Chinese Evergreen Bloom: How to Encourage and Care For It

The Chinese Evergreen, or Aglaonema, is a staple in homes and offices, celebrated for its lush, patterned leaves and tolerance for low-light conditions. Many owners appreciate this plant for its foliage alone and are often surprised to learn it can produce flowers. While not the main attraction, the appearance of a bloom is an indicator of a healthy, mature plant that is receiving good care.

Identifying a Chinese Evergreen Bloom

The flower of a Chinese Evergreen shares a structural resemblance with those of other plants in the aroid family, like the peace lily. It consists of a central, finger-like spike called a spadix, where the tiny flowers are located. This spadix is partially covered by a leaf-like bract known as a spathe, which is a pale, greenish-white color and less prominent than the spathe of a peace lily.

This bloom emerges from the center of the plant, among the leaf stems. If the flowers on the spadix are pollinated, an event less common indoors, the plant may develop small, bright red or orange-red berries. All parts of the Aglaonema are toxic if ingested, and these colorful berries can be particularly tempting to pets or small children.

How to Encourage Flowering

Triggering a Chinese Evergreen to bloom indoors is most likely to occur with a mature plant that is several years old. While these plants are known for thriving in lower light, providing them with consistent, bright, indirect sunlight is a primary factor in encouraging flower production. A spot near an east-facing window or a location several feet from a south or west-facing window is often ideal.

Maintaining a consistent care routine also encourages flowering. Water the plant thoroughly when the top inch or two of soil becomes dry, avoiding both soggy soil and prolonged drought. Increasing ambient humidity can contribute to the plant’s health. A regular feeding schedule during the spring and summer growing season, using a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half-strength every four to six weeks, provides the nutrients for blooming.

Caring for a Blooming Plant

Once your Chinese Evergreen produces a flower, you can leave it on the plant to complete its natural life cycle. This process does, however, require a significant amount of energy from the plant, which could otherwise be directed toward producing its foliage.

Alternatively, you can remove the bloom, which redirects the plant’s resources back into leaf development. This is often preferred for those who grow Aglaonema for its foliage. To do this, use clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors to snip the flower stalk off as close to the base of the plant as possible without damaging any emerging leaves. This clean cut minimizes stress and allows the plant to heal quickly.