pothos

Ficus Triangularis Variegata

The Triangularis is not always the easiest plant to take care of but it is beautiful and variegated. If you can keep this princess happy she will reward you with stunning leaves and structure!

Ficus Triangularis Variegata
Ficus Triangularis Variegata

Aglaonema White Stems

One of the most beautiful Aglaonemas you can readily find and so easy to grow. Provide them with bright indirect light and water when dry. They are happy little plants!

Aglaonema Cutlass
Aglaonema Cutlass

Hoya

Many Hoyas hold a hefty price tag but they are also a lot that are pretty reasonable and you should have them in your collection.

food summer plant pot
Photo by Felipe Alves on Pexels.com

Tradescantia

There are so many different gorgeous variations of this gorgeous variegated plant. You should collect them all!

green potted plant on wooden shelf
Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels.com

Philodendron Birkin

Once hard to find the gorgeous Philodendron Birkin is readily available and ready to grow beautifully in your home!

green plant in close up photography
Photo by Katarzyna Modrzejewska on Pexels.com

Alocasia Macrorrhiza Variegata

This plant has come down in price and it’s an absolute stunner! Easy to grow and gives jungle vibes to any space in your home!

Alocasia Macrorrhiza Variegata
Alocasia Macrorrhiza Variegata

What makes a good collection is not the cost of the plant but the joy and value that plant brings to your space and life. If you want a trendy variegated houseplant then get the trendy plant. It’s all about what brings you joy and vs what fits your budget.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Philodendron Micans Easy Care Tips

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The Philodendron Micans is a beautiful velvety climbing vine. Its velvety leaves are hard to resist and glitter when the sun hits them. The philodendron Micans is not a difficult plant to grow, just like other Philodendrons it can be very easy going.

Philodendron Micans
Philodendron Micans

The Micans can handle pretty dim conditions within the home. However they thrive in bright indirect light and prefer that type of lighting. A window with east facing light will suffice.

When this gorgeous plant is thirsty it will tell you by curling its leaves. Should you see curled leaves or dry tips you know it’s been too long and you need to give it a full drink.

Because this is a plant that climbs in the wild, giving it a moss pole to climb will result in a happier plant with larger leaves. It’s still beautiful if you allow it to trail, it’s all a matter of preference.

Philodendron Micans
Philodendron Micans

Philodendrons enjoy being fertilized. I water my philo’s with diluted fish emulsion once every few weeks and they grow like crazy!

Philodendrons thrive in a potting soil mix that holds moisture but also has bark chunks or perlite for added drainage. I typically use a potting soil mix and add orchid bark to add drainage.

Philodendron Micans is a very easy going houseplant that is easy to take care of. It shines in the sun, what more could you ask for in a plant?

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

African Violet Houseplant Care Tips

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African Violets are probably one of the most misunderstood houseplants as far as care. So many plant parents kill them simply because they don’t understand what they need. So let’s think about where they hail from. Native to Africa, hot and dry these plants can handle a little bit of drought. They have a fuzzy more succulent leaf which means they store a bit of water in case of a drought.

African Violet in bloom

Soil Mix:

You can use an African Violet pre mixed soil if you wish. I use my mix for just about every plant in my care. It’s a potting soil called Pro Mix, I mix in a little Orchid Bark or vermiculite to add extra drainage. It’s an all around mix in my opinion.

Light:

I find that African Violets do well with bright indirect light and will bloom more freely in bright light. I keep two in filtered west facing light and one in bright east facing light.

Water:

The African Violet is a plant that I water when dry. Like all the soil in the pot is completely dry. Not 3 months dry more like it’s been dry for a week and now I’m watering it. They prefer to be bottom watered 75% of the time and 25% from above. Any moisture resting on the foliage and on the crown of the plant has a potential for fungal issues and rot.

Pot:

African Violets do well in any type of pot. Be sure to adjust the drainage depending on the pot you choose. Plastic pots will require more drainage additives such as perlite, vermiculite or Orchid Bark. Whereas Terra cotta will need less additives because Terracotta wicks water from the soil drying it faster.

Once you get the hang of African Violet care they will grow and bloom so well for you. They are a must have plant for your collection.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Rhaphidophora Decursiva How to Grow

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Rhaphidophora Decursiva also known as the Dragons Tail is an awesome plant to have in your houseplant collection. It’s dynamic leaf structure is unique and beautiful. This plant, like it’s cousin the Tetrasperma is a very easy care plant.

