Aglaonema pictum tricolor is also known as the Chinese evergreen plant and Camouflage plant. It develops white color flowers in spring and summer.
This plant has more than 80 species. All of them are slightly different from one another in terms of size, foliage color, and shape.
But they need the same environment to grow.
In this post, you’ll know how to grow and care Aglaonema pictum tricolor?
Note: If you never grow a plant in your life then do not start with a Chinese evergreen plant. Because this plant is not easy to grow and maintain.
Go to our houseplant list and start from easy to grow plants.
Quick Care Guide
| Common Names | Chinese Evergreen, Camouflage plant |
| USDA Zones | 10 to 12 |
| Flower Color | White |
| Bloom Time | Spring and Summer |
| Humidity | 40% or Above |
| Light | Low light |
| Pest & Diseases | Mealybugs, aphids, Brown leaves |
| Toxicity | Dogs and Cats |
About the plant
Aglaonema grows 1 to 2 feet tall in the best growing environment and spread 1.5 feet. It needs slightly acidic soil and less light for its entire life.
USDA Zones 10 to 12 are perfect for this plant. Even you can grow it outside without the soil amendments.
It is toxic to dogs and cats only if ingested in large quantities.
The best place to grow this plant is on the table. Because its tri-color leaves look very attractive.
Use fancy plant pots and the plant will become a beautiful piece of decorative.
It does not release fragrance in the room air. So, you need to worry about how people react to its smell.
It is naturally found in subtropical and tropical rain forests of South China, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The surprising part is,
Where every tropical rain forest plant needs high humidity to live. This plant easily grows in low humid areas.
Botanical scientists are unable to solve this Mistry. How the plant manages its high humid needs in low humid places?
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Aglaonema pictum tricolor care guide
Light
If you are growing a dark Chinese evergreen plant then you need to put the plant in shade. Because dark leaf varieties do not need bright light to grow.
Whereas variegated varieties like Aglaonema pictum tricolor need indirect bright light.
Do not put it in direct sun rays.
Place the plant pot near the sunny window. So that it can get indirect bright light.
Variegated variety needs more food to maintain its natural leaf color. Therefore, it needs to absorb more light energy to convert water and nutrients into the food.
Do not forget that direct sun rays can burn the plant. But if you want to give your plants the best care.
Then expose them to the morning light.
Because at this time sun emit sweet warm rays. They help plants to fight many diseases and pests. Morning light makes the plants strong and disease resistant.
The energy in the sun rays is essential for every living thing on this earth.
Water
Water the plant when the upper 2 cm of soil becomes dry. Use your finger or soil moisture meter to check the current conditions of potting soil.
In warm months water the plant once in 6 to 7 days.
In winter days water Aglaonema pictum tricolor once in 14 to 20 days.
The frequency and amount of water are not fixed for the plant. It depends on the environment of the room, Potting soil, and pot size.
If you use normal garden soil then you need to water more. Because this soil cannot hold the moisture for a long time.
On the other hand, if you use the best potting soil then you need to waterless. Because ready-to-use potting soil contains Perlite like materials.
These materials hold the water for a long time. Also, the soil becomes well-draining. Such soil has the ability to save the plants from extra water.
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Soil
Plants like Aglaonema pictum tricolor do not like heavy soil mix.
You need peat-based formula specially made for indoor plants. Some soil formulas contain 3 parts of potting soil and 1 part of perlite.
This is also an excellent soil formula. Because the perlite stores water content in it for a long time. This water content keeps the soil moist for a long time.
Moist soil is required to grow and care for Aglaonema plants.
Perlite also makes the soil lightweight and reduces the soil pressure on the plant roots. Moreover, this well-draining formula saves the plants from extra water.
When perlite store enough water in its tiny pores. It allows the remaining water to drain though out the bottom hole. This way it saves plants from root fungus.
Temperature
16 to 25 Degrees C is the ideal temperature range for it. It needs warm weather to grow because it is a subtropical plant.
