Aglaonema Silver Queen Plant Care

Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Admin

The Aglaonema Silver Queen is also called the Silver Queen Plant or the Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen. It is a stunning houseplant featuring silver-white and green leaves.

The leaves grow upward from the pot and will get bushy with proper care. This makes it beautiful when you let it grow out.

It is an easy to care for plant that rarely experiences pests and diseases.

The plant is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia which is why it prefers warm weather.

How do you care for the Aglaonema Silver Queen plant? To maintain its beautiful colors, give the plant medium to bright indirect light. Keep soil moist but avoid overwatering as it can lead to root rot.

The plant thrives in warm temperature and high humidity. Give it a balanced, liquid fertilizer during its growing season to maximize growth and leaf development.

Table of Contents

Silver Queen Plant Light Requirements

The Aglaonema Silver Queen thrives on medium to bright indirect light. I suggest keeping it in a well-lit location if you want it to maintain a vibrant silver, green leaf color.

Good lighting is very important because of the plant’s variegations.

If you look closely, its leaves will at least have the same amount of silver as green. In most cases, there’s more silver than there is green.

The reason why these sections are not green in color is because they lack or don’t have chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll is what makes leaves green. Just as importantly, chlorophyll is what absorbs light that the plant will use for photosynthesis.

Thus, the more silver there is, the less chlorophyll the leaves have. This means less light absorption capacity as well.

Therefore, to compensate for this, you want to keep it in a well-lit spot.

While the plant will survive and not get harmed by low light, you’ll notice its leaves lose some of its silver variegations. These will turn more green as the plant will produce more chlorophyll to help support its energy requirements.

As such, low light reduces it silver variegations.

Just as importantly, lack of light will slow down its growth or even stunt it if the light gets too low. So, you’ll see less foliage growth. And the leaves that do emerge will be smaller as well.

On the other hand, avoid too much direct sunlight as well.

That’s because excess light especially harsh, intense exposure will burn the leaves. At the very least, they will cause them to turn yellow or dull the variegations.

Therefore, be wary of the hottest times of the day (10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). Avoid the sun’s rays during these times to positioning the plant so they never get hit by the sun’s rays.

Another option is to filter the light from the south and west facing windows. You can use sheer curtains or something else to partially block the sun.

Silver Queen Plant Temperature

The Aglaonema Silver Queen plant is used to tropical and subtropical weather. That’s because it is native to these regions in Asia.

Therefore, it enjoys temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit the most.

Also, it is accustomed to consistent sunshine and warm conditions.

This is something that the areas near the equator all have in common. The sun is up and the weather stays warm 365 days a year. They don’t experience winter, snow or freezing temperature.

As such, the Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen is not a fan of temperature fluctuations. It also cannot tolerate temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

You may leave it there for a short while. But prolonged periods or further drops in temperature will cause it stress.

Not only will its growth slow down it may get stunted. Leaves will turn yellow or develop gray spots then drop later on.

And if things don’t change, the plant will eventually deteriorate and die.

This is why it is imperative to bring it indoors once the temperature nears 55 degrees Fahrenheit around fall. Don’t leave the Aglaonema Silver Queen plant outside through the winter as it won’t make it to spring.

The only exception to this is USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11 where the plant will happily live outdoors throughout the year.

The reason is that these areas have sunny, warm weather throughout the year.

Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen Humidity

The Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen loves humidity. And it prefers humidity of 50% or higher.

If you give it this kind of environment, it will grow faster, bigger and produce more leaves. The leaves will also have more vibrant colors.

That said, it can tolerate lower humidity as well.

This makes it easy to grow in many homes. Although, if you have dry air in your area, you may need to give the plant some help by increase humidity around it.

The simplest way to do this is to mist the plant a few times a week.

But be careful when you do this because spraying too much or wetting the leaves too much can eventually cause fungal infections.

Alternatively, you can get a humidifier if you wish.

I like to use a pebble tray or a humidity tray. Both do the same thing but have different setups. You can DIY both of them in less than half an hour.

And the only maintenance you’ll need to do is refill the water in the trays when they get depleted.

I love these methods because they are free and hands-off.

How Often to Water Aglaonema Silver Queen

The Aglaonema Silver Queen plant likes moist soil. But it does not like wet, soggy soil. Nor does it appreciate the soil drying out completely.

Therefore, the most important thing is to stay in between.

That said, it is crucial to be aware that the Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen plant is sensitive to overwatering. And this can lead to root rot.

So, this is the one thing that can quickly kill your plant.

For this reason, watering is by far the most challenging part of caring for the Aglaonema Silver Queen.

To do so, you want to do two things.

One is to allow part of the soil to dry between waterings. Ideally, wait until ½ or ¾ of the soil has dried before adding more water.

This will prevent overwatering.

And the simplest way to do this is to use a wooden stick or chopstick.

Insert the wooden stick into the soil all the way down until it hits the bottom of the pot. Then pull the stick out.

The wet and dry parts of the wood will indicate until where the soil is still moist.

Once the top half of the soil is dry, you can add water. Avoid doing so before them to prevent overwatering.

