Care for aglaonema silver bay: Aglaonema silver bay is one of the typical Chinese evergreen plants; it is one of the less troublesome plants for home and workplace. It does not require any special conditions for maintenance, and good light and regular watering are enough for care. You can easily keep aglaonema silver bay in water. I love the beautiful patterns on the leaves of this plant, which become even more attractive with good light.
This plant is an excellent option for your study room and desk because you can buy aglaonema silver bay in different sizes. This plant was first seen in East Asia and was brought to England around 1800, and since then, it has become an apartment plant. Aglaonema plant and aglaonema silver bay can be introduced as suitable plants for beginners.
Introducing the aglaonema silver bay plant
Aglaonema Silver Bay is known by the botanical name Aglaonema commutatum, which is native to East Asia and belongs to the Araceae family. This plant has oval leaves that open from the center of the plant and grow outwards. If you take good care of it, its leaves will reach 12-30 cm. This plant can have a height of about 1.2 meters when it matures. The stem and leaves of Aglonma silver are semi-glossy in dark green, light green and silver colors.
In addition to beauty, all species of Aglaonema are air-purifying plants. This plant can easily remove benzene (found in plastic, resin, synthetic fibers, paint, detergents, etc.) and formaldehyde from the environment. Formaldehyde is a colorless chemical substance with a strong smell, which is often used in the manufacture of various products, including wooden products such as cabinets, furniture, plywood, chipboard, and laminate flooring. Before considering the maintenance of this plant, I suggest you read the article Care for Aglaonema.
Is aglaonema silver bay poisonous?
Yes, the stem and leaves of aglaonema silver bay are poisonous. They contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, irritation, skin rashes and difficulty breathing. Try to keep this plant and other poisonous plants out of the children and pets reach . If you are looking for more information about aglaonema toxic to cats and pets, read the related post.
Care for Aglaonema silver bay
Accurate maintenance conditions for aglaonema silver bay
The Chinese evergreen plant is relatively easy to maintain. By providing the minimum for it, you can see its incredible growth. Put it in place with medium to high light, relatively little watering (when the soil dries to a depth of 1 inch), and standard room temperature with well-drained soil. In the following, we will examine each case separately.
How much should we water the aglaonema silver bay?
Aglaonema doesn’t need much continuous watering, and it doesn’t like too much watering at all, so make sure to check the soil before watering to see if it has dried up to 1 inch and then water the plant again, also Remember that after watering the plant, it should be thoroughly watered, which means that after watering, excess water should be removed from under the flowerpot and throw away that water. At the same time, remember that low watering over time will cause the roots to dry and the plant will die.
Excessive watering or water accumulation at the pot’s bottom will eventually cause the plant’s roots to rot. Take the yellowing of the plant seriously. The first cause Aglaonema yellow leaves can be excessive watering. Also, aglaonema leaves drooping can be caused by insufficient watering. If you haven’t watered the plant for a long time, place the plant in a pan of water for 20 minutes so that the plant absorbs the required water from the bottom of the pot to overcome the shock. This plant is native to tropical regions and likes humidity, but humidity does not mean the pot’s soil should always be wet and swampy.
How much light does aglaonema silver bay need?
This plant should be exposed to direct light only a little, and it should have a little light. Aglaonema silver bay likes medium light, but note that the light you provide to the plant should be indirect and filtered. (Let light shine on the plant from behind a window with frosted glass or a thin curtain), at least 6 to 8 hours of filtered light per day is enough for this plant. This type of aglaonema can tolerate low light, but remember that it will only survive in these conditions, and you should not expect tremendous growth from it.
What is the best soil for planting and maintaining aglaonema silver bay?
The ideal soil for the evergreen Chinese silver plant should have high porosity, moisture retention, and high drainage. This plant cannot grow in heavy soil; if your plant is planted in this type of soil, the roots will suffer from fungal disease after a while. The best type of soil for this plant can be the combination of cocopeat + perlite + peat moss and a little garden soil. Of course, you can also use the ready-made soil in the market, which should be disinfected after purchase.