The good news is, the normal home temperature is perfect to grow Aglaonema pictum tricolor.
You can manage the temperature in summer. The problem comes in winters when the temperature goes below 0 Degree.
In cold days you have to keep the plant warm by changing its location. Do not put it too close to the heating vents. Because the hot air put stress on the plant leaves.
The leaves start losing their shine and color.
Use digital temperature to measure the room temperature where you grow the plants.
Humidity
As discussed earlier, the plant can survive in a low humid environment. But this does not mean you especially choose the low humid place.
Normal indoor humidity is above 40 %. Most of the houses in the USA have a 40% to 70 % humidity level. Which is good for this plant.
If any time you feel the plants are suffering from low humidity. Group the water-loving plants together. This will also increase the humidity around the plants.
If you live in dry areas then you must have a home humidifier. Turn it ON and let your plants enjoy the high humidity.
Fertilizing
Fertilize the plants once in 4 weeks only in springtime. If you feel that your plants need some more nutrients. Then you can fertilize them in the summertime.
Liquid fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 5-5-5 or lower is best to use.
Do not use organic fertilizers on indoor plants. Because they release an unpleasant odor. That is sometimes hard to tolerate and it stays for long.
Nobody wants their home to smell like a plant fertilizer shop.
Therefore, synthetic liquid fertilizers are the best option over other types. Moreover, they release nutrients at a much faster rate.
This helps plants to grow big in just a few days.
Propagate Aglaonema pictum tricolor
For the propagation, you have two methods
Propagating from stem cutting
Propagating from seeds
- First of all, Clean the tools that you are going to use for the propagation.
- Wear the garden glove and eye-protecting glasses for your safety.
- Get sharp shears and cut the healthy part of the stem.
- Let the cuttings dry before using them for propagation
- Now plant all the cuttings in the pot 4 cm deep in the pot.
- Put the pot at a warm temperature under indirect light.
From Seeds
- Wait until the plant produces fruit in spring and summer.
- Use a sharp knife to remove the fruit from the plant.
- Cut it to take out the plant seeds
- Wash it with clean tap water to separate the seeds.
- Sow the seeds in a pot filled with peat and sand.
- Give some water to moist the soil.
- Put the pot in a warm location under indirect bright light.
Aglaonema pictum tricolor Pests and Diseases
Brown Leaves
Brown leaves are triggered by underwatering and very low humidity. The plant needs the most water for its beautiful tri-color leaves.
When you see the brown spots on the plant leaves. This indicates that the potting soil is extra dry for the plant. And it needs immediate water to come out of the shock.
Brown leaves are more common in its growing season (spring and summer).
Low humidity in the air makes the leaves dry. The water stored in the leaves gets evaporates. To save your plants mist some water on its leaves. This will bring the plant temperature down and stop the water evaporation process.
Also, keep the plant leaves moist for a long time.
Yellow Leaves
In most cases, yellow leaves are caused by overwatering. This situation is more common with new growers. Because they often think that giving more water to plants speeds up the growth.
But in reality, every extra cup of water is deadly for your plants.
To save your plant reduce the watering applications.
Dropping leaves
Low light or too bright light is responsible for this condition. Take a quick inspection of your plant. Use a light meter to measure the light in the grow room.
If bright light is the cause, move the plant to the low light area or vice versa. Your problem will be solved in few days.
At this time do not fertilize plants. Because another mistake can kill the plants.
Pests
Mealybugs, spider mites, and insects like aphids are common. To the plants that are neglected by their growers.
To prevent all these insects, keep the plant in a clean place. Remove the dirt and dust from the plant leaves. Keep the bottom part of the plant clean. Remove yellow and dead parts of the plant.
If in case your plants are already infected by them. then use insecticidal soap to wash your plant. Then use rubbing alcohol and cotton cloth to remove them from the leaves.
At last spray neem oil on all parts of the plant.
Neem oil will prevent them from coming back in the future.
