Aglaonema ovatum is found in northem continental Southeast Asia. It grows in evergreen forest along streams or in shaded and humid places.
Aglaonema ovatum is a species of the Aglaonema genus. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler in 1898.
IDENTIFY AGLAONEMA OVATUM PLANT
Aglaonema ovatum is found in northem continental Southeast Asia. It grows in evergreen forest along streams or in shaded and humid places.
It is an evergreen perennial herbs with erect, 0.5-1.5 cm thick stem. Internodes 0.7-3.0 cm long. Petioles 8-14 cm long, 0.5- 0.8 times as long as the leaf-blades. Sheath membranous, 3-8 cm long, 0.4-0.6 times as long as the petiole. Leaf-blades ovate to lanceolate, rarely elliptic, 13-21 cm long, 5-10.5 cm wide, length/width ratio 1: 2-3; base rounded to obtuse, rarely subcordate; apex often apiculate, acuminate (acumen 1-2.8 cm from point of 1 cm blade width to apex); rarely variegated with scattered blotches; venation weakly to strongly differentiated into 5-10 primary lateral veins diverging from the midrib at 35°-60°. Peduncles 1-2 together, 3.5-7.0 cm long, usually about 1/2 as long as the petiole. Spathe 3.5-4.7 cm long, decurrent for 0.4-1.5 cm. Stipe none. Spadix cylindric, 3.0-4.3 cm long, usually exceeding spathe but sometimes 0.5 cm short of spathe apex; pistillate portion 0.4-1.6 cm long, pistils ca. 10-20; staminate portion 2.8-3.5 cm long, 0.6-1.0 cm thick, with lower 0.5 cm sterile and distinctly differentiated in color and size from the fertile area. This species blooms in April-May (July), probably influenced by the onset of the summer monsoonal rains (March-April) with red, 1.1-2.0 cm long, 0.7-1.0 cm thick fruits.
Some forms: Aglaonema ovatum f. ovatum (upper leaf surface not variegated), Aglaonema ovatum f. maculatum (upper leaf surface variegated with ashy blotches).
AGLAONEMA OVATUM PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Under natural conditions, Aglaonema ovatum grows in the lower tier of the forest, where little light penetrates. For them, the penumbra is preferable, they are shade-tolerant, do not tolerate direct sunlight, as it threatens to burn leaves. But for variegated forms, in order not to lose the decorative pattern of leaves, bright diffused light is necessary.
Temperature:
The optimum temperature for growth is 20-25 ° C. In winter, the temperature should not fall below 16-18 ° C, it is desirable to avoid sudden changes in temperature.
Substrate and growing media:
This species need a well-permeable substrate for moisture and air for successful growth. The substrate should be fairly light, it consists of 3 parts leaf, 0.5 parts of humus, 1 part peat, 1 part sand and 0.5 part charcoal (3:0.5:1:1:0.5), or sheet ground, peat and sand (2:1:1) with crushed charcoal. Good drainage is required. It grows well in hydroponics.
Transplant in spring; young plant every year or as far as the roots are covered with earthy coma. Adults plant is transplanted once every 3-5 years.
Watering:
During the growing season (spring-summer), Aglaonema ovatum is watered abundantly, as the top layer of the substrate dries. In the autumn-winter period, they are watered regularly, after a day or two, after the top layer of the substrate dries out. Over drying, as well as waterlogging (especially in winter), are dangerous for this species.
Humidity:
This species requires high humidity. In dry air, the leaves are deformed, poorly unfolded, their tops and edges dry out. Therefore, aglaonema needs to be sprayed regularly. To increase the humidity, you can group the plants or put the plant on a pallet with wet pebbles, peat or expanded clay. At the same time the bottom of the pot should not touch the water. In the autumn-winter period, if the air temperature is low, then spraying should be carried out carefully.
Fertilizer:
During the growing season (from March to August), every two weeks, the plant is fertilized with alternating mineral and organic fertilizers of usual concentration. In winter the plant is not fed.
Propagation:
Propagate Aglaonema ovatum in spring or summer, separating and planting processes with several leaves and roots. It can also be propagated by aerial layouts and divisions during transplantation.
This species can be propagated either when the stalk naturally branches (especially the modest one is prone to this), or when the rosette stage of growth ends and a noticeable branch appears. It can be cut as an apical stalk, and can be further cut into parts of 8-10 cm in length. It is better if leaves remain on cuttings. Using cuttings, their slices are powdered with charcoal, dried for 24 hours, and the tips are buried 4-6 cm in wet sand with peat, and the temperature is kept within 21-25 ° C, the roots are formed in a month. When using mini-greenhouses with bottom heating rooting occurs in 2-3 weeks. If you do not have a greenhouse with heating, the cutting of aglaonema should be carried out in the warm season. Rooted cuttings are planted in a substrate suitable for growing adult plants.
In good conditions, this species may bloom (usually in the summer). The coverlet of the inflorescence is of modest color, therefore it does not represent decorative value, but it is still very pleasant when the plant suddenly blooms. Sometimes from self-pollination, fruit of a ruby or orange color are tied. It is necessary to allow seeds to ripen on the plant itself. Ripe seeds are suitable for planting. Unfortunately, varietal characteristics with this method of reproduction are not always resistant. The seeds are removed from the pulp, washed with water and immediately sown (during storage, they quickly lose their germination) in plates with a mixture of sand and peat in equal parts. Crops are regularly watered, kept warm. The germ in the seed is well formed, so after sowing, friendly shoots quickly appear. Young plants with the first real leaves dive one by one into small pots. If necessary, transplanted to a larger dish. Well-developed specimens are obtained on the 3-4th year.
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