You can also use the following suggested combination for this plant: Two parts of peat moss + one part of the cocopeat + one part of bark or orchid soil +one part of perlite or vermiculite. The combination I introduced has high drainage, keeps moisture, and will aerate the roots well. There is a direct relationship between light and watering. If the amount of light received is low, the soil will dry later and remain moist for a longer time. Therefore, check the soil using special devices or your finger before watering the plant and then water the plant again.
You can also use the following suggested combination for this plant:
- Two parts of peat moss
- one part of the cocopeat
- one part of bark or orchid soil
- one part of perlite or vermiculite.
The combination I introduced has high drainage, keeps moisture, and will aerate the roots well. There is a direct relationship between light and watering. If the amount of light received is low, the soil will dry later and remain moist for a longer time. Therefore, check the soil using special devices or your finger before watering the plant and then water the plant again.
Be sure to read the aglaonema bloom post
The best temperature for keeping aglaonema silver bay
The aglaonema silver bay plant can withstand temperatures between 16 and 29 degrees Celsius. Still, soil irrigation and humidity should increase as the temperature rises (23). Also, this plant cannot withstand temperatures lower than 12 degrees Celsius. So, if you live in cold areas, keep the plant inside the house in the cold seasons of the year and never put it next to the window or stuck to the glass. In addition, do not place the aglaonema plant or any other plant in front of the air conditioner or next to the heating devices.
When and how to fertilize Chinese silver evergreen
The best time to feed and fertilize this plant is the spring and summer seasons (plant growth season). During this period, you can fertilize the plant once with humic acid and then with water-soluble fertilizers. The fertilization process can be done every two to three weeks. Just stop fertilizing during the cold seasons of the year and when the plant is resting. You can use 20-20-20 fertilizer for fertilizing.
How much moisture does aglaonema silver bay need?
This plant loves moisture, and the more you provide it with high humidity (conditions close to its native areas), the growth of the plant and the shape of the leaves will be perfect. I suggest providing at least 50% humidity for this plant. You can provide the moisture required by the plant by basic dusting, making an island or using a cold misting device. Also, aglaonema silver bay can grow in the standard humidity of the room. With the increase in temperature, the amount of irrigation and the humidity of the environment must be increased.
Does aglaonema silver bay need pruning?
This plant does not require much pruning. Remove dead, discolored (yellow and brown), damaged or diseased leaves and stems from the mother plant with scissors or a sharp, sterilized knife. Also, it is better to clean the plant leaves with a damp cloth once in a while so that the photosynthesis process can be done well.
How often should we change the aglaonema pot?
This plant grows slowly, and you can replace its pot with a pot that is only one size larger every two to three years. It is better to do this in the spring when the plant wants to start growing, but note that you can do this inside the house and by providing greenhouse conditions in any season. Note that the time to change the pot is determined when at least two years have passed since the last pot change or the plant’s growth has stopped by providing all the conditions. If you have questions about choosing a pot for your plant, be sure to read the article choosing a pot for your plants.
How to reproduce aglaonema silver bay at home
If we briefly explain how to reproduce aglaonema silver bay. In that case, you can reproduce this plant using stem cuttings or plant division. Both methods are straightforward, and you can do it indoors in the spring or if you provide greenhouse conditions for the plant in any season.
Propagation of aglaonema silver bay by dividing the plant
The best way to reproduce aglaonema silver bay with this method is when you want to change the pot. You need to change the pot if your plant is big and mature enough. At the time of change, you can divide the plant into two or more parts and plant each in one pot. For this, remove the plant from the pot, remove the soil around the root as much as possible, remove the stem with at least three leaves and plant it in a new pot.
Propagation of aglaonema through stem cuttings
Another method of propagating aglaonema silver bay is cutting the plant’s stem. For this purpose, it is enough to cut the stem that has grown between two nodes with a sharp and sterilized knife and then places this cutting inside water or perlite to root. Then transfer the rooted cutting to the pot and soil.
Common problems and diseases of aglaonema silver bay
Evergreen Chinese silver plant gets sick very rarely. Following the mentioned points, the possibility of disease in the plant and the existence of problems will decrease, but when the plant gets sick, do not rush. With a bit of patience, you can save the plant. Let’s go over some common problems with aglaonema silver bay.
What is the reason for the yellowing of aglaonema silver bay leaves during growth?