The second thing to keep in mind is to water thoroughly.

How you water is just as important as when you water. Since the roots like moist soil, drench the root ball when you water.

To do so, keep pouring water onto the soil (not over the leaves) until you see the liquid drip out from the pot’s drainage holes.

Then allow the soil to completely drain.

The first part will ensure the roots get their fill of moisture. The second part makes sure there is no waterlogging or overwatering as the excess liquid drains out soon after you water.

What you’re left with is moist soil with not puddles of water.

Aglaonema Silver Queen Potting Soil

The best soil for the Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen Plant is loose, well-draining soil. Again, this is due to the plant’s sensitivity to overwatering.

Good drainage ensures that the soil does not retain too much moisture that it leaves the roots sitting in water for prolonged periods of time.

Instead, it will hold some moisture to keep the roots hydrated. But will quickly drain any excess liquid.

The good news is that it is easy to create this kind of soil. Just combine:

1 part potting soil
1 part peat
1 part perlite

The perlite increases drainage so that the soil will not hold on to too much moisture.

For this reason, you want to avoid using standard houseplant potting soil on its own. It tends to hold on to too much water.

Instead, use perlite, pumice, orchid bark or charcoal to increase drainage. Add a few handfuls and see how the plant responds. Adjust the amounts as needed from there.

In addition to well-draining soil, make sure the pot you use also has ample drainage.

This means choosing a pot with drainage holes at the bottom.

Doing so will ensure that excess liquid that drains from the soil can drip out of the pot. Without any holes, the water will pool at the bottom of the container and accumulate over time.

This will keep soil wet which defeats the purpose of using proper watering and well-draining soil.

Silver Queen Plant Fertilizer

For optimal growth, the Aglaonema Silver Queen plant needs fertilizer. It can survive and do okay without fertilizer. So, if you’re on a tight budget, you can skip it for now.

However, if you want the plant to grow faster and produce more leaves, feeding it goes a long way.

Nutrients and make the leaves have a more vibrant color not to mention help develop larger foliage.

The important thing here is to use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. This will ensure leaf development since the plant is first and foremost known for its beautiful foliage.

Also, never over fertilize the plant.

Since the plant is not picky about fertilizer, you can use just about any kind you have as long as it has sufficient macro- and micronutrients to keep the plant healthy and happy.

The most common option is to go with a balanced, liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Apply once a month during spring and summer. Don’t feed the plant in fall or winter.

If you prefer to fertilize fewer times, you can go with slow-release fertilizer pellets instead.

Fish emulsion or fish fertilizer is likewise a good option. Plus, it is affordable and organic.

In case, you don’t like applying fertilizer, you can amend the soil instead. You can use compost or worm castings. Just add a half-inch layer onto the potting mix as topdressing every spring.

Flowering / Blooms

The Aglaonema Silver Queen plant also produces flowers.

When grown outdoors, it will usually bloom during summer to early fall. You’ll see a green-yellow spathe that houses a white spadix.

Its flowers do complement the beautiful silver-white variegations on the green colored leaves.

However, it is worth noting that because the flowers are not very showy especially when compared with the plant’s leaves, many growers will prune the flowers as they bloom.

This is to ensure that the plant focuses all its energy and resources on its leaves.

Silver Queen Plant Pruning

Speaking of pruning, the Aglaonema Silver Queen plant does not need a lot of pruning.

For one, it will not grow into a large plant.

In most cases, it will grow up to 2 feet tall. But its height usually stays between 1 to 2 feet. It also has a similar spread of 1 to 2 feet.

What’s great about the plant is that it will get bushy with proper care. And it looks amazing when you see all the leaves grow together covering the pot.

Here’s where some pruning may be involved.

If you find that the plant is getting too bushy or the leaves look overcrowded, you can do some light trimming every few months.

But that’s about the extent of pruning for the plant.

How to Propagate Aglaonema Silver Queen

The Aglaonema Silver Queen plant can be propagated from stem cuttings. This is the most effective way to grow new Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen plants.

The best thing is the process is easy. It is also free and has high success rates.

With stem cuttings, you can propagate in water or propagate in soil. Both methods works and you can go with what you feel more comfortable with.

Below, I’ll show you how to do each method.

But fore you do, I’ll begin with taking the stem cuttings since this is the most important part.

Look for healthy stems as your candidates.
You’re looking for stems with at least one node and 2 or more leaves on it. You can pick one or more stems. It is up to you on how many you want to cut.
Once you’ve selected the candidates, sanitize your cutting tool. Use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. You can use a pair of scissors or pruning shears.
Cut the stem just below the node. Try to get a stem cutting that’s between 4 to 8 inches.

The next step is to decide if you want to propagate the stem cuttings in water or in soil.

How to Propagate Aglaonema Silver Queen in Water

Place the stem cuttings into a glass container.
Keep the nodes submerged under water. Remove any leaves that get wet but leave the upper leaves intact.
Place the container in a well-lit location with no direct sun.
You’ll also need to change the water once every 2 weeks or so.

