Photo: Yercaud-elango / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Aglaonema

Aglaonema modestum

A low-light foliage plant with silver-green, pink or red leaves. It copes with dim rooms but dislikes cold and salty water, so in Dubai keep it out of vents and hot glass.

Mature size0.3–0.9 m tall, 0.3–0.7 m spreadGrowthSlowSunShadeWaterModerate

Heat: 1 of 5

Salt: 1 of 5

Drought: 2 of 5

Shade: 5 of 5

Ease of care: 4 of 5

Use in a design Get it looked after

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Aglaonema behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

JJul

AAug

SSep

OOct

NNov

DDec

Avg high °C

24°

26°

29°

34°

38°

40°

42°

40°

36°

31°

27°

Slow new leaves

Apr – Oct

Light, dilute feed

Apr – Sep

Take tip cuttings

Apr – Aug

Check for mites

Mar – Oct

Growth slows

Slow new leaves: Apr–Oct
Colourful cultivars need bright, indirect light to hold their colour.
Light, dilute feed: Apr–Sep
Soil salt tolerance is poor, so feed lightly and flush the pot occasionally.
Take tip cuttings: Apr–Aug
UF/IFAS says it propagates readily from cuttings; wear gloves.
Check for mites: Mar–Oct
UF/IFAS lists mites and soilborne nematodes as the pests to watch.
Growth slows: Dec–Feb
Water less often; keep it away from cold vents.

Aglaonema looks much the same all year, which suits a plant meant for low-effort rooms. It makes slow new growth from around April to October, when light is strongest. Through the summer, check that no window glass is heating the leaves. From December to February growth slows and the soil takes longer to dry, so water less often rather than keeping to the summer routine, and keep the plant away from any cold supply vent. UF/IFAS notes that chilling below about 7°C injures the foliage, but a typical air-conditioned room stays well above that.

Meet the plant

Meet the Aglaonema

Meet aglaonema, the plant that brings colour to a dim room. Most shade-tolerant houseplants are plain green, but aglaonema comes in silvers, creams, pinks and reds. 'Silver Queen' has silvery, lance-shaped leaves marbled with darker green, and hybrids such as 'Red Star' carry large, glossy pink to red leaves edged in dark green, as the RHS describes them.

It comes from the forests of tropical Asia, so it expects steady warmth and little direct light. UF/IFAS says it thrives in full shade and scorches if it is too sunny. The catch is that the more colour a cultivar carries, the more light it needs to hold that colour: green and silver forms are the safe choice for a dim room, while the reds fade towards green in the dark.

The mood is quiet and graphic, foliage as pattern rather than bulk. It sits low, usually below 90 centimetres, on a console, a side table or the floor of a bedroom, adding a coloured note that a plain green plant cannot.

Aglaonema, the Chinese evergreen, is a clump-forming arum from tropical Asia. UF/IFAS describes around 21 species, though most plants sold are hybrids bred for leaf colour; A. modestum is the best known, and the species used in NASA's 1989 indoor air study. Heights run from about 30 centimetres for 'Silver Queen' to around 90 centimetres for 'Silver Bay' (RHS).

It is a plant for shade. UF/IFAS says it thrives in full shade and will scorch in a location that is too sunny, and that green and silver forms perform well in low light, while high-colour selections need bright, indirect light to hold their colour. In Dubai that means a spot a couple of metres from a window or in a bright interior room, not in front of hot glass.

Water to keep the soil moist, then let it dry slightly for a few days before the next watering; overwatering leads to root rot and leaf yellowing (UF/IFAS). UF/IFAS also rates its soil salt tolerance as poor, which matters with tap water that leaves salts behind as it evaporates, so flush the pot through now and then. UF/IFAS also lists its drought tolerance as low, so despite its tolerance of dim light it needs steadier watering than a ZZ plant or snake plant.

Cold is its other weakness. Temperatures below about 7°C (45°F) injure the foliage, and UF/IFAS lists a comfortable range of roughly 20 to 25°C. A cool air-conditioned room is fine, but a chilly draught directly on the plant is not. The RHS notes that it is potentially harmful if eaten and a skin and eye irritant, so wear gloves when pruning.

Design

Where to use it

Low-light colourConsole or side tableBedroom cornerOffice desk

Use aglaonema where you want a patch of colour in a dim spot: a bedroom, a console in a hallway, a desk set back from the window. Choose the leaf colour by the light: green and silver forms in the dimmest rooms, pink and red ones only where there is bright, indirect light. Keep it out of direct sun and the airflow of a vent, and group it with other shade-tolerant plants rather than with ones that want heavy watering.

