- Choose a pot that is larger than the one it is currently in (typically three to four inches larger).
- With a shovel, gently dig around your Chinese evergreen to loosen the dirt and its roots.
- Wiggle the plant out of the container by carefully laying the planter on its side. It’s fine if you lose a few leaves in the process.
- Chinese evergreens, unlike many other plants, want to be a little root-bound. You can somewhat break up the roots if they’re really restricted and twisted, but for the most part, leave them alone!
- Allow it to settle into the pot and then water it and, if desired, a little liquid fertilizer.
What kind of soil do Chinese evergreens like?
For the plant, a well-drained, slightly acidic potting soil is ideal. If your chosen soil is retaining too much water, consider adding sand or perlite to help with drainage. Make sure your Chinese evergreen is planted in a pot with plenty of drainage holes at the bottom.
When should I repot my Chinese evergreen?
The best time to repot a Chinese evergreen is in the spring or summer, when the plant is actively developing. Remember that repotting is a difficult and traumatic procedure for the plant, therefore if you repotte it while it is still growing, it will recover much more quickly.
Every two years, a mature Chinese evergreen will need to be repotted. This is a slow-growing plant, and its roots will only begin to fill the pot after a long period of time.
Even if it hasn’t been two years, if you detect any indicators that the plant is getting rootbound, such as yellowing leaves, drooping foliage, or roots growing out of the drainage holes, you should repot the plant.
The Chinese evergreen prefers soil that can maintain a small amount of moisture at all times while draining excess water efficiently.
You can start with peat-based potting soil and add perlite or coarse sand, but you can also add orchid bark if you want it to be more porous while still retaining moisture. This mix is loose enough for the plant to work with and high in nitrogen, which it will welcome.
Do Chinese evergreens like to be root bound?
Because the Chinese evergreen prefers to be little root-bound, transplant it to a larger pot. To avoid damp soil, use a container with drainage holes.
How often do you water a Chinese evergreen?
Chinese evergreen may be grown almost everywhere in your home, as it tolerates low light well while also flourishing in bright areas. It doesn’t even require natural light to survive Chinese evergreen thrives in fluorescent-lit offices.
When it comes to water, the plant is likewise low-maintenance; you can water it periodically to maintain the soil evenly moist, or water it once every few weeks, and Chinese evergreen will thrive. It doesn’t need fertilizer, but a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer applied once or twice a year in the spring or summer (or every six months) will help it grow better.
Should I mist my Chinese evergreen?
Mrs. Jess Walton of Marlow Heights, Maryland, writes, “I’m not sure how to care for the Chinese evergreen plant I got for Christmas.” I must be doing something wrong because two of the leaves have turned yellow. Please give me some advice.
There are various types of Chinese evergreens, which differ mostly in height and leaf pattern variegation. They all thrive in dim light. A north window is an excellent choice. Chinese evergreens may thrive in both water and soil. If the plant is in the ground, properly water it before soaking it again. Mist the leaves with tepid water on a regular basis. Using a damp sponge or cloth, clean the dust off the leaves every now and then.
Your Chinese evergreen presumably came as a gift plant from the florist; if so, it won’t need fertilizer until April or May; during the spring and summer months, you can give it monthly feedings of liquid houseplant fertilizer.
The yellow leaves could be the consequence of overwatering, or they could be the effect of the decrease in light and humidity after it left the florist’s. The Chinese evergreen is a hardy plant that will quickly adapt to your home’s conditions.
Hazel Harvey of Frederick, Maryland, encloses schefflera leaves. It had been severely pruned due to a spider mite infection, but it appeared to have recovered during the summer. It has some new healthy shoots since coming inside, but the old leaves appear like the ones contained. It is fertilized every two or three weeks and watered once a week. Could you lend a hand?
Withhold fertilizer unless your plant is actively growing and producing new leaves. Plants stay inactive or mostly dormant during the winter months due to the lower intensity and length of light, and hence require little or no fertilizer. From spring to fall, apply a water-soluble fertilizer once a month. The leaves may be damaged as a result of fertilizer or a lack of light.
Celia Kaplan of Chevy Chase, Maryland, writes: Could you please tell me how to keep huge plants at a manageable size? My dracaena marginata and schefflera are both overgrown.
Keeping a plant in a small pot is one way to limit plant development and prevent it from outgrowing its allotted space. Growth is slowed by a lack of root area and nutrients in the soil. Withholding fertilizer or limiting feeding frequency can also help.
To force sprouting from lower sections of the cane, Dracaena marginata can be trimmed back. The upper portion can be utilized to grow new plants as stem cuttings. This is a fairly unconventional approach.
Do Chinese evergreens need sunlight?
It’s simple to grow Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema). Because of its ease of maintenance, this gem of a plant is one of the most popular houseplants. Chinese evergreen plants come in a variety of colors and patterns, including variegated species.
Although they are tolerant of a wide range of growth environments, they will produce better results if you follow certain guidelines. This includes planting them in well-draining soil, preferably a combination of potting soil, perlite, and sand in an equal proportion.
Indirect sunlight or medium to low light conditions are ideal for Chinese evergreen plants. You should make sure that the plant receives warm temperatures and some humidity wherever you put it in the house. If necessary, this adaptable plant will survive less-than-ideal conditions.
These plants like temperatures of no less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius), with average indoor temperatures of 70 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (21-22 degrees Celsius) being ideal, but they can handle temperatures of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (10-13 C.). Keep Chinese evergreen plants out of drafts, which can cause the foliage to brown.
Should I cut yellow leaves off Chinese evergreen?
Pruning and pinching are necessary for many houseplants on a regular basis, if not daily. One of the benefits of Chinese evergreens is how low-maintenance they are. These plants will grow in low-light environments with temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 23 degrees Celsius).
Trimming Chinese evergreens is not necessary due to the plant’s thick leafing. Pruning Chinese evergreen plant leaves, in reality, can harm the entire plant since new growth occurs from the plant crown.
If the plant begins to seem lanky as it matures, you may be tempted to prune it. Experts advise you to resist. Instead, fill up the bare spaces with pothos or another low-light plant.
Why is my plant turning yellow after repotting?
It’s possible that yellow leaves indicate that it’s time to repot. Roots require sufficient space to absorb nutrients and water. “You may notice the leaves fading a little in the week or two following the repotting as the plant adapts and settles into the new pot,” Gaumond cautions. I don’t fertilize during this time to allow the plant to recover organically.” Repot as needed, and give your plant time to adjust to its new surroundings.
Where do you cut Chinese evergreen for propagation?
In late spring or early summer, take a 4- to 6-inch-long clipping from a healthy Chinese evergreen plant. Use floral snips or pinch the stems with your fingernails to make the cut right below a set of mature leaves.
Why are my Chinese evergreen leaves turning yellow?
It’s most likely that your Chinese evergreen is turning yellow because the temperature is too low or the plant is receiving too much sunlight. A nutritional shortage may be to blame in some circumstances.
Remove damaged leaves (they won’t grow back), make sure temps are warm enough, and place in a low-light part of your home to solve the problem. Treat with a micronutrient spray and/or repot the plant to freshen the soil if you detect a nutrient deficiency.
The Chinese evergreen is a resilient houseplant that will recover from yellowing if you notice the problem early enough.