In about 3-4 weeks you’ll see enough roots grow in the water.

People like propagating in water because it allows you to see the roots as they develop.

Once the roots reach about 2-4 inches long, you can move the cuttings from water and plant them into a pot with well-draining soil.

In time, they will grow into a clone of their parent.

How to Propagate Aglaonema Silver Queen in Soil

Propagating the Aglaonema Silver Queen plant in soil allows you to skip rooting it in water. Instead, you plant the cuttings in soil directly.

Prepare a pot and fill it with fresh, well-draining potting mix.
Dip or rub the ends of the stem cuttings with rooting hormone. This is an optional step. So, skip it if you don’t have rooting hormone at home.
Plant the cuttings in soil making sure the nodes are buried under. Again, remove any leaves that end up in the soil. but leave the upper leaves.
Place the pot in a well-lit location with no direct sunlight.
Water the soil and keep it moist but not wet.

In about 4 weeks, the roots will begin to establish themselves in the soil.

You can lightly tug the cuttings to test if they’ve developed roots. The cuttings should resist your pull.

How to Repot or Transplant Aglaonema Silver Queen

The Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen plant does not need regular repotting. In general, it takes around 2 years before repotting is needed.

As such, this is another low maintenance task.

You’ll only need to repot it when it becomes root bound.

Once you see roots coming out from the bottom of the pot’s drainage holes, it means that the plant has outgrown its container.

Thus, when spring comes around, it is time to repot.

Spring is the best time to repot because it is when the plant grows the fastest. Therefore, it will quickly recover from any potential repotting shock and start growing with new soil and a larger container.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

The Aglaonema Silver Queen is toxic to humans and pets. It causes irritation if ingested. Similarly, if you have sensitive skin or are prone to allergies, I suggest using gloves when pruning or propagating.

The plant’s sap can cause skin irritation in some people.

Silver Queen Plant Problems & Troubleshooting

Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen Pests

Pests are not a huge problem for the Aglaonema Silver Queen. But mealybugs, spider mites and scale can come around.

Therefore, it is important to always be on the lookout for these bugs.

They usually hide under the leaves and in the nooks and crannies in the stems.

These insects are problematic because they are sap suckers. Additionally, their popular grows quite quickly. Therefore, they can inflict a lot of damage once they grow in number.

If you do spot any of these pests, immediately treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Diseases

Root rot is the biggest thing to watch out for here.

It is caused by overwatering the soil and waterlogging. Therefore, don’t water the plant until part of the soil has dried. Additionally use well-draining soil.

Other issues to watch out for are bacterial and fungal infections. These can affect the leaves and other parts of the plant.

Again, they are caused by excess moisture. So, be careful about wet soil or leaving the leaves wet for too long.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you care for Aglaonema Silver Queen?

To care for Aglaonema Silver Queen, give it bright, indirect sunlight and high humidity (over 50%). The plant also prefers even moist soil that’s not soggy. So, watering is important without overdoing it. Also regularly cleaning the leaves with a damp cloth will help get rid of dust.

Is Silver Queen an indoor plant?

The Aglaonema Silver Queen which is also called the Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen, is a tropical houseplant that features long, narrow green leaves with silver variegations. It grows to 2 feet high and 2 feet wide with its beautiful leaves extending outwards and upwards.

How do you grow Aglaonema Silver Queen?

To grow Aglaonema Silver Queen, make sure that it get medium to bright indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunlight. This aroid is a tropical plant, so it prefers warm, humid conditions. It is not cold hardy. Water regularly but only once the top layer of soil has dried out. This will keep soil moist. Feeding the plant with houseplant fertilizer during its growing season also helps increase growth.

How much light does a silver queen plant need?

The Aglaonema Silver Queen does best in bright, indirect light, but it can tolerate medium and low light as well. The exception is direct sunlight or full sun which is too much for the plant. This can damage its leaves. Similarly, too little light will cause the plant to lose its variegation and stunt growth.

Why is my silver queen leaves turning yellow?

If your Aglaonema Silver Queen’s leaves are turning yellow, overwatering is the most common cause. Check the soil to see if it is damp or soggy. If so, allow the soil to dry and check the roots for rotting. You can also move the plant to a new pot with fresh soil to help it recover. Humidity is another possible cause of Aglaonema Silver Queen leaves turning yellow. Initially, the low moisture in the soil will turn the leaves brown. After that, they become yellow. If this happens, increase humidity by misting or using a pebble tray.

When should I prune my Silver Queen?

Prune your Aglaonema Silver Queen during spring. This is the best time to trim the plant to encourage new growth to make it bushier. You can likewise do minor pruning at any time of the year. But leave the serious pruning for spring when the plant is strongest and growing fast.

How do you prune a silver queen?

Prune your Aglaonema Silver Queen by cutting back between a quarter to a third of the plant during spring. This is the time to do major pruning. You can also prune away the damaged, yellow or brown leaves any time of the year as long as it is minor trimming. Remove any leaves with no variegation.

Aglaonema Silver Queen Plant Care – How to Grow Chinese Evergreen Silver Queen