Basic Chinese Evergreen Care
These beautiful plants are so easy to care as they can tolerate nearly all indoor environments so are perfect for any home! Below you will find all the information you need to help your Chinese Evergreen thrive!
| Light |
Medium LightI prefer areas that aren’t too bright or shady. Finding a balance is important. |
| Water |
Water ModeratelyI don’t like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I’m after. |
| Humidity |
Medium HumidityPlease make sure the air isn’t too dry, otherwise I won’t be a happy plant. |
| Soil |
Potting SoilI need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water. |
They can deal with all light conditions
One great thing about the Chinese Evergreen plant is that they thrive under all light levels. Just note that in low light levels you will lose some of the variegation on the leaves.
Keep the soil moist
Chinese Evergreen plants like to be watered fairly often in the summer to keep the soil from drying out for extended periods of time. But they aren’t too fussy and will allow the odd forgetful waterer. Water less during winter months to avoid root rot.
Average humidity is fine
Chinese Evergreens really don’t mind too much about humidity. If you are comfortable, they will be too. Brown leaf edges and tips will tell you if they need a little humidity boost which you can do through misting or showering.
Keep Chinese Evergreens away from drafts
Chinese Evergreens do prefer slightly warmer temperatures and will start to struggle if sat near a really drafty window or door where it is exposed to a lot of cold outside air.
Fertilising is totally optional
Chinese Evergreens don’t require fertilising and will thrive fine without it. If you do choose to feed your plant make sure you use a weak water-soluble fertiliser once or twice during the growing period and not at all during winter.
Propagate by division
The easiest way to propagate a Chinese Evergreen plant is by dividing the mother plant into several smaller plants. Just make sure each section has a good amount of the overall root system.
Unfortunately, Chinese Evergreen plants are toxic
You want to keep pets and small children away from your Chinese Evergreen as they are toxic to ingest. The sap is also irritable if touched so handle your plant with care.
Common Problems with your Chinese Evergreen
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
Why does my Chinese Evergreen have brown leaf tips?
Brown leaf tips or edges on a Chinese Evergreen is often caused by a lack of humidity. This is often the case during winter when central heating and a lack of ventilation causes dry air. We recommend misting your plant several times a week as well as investing in a humidifier.
Why does my Chinese Evergreen have brown leaves?
Brown patches all over the leaves (rather than the tips) can be caused by underwatering or low temperatures. You’ll have to inspect the soil to see if there is any moisture as well as monitor the environment your plant is in to see if there are any cold drafts.
Why does my Chinese Evergreen have yellow leaves?
The most common cause of yellow leaves on a Chinese Evergreen is consistent overwatering. You want to make sure that your plant has good drainage and isn’t sitting in puddles of water for days on end. Check the moisture in the soil and replace if waterlogged. Going forward cut back on how much your water your plant and allow time for the potting mix to dry out between waterings.