ZZ plant

ZZ plant's glossy upright stems share aglaonema's tolerance of dim rooms, and the plain deep green sets off aglaonema's silver or pink patterns.

Snake plant

Snake plant gives stiff vertical blades beside aglaonema's lower, wider clump, and both cope with low light, though snake plant wants far less water.

Pothos

Pothos trails over the edge of a shelf or pot, softening the rounded clump of aglaonema in a shaded corner.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering: Summer: Water when the top few centimetres have dried, keeping the soil moist but never wet; in a cool AC room that is often every 7 to 10 days. Flush the pot through occasionally, since salts accumulate.
Winter: Water less often as growth slows, perhaps every 10 to 14 days; wait until the surface has dried.
Soil: A fertile, free-draining potting mix; UF/IFAS says it tolerates any fertile mix and can even be grown hydroponically. Use a pot with drainage holes.
Feeding: A light, dilute houseplant feed in the warm months only; poor salt tolerance means heavy feeding does more harm than good.
Pruning: Remove yellowed lower leaves at the base; long, leggy stems can be cut back, and tip cuttings root readily (UF/IFAS). Wear gloves, as the sap can irritate skin.
Planting: Repot only when roots fill the pot, into a pot just one size up; it is slow-growing and rarely needs it.
Pests: Spider mitesSoilborne nematodesRoot rot from overwatering

Avoid these

Common mistakes

Choosing a pink or red cultivar for a dark corner. High-colour selections need bright, indirect light to hold their colour (UF/IFAS); in dim light they fade towards green.
Watering from the tap routinely without ever flushing the pot. UF/IFAS rates its salt tolerance as poor, and mineral build-up scorches the leaf edges.
Overwatering. UF/IFAS says it leads to root rot and leaf yellowing; let the soil dry for a few days between waterings.
Putting it in direct sun. The leaves scorch in a location that is too sunny.
Pruning bare-handed. The RHS lists it as a skin and eye irritant and potentially harmful if eaten.

Extra notes

Good to know

The ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses due to insoluble calcium oxalates; UF/IFAS classes it as low toxicity but says any part can cause dermatitis or internal problems if eaten.
Aglaonema modestum was one of the plants in NASA's 1989 indoor-air study, but a 2019 review found chamber results do not carry over to real rooms, which are far larger and more ventilated.
It can be grown hydroponically as well as in soil (UF/IFAS), and cuttings root easily.
Most coloured plants sold today are hybrids, with named cultivars such as 'Silver Queen', 'Maria Christina' and 'Red Star' (RHS).

Toxicity: Toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA: insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting (not horses) and difficulty swallowing. UF/IFAS classes it as low toxicity, but says all parts may cause dermatitis or internal problems if eaten, and the RHS lists it as a skin and eye irritant.

Pros

Shade-tolerant, with silver, pink or red leaves where most low-light plants are green
Green and silver forms thrive in genuinely dim rooms
Compact clump suits shelves, consoles and bedrooms
Slow-growing, so it rarely outgrows its spot or needs frequent repotting

Cons

Poor salt tolerance: tap-water minerals can build up and scorch leaf edges
Foliage is injured by cold below about 7°C and by chilly draughts
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses if chewed (ASPCA)
Colourful pink and red forms fade towards green in dim light

FAQ

Common questions

Can aglaonema grow in low light?

Yes. UF/IFAS says it grows in shade and that green and silver forms perform well in low-light settings. Pink and red cultivars need bright, indirect light to hold their colour.

Why is the colour fading on my pink aglaonema?

Too little light. High-colour selections need bright, indirect light (UF/IFAS); in a dim room the pink and red fade towards green. Move it somewhere brighter, out of direct sun.

Why are the leaf edges of my aglaonema brown?

UF/IFAS rates its salt tolerance as poor, so tap-water minerals and heavy feeding are common causes, along with dry air and cold draughts. Flush the pot through with plenty of water and keep it clear of vents.

Is aglaonema safe for pets?

No. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of calcium oxalate crystals, which cause mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting. Keep it out of reach.

How often should I water an aglaonema?

When the top few centimetres have dried: UF/IFAS says to keep the soil moist but allow it to dry slightly for a few days before watering again. In a cool AC room that is often every 7 to 10 days in summer, less in winter.

Not sure how it suits your garden?

Ask about Aglaonema on WhatsApp

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-05 by Ghaf Gardens horticulture desk.

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