NATURE’S WONDERS September 2020
by Tommy Clarkson
Red Aglaonema Aglaonema Creta Family Araceae Also known as Chinese Evergreen
In Volume I of “The Civilized Jungle” series, I wrote about the Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) – or, sometimes, called an A. pseudo-bracteata. Ours prolifically grow beneath a large and beautiful Bougainvillea to the left and on the Transition Terrace directly below our entrance palapa at which we regularly entertain. Often, they require thinning out and we are
Keep an eye out for its small blooms resembling those of the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)
finding friends to whom we might give them new homes. I can but only wonder if such will be the case with these recent, attractive additions to the gardens!
is a bit of a challenge. However, all - as a result of their attractiveness and ease of maintenance - are popular, indoor houseplants. A generic description online reads, “It's gorgeous on
In “Southern Living” I read, “With the recent arrival of colorful selections from Thailand, Aglaonemas have been transformed from the familiar green-and-silver houseplants to specimens splashed with color like a croton, coleus or caladium. These new-spangled plants have the same leathery leaf texture.” (At the sake of sounding commercial, the best picture that I have
desks or tabletops, as well as coffee tables and side tables in dens, living rooms, and bedrooms.” Just keep it a few feet from harsh, sunlight-streaming windows as it prefers a bright, diffused light. Here, however, we merely wished to incorporate them - in shady locations - into the greater, outdoor, garden whole, for visitors to enjoy.
come across of a nice selection of these various cultivars was on the internet on Costa Farms site which, in its opening sentence describes them, saying that it’s “One of the easiest of all houseplants to grow [and] one of the most stylish.”)
What with this wide array of color variations, ranging from dark green to silver and, obviously, pinks and reds, identifying these
Coastal Mexico’s Lifestyle eMagazine
Continuing in this discussion of their uses, they can survive in low humidity environs. But, native to the tropical forest floors of Asia, they’ll absolutely thrive with higher humidity levels. So if employed indoors with “dry air,” mist their leaves regularly to raise the humidity. And, if potted indoors - found in “The Leaflet” - here’s some good counsel, “Rotate your plant periodically to ensure even growth on all sides and dust the leaves often so
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