The aglaonema plant is an ornamental plant that some people believe planting aglaonema can produce sustenance, therefore this plant is also called “sri rejeki”. Aglaonema plants are very popular both in Indonesia and abroad, and are widely used as ornamental plants in gardens. Aglaonema plants are liked by people in Indonesia from top to bottom, especially those who like ornamental plants with various types of plants. Abroad, aglaonema plants are called Chinese Evergreen. About 21 species of aglaonema are estimated to grow in various countries, with ten of them growing well in Indonesia.
Aglaonema plant is unique because of its beautiful leaves with beautiful patterns. This plant is not only beautiful, but because of its high selling value in the market, it is also very profitable so that the aglaonema plant is very liked by many people. In addition, aglaonema plants are in great demand by the community because of their easy maintenance, so they are very suitable for beginners who want to start cultivating ornamental plants. Aglaonema should also consider the following:
Light
For growth, aglaonema needs a light intensity of 30–40%, and to bring out the color of the leaves, a light intensity of 50–55% is required. Do not place aglaonema in direct sunlight, as sunlight can burn the fragile leaves of aglaonema.
Soil
Usually, aglaonema plants get along well with potting soil that can dry out and be slightly acidic. So, if the soil we choose contains too much water, try mixing sand or perlite to help with the drainage. In addition, we must also make sure that the pot in which we plant the aglaonema has sufficient drainage holes at the base.
Water
Please note, although it can thrive in moist soils, aglaonema cannot be waterlogged. For this reason, water the plant thoroughly, but allow it to dry out before watering again.
Temperature and Humidity
Aglaonema does not like temperatures below 21°C. Therefore, make sure to keep aglaonema away from ventilation or windows that have the potential to provide cold temperatures. In essence, aglaonema will function better in warmer places. Some plant lovers recommend that aglaonema be planted in a greenhouse because this plant requires a place with high humidity. Indeed, aglaonema grows best in warm, humid and sunny places. However, as long as we spray it regularly or place it in areas such as the kitchen or bathroom, aglaonema can still be grown indoors where conditions are not met. So it is recommended to buy a small humidifier to place near the aglaonema if our house tends to be dry.
Fertilization
For best results, apply slow-release pellet fertilizer or liquid fertilizer to aglaonema once a month, especially at the beginning and end of the growing season. Two methods are used to apply fertilizer doses: sprinkled on plant growing medium or sprayed on plants weekly.
Pest and Disease Control
There are several pests and diseases that often attack aglaonema plants, such as Botrytis, this disease can be overcome by spraying dichloran so that the disease cannot attack aglaonema plants again.
Leaf spot, this disease can be overcome by spraying fungicide liquid. Pest eradication can be done by using several types of insecticides such as insecticides with active ingredients malathion or spinosad.
Trimming
Pruning old and yellowing aglaonema leaves so that new leaves can grow thickly and not interfere with the growth of other leaves, apart from that, weeding is done regularly once a week.
Cutting Flowers
Usually, aglaonema will grow flowers when it starts to mature. Most people recommend cutting or pruning flowers that have started to grow. Aglaonema flowers can stop the growth of other leaves. This is because the plant’s energy will be focused on the flowers. Cutting aglaonema flowers is one of the right steps to make the resulting leaves more beautiful.
In addition to its easy maintenance, Aglaonema can be cultivated by three methods. Here’s how to do it :
1. Graft
Planting aglaonema by grafting, first choose a parent with a sturdy stem that is brown in color, then peel the stem until it is white. After that, the aglaonema stems are coated with roasted husks that have been watered without any additions. Finally, wrap it in plastic or a small pot with holes for air circulation and holes for rooting and water the plant every 2-3 days.
2. Cuttings
Planting aglaonema by cuttings is: first choose a sturdy parent shoot and have at least 5 leaves left, this is to keep the plant alive even though the shoots have been cut. Next, plant the selected broodstock shoots on potting media.
3. Seed
Planting aglaonema with seeds, first choose seeds from an old parent, then soak the seeds for 2 hours. After soaking, the seeds can be planted.
Writer : Siti Rahma Dwi Agustin (College Student of Bandung State Islamic University, Indonesia)