This problem can be caused by too much watering or lack of good pot and drainage. If you notice the leaves of your plant have turned yellow and are falling from the bottom, you have overwatered, and the roots are slowly rotting. Fix the problem quickly.
To solve the problem: First, reduce the amount of irrigation and check the root; if the root and the lower stem of the plant are rotten, remove the rotten parts. Then rinse the plant with a fungicide. In addition, do the watering when the soil has dried up to 2-3 cm. After watering, remove excess water from under the pot.
We talked about aglaonema yellow leaves in detail in another article, which is better to read.
What is the cause of the browning of the tips and edges of the leaves?
If the tips or edges of the leaves turn brown, In that case, it indicates that the temperature of the place where the plant is kept is high and the humidity of the environment is low. Also, this problem can occur from receiving direct light by the plant.
To solve the problem, this plant needs a place with standard room temperature and humidity of 40-70%, so try to increase the humidity by basic dusting, building an island, and checking the irrigation is done on time. If the plant is exposed to direct sunlight, move it to a place with filtered light.
What is the reason for the gray spot on the aglaonema leaf?
Gray spots on Agonema leaves, especially older ones, show that your plant is at a low temperature. You must move the plant to a place with a temperature higher than 16 degrees Celsius.
What is the reason one side of the plant becomes thick?
This problem is due to receiving light from one side; the light only reaches some parts of the plant similarly.
Solving the problem: To solve the problem, it is enough to rotate the plant by 45 degrees every week so that all parts of the plant receive the same light.
What is the cause of the browning of the lower leaves of aglaonema?
This problem is common, and there is no cause for concern; remove the affected leaves from the plant. Be sure to read about why aglaonema leaves drooping and save a dying aglaonema on the site.
What are the common pests of aglaonema silver bay?
Remember that to have a healthy and disease-free plant, you must check them regularly. Every time I water a plant, I check all its parts, even the parts of the leaves like the underside of the leaves, to make sure they are not diseased or infected. When you see that the plant suddenly starts to get tired, the leaves turn yellow, the leaves are perforated, and spots appear on the leaves, know that the plant has suffered from a pest that is feeding on the sap of the plant to survive, and you must immediately treat the plant. Next, we will check every case.
Mealybug: If you see small white cotton balls on the stem and where the leaf joins the stem, know that your plant has Mealybug. It would be best if you fixed it as soon as possible; otherwise, the plant will die. To solve the problem, first use an ear cleaner and alcohol to remove the pests from the stem, then spray the plant with pesticides.
Scales on the leaves: Scales are dark-colored protrusions that attach to the stem and leaves. These are very hard to see, and you must pay close attention to the leaves and stems. These creatures can appear in different colors, but they are often brownish.
Aphids are another pest for Aglaonema: If you place your plants outdoors, the chances of getting aphid disease will be high. Aphids are small insects that can be seen in black with shades of yellow, green, brown and pink on the underside of leaves.
Spider mites: If you see tiny black or red dots under the leaves or stems, your plant is infested with mites. Sometimes you may notice a red layer on the lower part of the leaves, in which case you must spray the plant.
Summary of maintenance of aglaonema silver bay
This writing fully explains everything necessary regarding the care for aglaonema silver bay. This plant is poisonous and should be kept away from children and pets. Aglaonema silver bay is very easy to maintain. You will see its growth by providing good light and regular watering. You can ask in the comment section if you have any questions or problems about maintaining this plant.
I live in an area with a lot of light on the balcony during the day, and this question came to me: Does Aglaonema like the sun?
Aglaonema silver bay is a plant that can tolerate different light conditions, but to have a plant with high growth and beautiful leaves, the amount of light received must be high.
Of course, too much direct light can cause burns on the tips of the plant leaves. To grow Aglaonema silver bay plants with vibrant and colorful leaves, place them in bright indirect light. Keep them out of direct sunlight to avoid burning or discoloring the leaves.
You provided beneficial information about Aglaonema silver bay, and I will share this article with my other friends.
I have an aglaonema pot I repotted one year ago; should I replace it now?
If a year has passed since the time of repotting and your plant has grown well in this one year, you should repot. Note that after repotting, the plant’s growth will slow down for a while.