How to Propagate Chinese Evergreen (3 Methods of Aglaonema Propagation)


Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema) are easily propagated from stem cuttings and by plant division at the beginning of the growing season

Aglaonema stem cuttings can either be rooted in water or in soil. They root easily and there is no need for a rooting hormone.

Aglaonemas are some of the popular tropical foliage plants on account of their spectacular foliage, ease of care, air cleaning properties and ability to adapt to a wide range of growing conditions.

Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema) flourishes in medium to bright light (dappled light), average warmth of 18-270C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose soils coupled with feeding every 3-4 months during the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema).

If you are looking to increase your stock of Chinese Evergreens, we have berebelow outlined for you 3 propagation methods.

Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema

1. How to propagate Aglaonema from stem cuttings in soil

  1. Cut a new shoot bearing 4-5 inches stem and about 4-5 leaves or an old stem about 4-6 inches long from a healthy, mature Chinese Evergreen. Ensure that the cuttings have 3-4 leaf nodes. Strip off the lower leaves.

  2. Insert 2-3 inches of the lower cut-end of the cutting in moist, well-drained soil and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.


  3. Cover the set up with clear plastic to create a greehouse effect to hasten establishment and maintain the soil moist through out.

  4. In about 3-4 weeks, new growth should sprout on the Chinese Evergreen cuttings. Gradually remove the plastic cover over a period ot two weeks to acclimate the new plants.

  5. Allow adequate time for the proper establishment of the cuttings after which you can begin Chinese Evergreen routine care.
Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema

2. How to propagate Aglaonema from stem cuttings in water

  1. Cut a new shoot bearing 4-5 inches stem and about 4-5 leaves or an old stem about 4-6 inches long from a healthy, mature Chinese Evergreen. Ensure that the cuttings have 3-4 leaf nodes. Strip off the lower leaves.

  2. Place the Chinese Evergreen cuttings in a jar of clean plain water or in a propagation station while ensuring that the leaves do not touch the water otherwise they may begin to rot.

  3. Place the set up in a warm, well-lit spot and replace the water every 5-7 days and root development should occur in 1-2 weeks.

  4. When the roots are about 3-4 inches long, the cutting can be put in soil. The water roots need to be acclimatized to grow in soil.

  5. Gradually add soil into the rooting container from when the roots are about 2 inches long so that by the time of transplanting, there is more of soil than water in the rooting container that is, the roots are more or less growing in moist soil than in water.

  6. Once the roots are acclimatized to grow in soil, transfer the rooted cuttings into individual pots, in free-draining soil and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.

  7. For a fuller plant, transfer several cuttings into one pot after which you can begin Chinese Evergreen routine care.
Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema

3. How to propagate Chinese Evergreen by plant division

  1. Water the Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment as a well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.

  2. Take out the Chinese Evergreen from its pot and with a sterilized sharp knife or pair of scissors, carefully cut through roots to divide a large Chinese Evergreen into several sections. Ensure each section has some roots to hasten establishment.

  3. Pot the Chinese Evergreen sections in moist, free-draining soil in individual pots and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.

  4. Maintain the soil moist through out and in about 1-2 weeks the sections should develop their own root system.

  5. Allow adequate time for the proper establishment of the sections after which you can begin Chinese Evergreen routine care.

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