Chinese evergreen plants are popular houseplants known for their lush, vibrant foliage and easy care requirements. While they are forgiving plants that can adapt to a range of conditions, providing them with an appropriate potting mix is key to keeping them healthy and beautiful In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing the ideal soil for your Chinese evergreen
Chinese evergreen is a common name used to describe a group of plants in the Aglaonema genus. They are native to humid, tropical parts of Asia and Indonesia but have become a mainstay in homes and offices around the world
These plants are identified by their oval-shaped, dark green leaves with striking white, silver, pink, or red accents. The variegated foliage patterns give them an exotic, almost painted appearance. They range in size from petite tabletop varieties to larger floor plants over 5 feet tall.
Chinese evergreens thrive in indoor environments. In fact, they prefer shady, low-light spots and high humidity over bright, direct light. They also tolerate a wide range of temperatures between 55-85°F. Their resilience and lush good looks make them an ideal choice for beginners and busy folks who don’t have a green thumb.
Key Soil Requirements for Chinese Evergreens
While Chinese evergreens aren’t too picky, choosing a soil that meets their needs is important for healthy growth. Here are some key factors to look for:
Well-draining
Chinese evergreens are prone to root rot if their soil stays wet for too long. Be sure to use a potting mix that drains well to prevent soggy, waterlogged roots. Soils containing perlite, vermiculite, coconut coir, or bark help provide air pockets for drainage.
Moisture-retentive
These tropical plants prefer evenly moist (but not wet) soil. A quality potting mix containing peat moss or coco coir will help retain moisture without getting overly soggy. This prevents the constant wet-dry cycles that can stress the plant.
Nutrient-rich
While Chinese evergreens don’t need extremely fertile soil, they do best with a potting mix that contains some organic matter. This provides a steady supply of nutrients over time. Compost, worm castings, or slow-release fertilizer are ideal additions.
Loose & fluffy
Avoid heavy, dense, compacted soil that can suffocate roots and encourage rot. Look for a lightweight, fluffy mix that allows air circulation around the root zone.
The right pH
Chinese evergreens grow best in slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.1-6.5. Most quality potting soils formulated for houseplants already fall within this ideal range.
Recommended Soil Components
The best potting mixes for Chinese evergreens contain a blend of the following materials:
- Peat or coco coir – Improves moisture retention
- Perlite or vermiculite – Lightens the soil texture and provides drainage
- Compost or worm castings – Supplies nutrients and organic matter
- Bark or charcoal – Aeration and moisture control
- Sphagnum moss – Anti-fungal properties to fight rot
Buying a pre-mixed indoor plant or tropical plant soil takes the guesswork out of getting this blend right. Or you can amend regular potting soil with extra perlite and coco coir to create a customized mix.
The Best Store-Bought Options
If you’d rather not mix your own soil, several high-quality potting mixes for Chinese evergreens are available at most garden centers or online. Here are some of the best options:
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Espoma Organic Indoor Potting Mix – Contains peat moss, perlite, vermiculite and worm castings. Suitable for all indoor plants.
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Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix – A peat and perlite based mix blended with fertilizer to feed up to 6 months.
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FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil – A rich blend including forest humus, sandy loam, peat moss and fertilizers. May be too heavy for some plants.
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Superfly Bonsai Ultima Soil Mix – Specialty soil with akadama clay, pumice, lava rock and organic matter ideal for bonsai or tropicals.
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Black Gold Tropical Mix – Made with Canadian sphagnum peat moss and perlite with added fertilizer.
No matter which brand you choose, read the label to make sure it contains peat or coir as well as perlite or vermiculite. Avoid soils with water absorbing gels or crystals which can hold too much moisture against the roots.
Mixing Your Own Chinese Evergreen Soil
For the ultimate control over your potting mix, you can easily make your own Chinese evergreen soil using ingredients from your local garden center or hardware store.
