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Philippine evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)

Aglaonema commutatum is a perennial herbaceous foliage plant with an upright to clumping habit and is commonly grown indoors in pots.

LightIt suits bright, indirect light to partial sun and tolerates low light; strong direct sunlight should be avoided because it can yellow or scorch the leaves.
WaterDuring active growth, water when the surface of the growing medium begins to dry, keeping it moderately moist without prolonged excess moisture; reduce watering in winter.
HumidityIt is generally reported to prefer high humidity.
TemperatureA single source places it in a warm hardiness range and reports a lower temperature of about 15 °C; available sources are few. It is generally considered frost tender; keep above freezing.
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Philippine evergreen illustration

Overview

Aglaonema commutatum is a perennial herbaceous foliage plant with an upright to clumping habit and is commonly grown indoors in pots.

Origin and habitat

Sources differ on its native range, which is described as the Philippines and northeastern Sulawesi. The genus Aglaonema is reported to be native to humid, deeply shaded tropical forest environments. It is tropical to subtropical, preferring warm conditions and not tolerating low temperatures well.

Characteristics

Sources differ, with the few available sources placing mature height at about 60.96–152.4 cm. The leaves are green with pale or silvery markings along the lateral veins; cultivated plants may have elliptic to oblong leaves marked in shades of green, white, yellow, or silver. The inflorescence is typical of the arum family, with a white to greenish-white spathe; genus-level information describes the individual flowers as small. Flowering occurs in summer, around early summer according to species information, though flowering is usually uncommon indoors; red, berry-like fruits may form in clusters.

Light

It suits bright, indirect light to partial sun and tolerates low light; strong direct sunlight should be avoided because it can yellow or scorch the leaves.

Watering

During active growth, water when the surface of the growing medium begins to dry, keeping it moderately moist without prolonged excess moisture; reduce watering in winter.

Humidity and airflow

It is generally reported to prefer high humidity.

Temperature and dormancy

A single source places it in a warm hardiness range and reports a lower temperature of about 15 °C; available sources are few. It is generally considered frost tender; keep above freezing.

Growing medium and mounting

Use a humus-rich, well-drained growing medium; well-drained potting mix is suitable for containers. It has soil roots and generally uses a standard mix.

Feeding

Fertilize regularly during active growth; source approaches include applying a long-lasting complete fertilizer seasonally or a slow-release fertilizer periodically from spring through autumn.

Propagation

It can be propagated by division, stem cuttings, or seed; in cultivation, basal clumps can be divided or stem sections can be cut for propagation.

Common problems

Potential pests include scale insects, spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. Possible disease problems include damping-off, soft rot, and root rot associated with overwatering. Strong sunlight can yellow or scorch leaves, overwatering can cause root rot, dry air or cold drafts can cause leaf browning, and low temperatures can cause chilling injury. It is cold-sensitive and susceptible to frost, and the genus Aglaonema may develop chilling injury after exposure to low temperatures.

Identification

Distinctive features include conspicuously variegated leaves and fleshy stems that become jointed or cane-like with age; genus-level identification also includes several prominent lateral veins on each leaf.

Photos

Aglaonema commutatum
📷 Kurt Stüber [1] · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Aglaonema commutatum
📷 W. Fitch (d. 1892) (drawn & engraved by Fitch) · Public domain · source
Aglaonema commutatum
📷 Daderot · CC0 · source

Sources