Aglaonema, commonly known as Chinese Evergreen, is a popular indoor foliage plant, appreciated for its striking leaves and diverse patterns. Like many houseplants, Aglaonemas can produce flower buds, which often surprises owners given the plant’s primary appeal is its vibrant foliage. This article explores what these flower buds are and how to manage them to maintain your plant’s health and appearance.
Understanding the Aglaonema Flower Bud
An Aglaonema flower bud is an aroid inflorescence, a specialized structure common to plants in the Araceae family, including Peace Lilies and Anthuriums. It consists of two main parts: a spathe, a modified, leaf-like hood, and a spadix, a fleshy spike where the tiny, inconspicuous flowers are borne.
Flowering in an Aglaonema is a natural indication of plant maturity and often reflects good growing conditions. While these plants do flower, they are primarily cultivated for their ornamental leaves. The flowers themselves are generally not considered visually appealing; they are usually small, numerous, and green or greenish-white, often blending in with the plant’s foliage rather than standing out.
Making the Decision: To Keep or Remove
Deciding whether to keep or remove an Aglaonema flower bud is a common consideration for plant owners. Many choose to remove the buds, primarily due to the energy drain they impose on the plant. Flowering is a metabolically intensive process that diverts significant energy and nutrients away from foliage production. This diversion can result in new leaves that are smaller, less vibrant, or even distorted, and can lead to slower overall growth of the plant’s prized foliage.
Beyond energy conservation, aesthetic considerations often lead owners to remove the flowers. Aglaonema flowers are typically not showy and can appear insignificant compared to the plant’s colorful leaves. As they fade, the flowers can become messy, shriveling and potentially detracting from the plant’s overall appearance. Removing them ensures the plant’s energy is channeled into producing more of the attractive leaves for which it is valued.
Some owners might choose to keep the flower buds out of curiosity to observe the plant’s full life cycle. A rare, though often unviable indoors, outcome of flowering is seed production. If a flower is pollinated, it can develop into a red, berry-like fruit containing seeds. However, indoor seed production is uncommon and typically requires specific conditions or manual pollination.
To remove an Aglaonema flower bud, use clean, sharp shears or scissors. Carefully cut the flower stalk as close to its base as possible. This precise removal helps to redirect the plant’s energy back to foliage development and prevents the plant from expending resources on seed production.
Care During and After Flowering
If you choose to allow your Aglaonema to flower, consistent watering and humidity are beneficial. The plant will not require drastic changes to its care routine. Maintaining adequate moisture in the soil, allowing the top inch or two to dry between waterings, and providing ample humidity will support the plant through its flowering period.
After the Aglaonema flower has bloomed and begins to shrivel, it is advisable to promptly remove the spent flower stalks. The flower will naturally dry out and wither away, and leaving it on the plant can invite issues such as rot or attract pests. Removing these spent stalks ensures that the plant’s energy is redirected efficiently back into producing new foliage rather than maintaining decaying structures or, if pollination occurred, developing seed pods. While seed pod formation is rare indoors, if they do appear, removing them is also recommended for the same energy conservation reasons.