Aglaonema Siam Aurora, aka Red Agalonema, is a beautiful, easy-care houseplant. Find care tips here to keep this jazzy beauty healthy & strong.
Aglaonema Siam Aurora Description
Agalonemas, commonly called Chinese Evergreens, are old standbys in the world of indoor plants. Gone are the days when you could only find 3 or 4 types of them, mainly with darker, duller foliage. New colorful hybrids have arrived on the scene and this is one of them. Aglaonema Siam Aurora has red patterned foliage and today I’m sharing all about how to care for this vibrant houseplant.
This plant has quite a few common names. Here are the ones I’ve seen it called: Red Chinese Evergreen, Siam Aglaonema, Siam Aurora, Aglaonema Firecracker, Siam Aurora Red Aglaonema, and Siam (which is what mine was labeled when I bought it).
There are also other hybrids with red in the foliage like Red Valentine, Red Emerald, Super Red, etc. You have a lot to choose from Aglaonema wise if you’re a fan of red!
I’ve already done a post on general Agalonema Care. I wanted to do one specifically on this plant because it’s become quite popular and you are obviously searching for it.
These hybrids with a lot of foliage color (mainly red, pink, and white) differ in one way from their Chinese Evergreen predecessors which I’ll get into down below.
Size
Red Aglaonemas are most commonly sold in 6″ pots. Also, in 8″ and 10″pots.
Mine is 3 years old and is still in the 6″ pot I bought it in. It stands 20″ tall x 24″ wide.
Ultimately they grow to 3′ x 3′.
Growth Rate
They are moderate growers. In lower light conditions, they’ll grow slower.
Uses
I’ve seen them most commonly sold as tabletop plants. As yours grows and become taller and wider, then you can use it as a low floor plant.
A few key Red Aglaonema care points:
Agalonema Siam Aurora Care Tips
Exposure
This is where it differs from some of the other Aglaonmeas known for their tolerance of lower light conditions. I’ve found that the dark leaf varieties, like my Ag. Emerald Beauty, handle lower light much better.
The Red Agalonema and others that have more color and brightness in their foliage (like my Pink Valentine pictured above) need medium-light to do their best.
It can tolerate high light but keep them away from windows with the strong sun coming in or they’ll burn in no time flat. Conversely, it’ll tolerate lower light but will lose some coloration and will grow slower.
Mine sits on a table 6′ from sliding patio doors in an east exposure. I live in the Arizona desert where the sun is intense so this seems to be its sweet spot. If you’re in a climate with less sun, that may be 6′-10′ away from a south window.
Mine was much less vibrant when I bought it. The plant was more pinkish and now the red has really come out.
I rotate this plant every 1-2 months so it gets light on all sides and grows evenly.
You may have to move yours to a brighter spot in the winter months so it gets the light it needs. Here’s a post on Winter Houseplant Care which will help you out.
Watering
I water mine when it’s almost dry. That tends to be every 7-9 days in the warmer months and every 2-3 weeks in the cooler, darker months.
It’s hard for me to tell you often to water your Aglaonema Siam Aurora because there are many variables that come into play. Here are a few: the pot size, type of soil it’s planted in, the location where it’s growing, and your home’s environment.
This guide to Watering Indoor Plants will shed some light on this subject.
In the colder months, water less often. Here’s a post on Winter Houseplant Care which will help you out.
Temperature
If your home is comfortable for you, it’ll be so for your houseplants too. Just be sure to keep your Aglaonema Siam Aurora away from any cold drafts as well as air conditioning or heating vents.
Humidity
Aglaonemas, in general, are native to the subtropical and tropical regions in Asia. Despite the fact that they prefer some humidity, they’re fairly adaptable. They do just fine in our homes which tend to have dry air.
Here in the Tucson, mine only has a few teeny, tiny brown tips which is in reaction to the dry desert air.
I have a large, deep kitchen sink with a faucet water filter. Every other time I water my Red Aglaonema, I take it to the sink, spray the foliage and leave it in there for an hour or 2 to temporarily up the ante on the humidity factor.
If you think yours look stressed due to lack of humidity, here’s a few other things you can do. Fill the saucer your plant sits on with pebbles and water. Put it on the pebbles but make sure the drain holes and/or the bottom of the pot aren’t submerged in water.
I have a few diffusers running in my house, especially when the humidity levels are low (which is most all the time!). Misting your plant a few times a week will help out too.