To grow a Rhaphidophora Decursiva you need great lighting, the right soil, pot and proper watering.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva Houseplant
Rhaphidophora Decursiva

How to grow a Rhaphidophora Decursiva

  1. Light
  2. Soil
  3. Water
  4. Pot

Light

The Rhaphidophora does best in bright indirect light. If your window pours in direct sun move your plant back a few feet. These climbing plants live in the understory of the forest and can handle for a short period of sun before burning.

Pro Tip: If you want your plant in more direct sun you will want to acclimate it first by giving it an hour the first day then two hours the second day until it’s in eight hours of sun or or less.

Soil

Rhaps do well in a moisture retentive chunky soil mixture. You can make one by using coir, pearlite and orchid bark. This will allow the soil to hold moisture but not for too long and bark to give the roots something cling to while adding drainage along with the pearlite. If you prefer not to buy all of these separate items for a mix. You can use a prepared bagged soil and add orchid bark.

Pro Tip : You will need to add a slow fertilizer to this mix. Worm castings or a pelleted plant fertilizer will work.

Rhaphidophora Decursiva
Rhaphidophora Decursiva New Foliage

Water

The Decursiva is very drought tolerant, if you happen to forget to water. It can take a while before it shows signs of dehydration. If you are seeing signs of dehydration such as wilting, dying foliage or leaf spots you have waited too long to water. Give this plant a full drink of water when the top few inches of soil are dry. Depending on your pot size and type you may need to water sooner or later if its a pot that holds moisture. My Rhaphs that are in plastic or ceramic get watered every two- three weeks. My Rhaphs that are in terra cotta are watered every week to week and a half.

Pot

You can grow the Rhaphidophora in just about any type of pot. Remember your pot must have a drainage hole in order to properly grow any plant. If you are growing your plant in ceramic or plastic adjust your soil mix to have more drainage by adding more orchid bark or pearlite because those types of materials help to hold in moisture. If you are growing in terracotta your soil mix will dry a lot faster so make your soil mix more moisture retentive.

The Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a fun houseplant to have in your collection. It’s one of the more easy plants to grow indoors and if you take good care of it, it’ll reward you with gorgeous new foliage.

Happy Gardening,

Ciearra

How to Grow A Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma

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The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a very easy and forgiving houseplant to have in your collection. Although it is also called a “mini monstera” it is not a Monstera. The Tetrasperma is part of the Araceae family just like the Monstera but the Monstera is not in the Raphidophora genus. I like to treat it like its a Monstera when it comes to care. So lets make this super easy.

In order to grow a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma you need proper lighting, soil, pot and watering schedule.

Rhapidophora Tetrasperma
Rhapidophora Tetrasperma

How to grow a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma

  1. Light
  2. Soil
  3. Water
  4. Pot

Light

The Rhaphidophora does best in bright indirect light. If your window pours in direct sun move your plant back a few feet. These plants live in the understory of the forest and can handle only a short period of sun before burning.

Soil

Rhaps do well in a moisture retentive chunky soil mixture. You can make one by using coir, pearlite and orchid bark. This will allow the soil to hold moisture but not for too long and bark to give the roots something cling to will adding drainage along with the pearlite. If you prefer not to buy all of these separate items for a mix. You can use a prepared bagged soil and add orchid bark.

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Climbing a trellis
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Climbing a trellis

Water

This plant is so forgiving if you happen to forget to water. It can take a while before it shows signs of dehydration. If you are seeing signs of dehydration such as wilting, dying foliage or leaf spots you have waited too long to water. Give this plant a full drink of water when the top few inches of soil are dry. Depending on your pot size and type you may need to water sooner or later if its a pot that holds moisture. My Rhaps that are in plastic or ceramic get watered every two- three weeks. My Rhaps that are in terra cotta are watered every week to week and a half.

Pot

You can grow the Rhaphidophora in just about any type of pot. Remember your pot must have a drainage hole in order to properly grow any plant. If you are growing your plant in ceramic or plastic adjust your soil mix to have more drainage by adding more orchid bark or pearlite because those types of materials help to hold in moisture. If you are growing in terracotta your soil mix will dry a lot faster so make your soil mix more moisture retentive.

The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a fun houseplant to have in your collection. It’s one of the more easy plants to grow indoors and if you take good care of it, it’ll reward you with gorgeous new foliage.

Happy Gardening,

Ciearra

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