A NEW CHRISTMAS RED
What do you think will be the color of Christmas this year?
The last nine months have been sad and dreary and people are filled with feelings of anxiety and insecurity over what lies ahead of us with the worldwide pandemic.
Until such time that a vaccine is available, we can ease up the situation by, in addition to wearing masks and face shields, adding color to our surroundings to create a festive and happy atmosphere everyday, especially that Christmas is just around the corner.
If you are tired of Poinsettia red as a Christmas accent, try Aglaonema Red Siam or Red Lipstick for a change.
It is one of the variegated types of the Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreens, a common and inexpensive houseplant before COVID-19 came along. Its large, waxy and pointed green leaves that are thickly lined with lipstick red on the sides and the rib, with splatters of red all over the greens make it an attractive and colorful alternative to Red Poinsettia.
Unlike poinsettia that is seasonal, the A. Red Siam/Lipstick grows year-round indoor or outdoor under bright, indirect sunlight.
Aglaonema Red Siam: Unusually Expensive
In a recent conversation I had with another plant grower and seller, we shared the same sentiment over how some resellers are offering these in the market three or four times higher than the prices at the start of the year.
I am hopeful that the soaring prices of this plant along with other varieties is just temporary, triggered only by the shortage of gardening supplies due to transportation and logistical difficulties during the quarantine period coupled with the onset of Christmas season.
Just like other basic commodities, the prices of gardening materials and products should also be maintained within reasonable levels.
How to Propagate Aglaonema Red Siam
Here’s to share with you my personal experiences on how to multiply your pot of A. Red Siam/Lipstick for a more colorful home and garden not just on Christmas but year-round.
o Buy a pot of A.Red Siam/Lipstick that show potential for new, upcoming shoots and then repot.. I bought a small pot of this plant in July last year. It grew three new shoots after about six months so I had to repot them due to overcrowding. With more space to grow, the newly potted ones grew faster and taller, producing additional shoots in four months.
o Cut the main stem to start a new plant.. When the main stem becomes about a foot tall, I cut it about an inch above the base and then plant the cutting in a separate pot. After a few days, a new set of leaves will appear from where you cut the stem.
o Use the leaves to start a new plant. When the leaves are abundant and cutting one or two will not diminish the foliage, I cut the outermost leaf from the base of the stem and plant each leaf in a seedling pot. This will grow roots and start a new plant.
o Grow from within the plant.. When the taller stems are not growing new leaves, I wrap it around with a plastic bottle, fill the bottle with soil and tie it around with a garden wire. When new roots appear around the plastic wrap, I cut the stem at the base and plant it in a separate pot. Note that the mother plant will again grow new leaves and start a new plant.
These growing techniques I believe can also be used with other Aglaonema varieties but you need to take note of their varying light requirements.
While all varieties should not be exposed to direct sunlight, the pale-colored variegated ones need more, indirect light than the bright-colored ones.
Moist, acidic soil is recommended and overwatering should be avoided as this can cause decay.
December has been a rainy month so don’t forget to move your Aglaonemas to a covered area to avoid getting soaked in the rain more than necessary.
Aglaonemas are slow growers, but growing it yourself can be very fulfilling. Try it and have fun.
You may e-mail me at greencraftivist@gmail.com for any questions.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Apple Bleza-Morales
About the Author:
Apple is passionately interested in community greening and beautification, organic and ornamental gardening, environment protection and preservation as well as related arts and crafts. She shares her professional, personal and travel experiences to spread knowledge and information in these areas which may not be accessible to all who are similarly interested and aims to inspire others to develop and create new ideas from her blogs.
Apple holds a Master's degree in Industrial Relations from the University of the Philippines. She held leadership roles in Human Resources during her employment with the private sector, developing and implementing HR and Organizational systems that help employees to grow their careers and employers to achieve a mutually beneficial engagement.
Photos by: Maybelle B. Morales
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