Fertilizer/Feeding
I give the majority of my houseplants a light application of worm compost with a light layer of compost over that every spring. Easy does it – a 1/4 ” layer of each is enough for a 6″ size houseplant.
It’s strong and breaks down slowly. Read about my Worm Compost/Compost Houseplant Feeding right here.
I give my Aglaonema Siam Aurora a watering with Eleanor’s vf-11 2 – 3 times during the warmer months which is spring, summer, and early fall. We have a long growing season here.
My friend in San Francisco swears by Maxsea Plant Food for her houseplants which has a formulation of 16-16-16. I’ve started using this 2-3 times during the season (at 1/2 strength) with applications spaced in between the Eleanor’s. So far so good!
Don’t over-fertilize your houseplants because salts build-up and can burn the roots of the plant. This will show up as brown spots on the leaves. Avoid fertilizing a houseplant that is stressed, ie. bone dry or soaking wet
You don’t want to feed your Houseplants in late fall or winter because this is their time for rest.
Soil/Repotting
I plan on repotting my Red Aglaonema next spring so stay tuned for a post and video.
You want to use a potting soil that is peat-based and formulated for indoor plants. I alternate between Happy Frog and Ocean Forest. They have lots of good stuff in them.
This, like other houseplants, doesn’t like a heavy mix. You can up the ante on the aeration and drainage factors, which lessens the chance of rot, by adding some pumice or perlite. 3 parts potting soil to 1 part pumice or perlite should be fine. Add a bit more to the mix if it still needs lightening up.
Repotting is best done in spring or summer; early fall is fine if you’re in a warm climate like me. The faster your plant is growing, the sooner it’ll need repotting. Every 2-4 years will be sufficient.
I’ve also done a Repotting Basics Guide which you’ll find helpful, especially if you’re new to the world of houseplant gardening.
Pruning/Trimming
Not much is needed. The main reasons to prune this plant are to take off the occasional yellow leaf or spent flower.
If the plant is getting too leggy or you want it to grow denser, then tip prune off the new growth.
Just make sure your Pruners Are Clean & Sharp before you do any pruning.
Propagation
I’ve propagated Aglaonemas by division. My 6″ Siam Aurora that you see here and in the video could easily be divided into 2 plants.
You can also try the stem cutting method. Cut stems which are 4-8″ in length and propagate them in a light mix. I take off the majority of lower leaves because they usually die anyway and new growth will emerge.
I’ve rooted Aglaonema stems in water but never got around to planting them in the soil. I’m not sure how they transfer over from water into soil for the long haul.
Pests
My Aglaonema Siam Aurora has never gotten any. I saw Aglaonemas with mealybugs and spider mites. Keep an eye out for aphids and scale too. I’ve done posts on mealybugs & aphids, spider mites & scale so you can identify and treat early on.
Pests can travel from houseplant to houseplant fast so make you get them under control as soon as you see them.
Pet Safety
The Aglaonema Siam Aurora, like other plants in the Aracae family, is considered to be toxic to pets. I always check out the ASPCA website for my info on this subject and see in what way the plant is toxic. Even though the site says Chinese Evergreen, it applies to all of them.
Most Houseplants Are Toxic To Pets in some way and I share my thoughts on this topic.
Flowering
Yes indeed! It has a spathe type flower which you see above. My Aglaonema Red flowered late last summer into early fall. The spathe is light green and the spadix (the center part) is white.
I’ve heard that it’s good to remove the flowers because they zap energy from the plant. I leave them on and haven’t found that to be true. I cut them off (down to the base) when the spathe and spadix are both dead. Maybe I’m missing something but I like to look at them!
If your plant is growing in low light, then it’s unlikely it’ll flower.
An occasional lower or inner yellow leaf is part of the normal growth process. Otherwise, it’s most likely due to too much water. Other causes: too much fertilizer (frequency or amount), too dry or too much sun.
The get to be about 2-3′ by 2-3′. It’s a moderate grower (slow in lower light) so it may take a while if yours is small.
Tip pruning the new growth will help to keep your bushy. You can prune back more if your plant needs it.
They can grow outside year-round in tropical climates in bright shade. You can put it outside for the summer months if protected from the hot sun.
There are quite a few factors which determines this and I covered them above under “Watering”. Be sure not to water yours too often (keep it constantly wet) because it’s subject to root rot.
Are you ready to get an Agalonema Siam Aurora? It’s easy care and oh so attractive!
Happy gardening,
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