Here are two homemade mix recipes to try:
Recipe #1
- 2 parts peat moss or coco coir
- 1 part perlite or vermiculite
- 1 part compost or worm castings
Recipe #2
- 2 parts peat moss
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part orchid bark or charcoal
- 1 part sphagnum moss
To mix, simply combine all ingredients in a large bucket or wheel
Types of Chinese Evergreen
There are many kinds of Aglaonema, and I like all of them. Here are five that I own or have owned in the past and that look very different from each other.
- In China, the Silver Queen is one of the most common evergreen trees. It has long, thin leaves that are a mix of dark green and silver. Mine is in my bathroom, a few feet from a west-facing window that is foggy because I’m in the shower. It has been thriving and even bloomed last year!.
- Red Siam: This is a beautiful plant that will give you lots of color all year long! The leaves are rimmed in red and have green and yellow spots on them, and the stems are pink. It prefers slightly more light than its fully green cousins. So, mine is a few feet from a south-facing window.
- If you choose Diamond Bay, the leaves are very big, long, and lance-shaped. The leaves’ centers are a light silver-green color that’s a little more than half their width and goes from end to end. The edges are a dark green color. Mine is sitting a few feet from a northeast window.
- White Joy: This is a newer and less common variety with beautiful bright creamy white leaves that have a deep green leaf halo and some sparse green speckles around the edges. This will need brighter light to maintain its vibrant variegation. Mine is sitting a few feet from an east window.
- Lemon mint—this is the newest flavor I got, and I’m in love with it. It’s one of my favorite leaf colors ever. The leaves of Lemon Mint have striking green and yellow veins and silver spots all over them.
About the Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) is known for being easy to grow and for its beautifully patterned leaves. This truly is the perfect beginners plant or for those with low light conditions. The leaves are large and lush and bring a low-maintenance, tropical feeling to your interior.
Chinese Evergreens have evolved over the centuries to have many color and pattern variations. They are known for having green with silver spots, stripes, or splashes on them, like Maria or Diamond Bay Aglaonema. Some, like Red Siam or Lemon Mint Aglaonema, have colored stems, veins, and leaf edges. Other types, like Red Star or White Joy Aglaonema, are mostly a new color like white, pink, or red.
Although they can get 3 feet tall, Chinese Evergreens are slow growing and great for desks and shelves. If they do get larger, their rounded forms fill a corner very nicely. Because they grow slowly, they only need a bigger pot every two to three years, and they like it when the space inside the pot is smaller. They can also produce blooms if given enough light. They look like dainty Calla Lily blooms and are very subtle.
Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) Care: A Noob-Proof Houseplant
How do you care for a Chinese evergreen plant?
A Chinese Evergreen plant will do best in slightly acidic soil with a soil pH of between 5.6 to 6.5. It might tolerate slight variations, but it will not prefer too much variations. If the soil goes very acidic or alkaline, you should change the soil. You must repot the plant with fresh soil mix.
What is the best potting mix for Chinese Evergreens?
A mix of equal parts of regular potting soil, vermicompost, cocopeat, and perlite would be ideal for them. Also, the ideal soil mix for Chinese evergreen must be slightly acidic with soil pH between 5.6 to 6.5. The regular potting mix will retain the required moisture, while the sand and perlite will drain the excess water out of the system.
How do you grow Chinese Evergreens?
Take care not to expose any variety to direct sunlight, as harsh rays easily burn the delicate leaves. Typically, a well-drained, slightly acidic potting soil is perfect for Chinese evergreen. If soil retains too much water, try mixing in sand or perlite to boost drainage.
What is the best soil for Chinese Evergreens?
Let’s find out. Chinese evergreen generally prefers a slightly moist and well-drained soil mix. A mix of equal parts of regular potting soil, vermicompost, cocopeat, and perlite would be ideal for them. Also, the ideal soil mix for Chinese evergreen must be slightly acidic with soil pH between 5.6 to 6.5.