The Aglaonema ‘Cutlass’, a Chinese Evergreen cultivar, is a favored indoor plant known for its distinctive foliage and simple care. This perennial tropical plant features long, narrow, lance-shaped leaves, giving it a sleek and modern appearance that lives up to its name. Its striking color pattern consists of a pale, silvery-green center contrasting sharply with dark green margins and veining. Originating from tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, the ‘Cutlass’ adapts well to typical indoor environments. Its compact, upright growth habit makes it suitable for various placements, from desktops to floor arrangements.
Ideal Growing Conditions
The Aglaonema ‘Cutlass’ thrives best in bright, indirect light, which maintains the plant’s silver-green variegation. While it tolerates lower light, insufficient illumination mutes leaf colors and slows growth significantly. Avoid direct sunlight, especially during the harshest midday hours, as intense rays can easily scorch the foliage, causing unsightly brown spots.
This tropical plant prefers a consistently warm environment, ideally between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C). It is sensitive to cold temperatures and should never be exposed to conditions below 60°F (15°C), which can lead to damage or shock. Avoid placing it near cold drafts from windows, doors, or air conditioning vents to prevent sudden temperature drops.
The ‘Cutlass’ benefits from moderate to high ambient humidity, ideally above 65%. While it tolerates the lower humidity found in most homes, increasing moisture promotes better growth and prevents browning leaf tips. Methods for boosting local humidity include using a small room humidifier, grouping the plant with other houseplants, or setting the pot on a pebble tray filled with water.
Watering Feeding and Soil Requirements
Watering the ‘Cutlass’ requires allowing the top one to two inches of soil to dry out partially between waterings to prevent waterlogging. Growers should check the substrate by inserting a finger; if dry, water thoroughly until the excess liquid drains from the bottom. Allowing the soil to dry by about 50% of the pot’s volume is a good measure to prevent root rot, a common cause of decline in this species.
The quality of the water can influence the health of the foliage, as the plant is sensitive to the salts and fluoride often found in tap water. If brown leaf tips persist, switching to distilled water or filtered rainwater can help reduce mineral buildup in the soil. Promptly discard any water collected in the drainage saucer, as leaving the roots sitting in standing water quickly leads to fungal issues.
A well-draining, airy potting mix is required to support healthy root function and prevent compaction. A standard houseplant blend, typically combining materials like peat moss, perlite, and pine bark, provides the necessary balance of moisture retention and drainage. This composition helps mimic the loose substrate found in its native environment and allows roots to access oxygen.
Fertilization should only occur during the plant’s active growing period in spring and summer. Use a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the strength recommended on the product label to prevent fertilizer burn. Feeding the plant once a month during this season provides the necessary nutrients for robust growth, but feeding should be suspended completely during the fall and winter when growth naturally slows.
Propagation and Long Term Care
Propagation of the Aglaonema ‘Cutlass’ is accomplished using stem cuttings or by dividing offsets, often done during repotting. For stem cuttings, cut a healthy section of the stem, four to six inches long, just below a leaf node using a clean, sharp tool. Cuttings can be rooted successfully in clean water or directly into moist, well-draining soil, with rooting typically occurring within a few weeks.
Division involves separating the smaller plantlets, or offsets, that grow at the base of the parent plant. Ensure each offset has its own established root system before separation. Once separated, pot the new plants in fresh soil and maintain them with the same care as the mature plant. This method is a simple way to create new plants while simultaneously refreshing the parent plant.
Repotting is generally infrequent, as the ‘Cutlass’ prefers to be slightly root-bound and grows slowly. Repot only when roots begin to circle the pot or the soil appears compacted, usually every two to three years. When repotting, select a container only one inch larger in diameter to allow root expansion without retaining excessive moisture.
Routine maintenance includes regularly removing yellowed or dead leaves at the base of the plant to direct the plant’s energy toward new growth. Wipe the large leaves gently with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust, allowing for more efficient light absorption and photosynthesis. This cleaning also provides an opportunity to inspect the plant for early signs of pests.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Leaf discoloration is often a direct indicator of improper moisture or light levels, requiring a careful diagnosis of the plant’s environment. Yellowing leaves, especially lower ones in moist soil, usually signal overwatering and potential root issues. Conversely, crispy, fully yellow or brown leaves accompanied by dry soil indicate the plant is suffering from underwatering.
Brown tips are frequently caused by low humidity or the buildup of soluble salts from excessive fertilization or minerals in the tap water. Increasing local humidity or thoroughly flushing the soil with clean water can help resolve this symptom. Brown spots or scorch marks on the leaves result from exposure to intense, direct sunlight.
The ‘Cutlass’ occasionally attracts common houseplant pests like spider mites and mealybugs. Spider mites thrive in dry conditions, causing fine webbing and stippling on leaves. Mealybugs appear as small, cottony white masses in leaf joints. Treat infestations by manually removing mealybugs with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab, or by applying horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to the foliage.
Limp or drooping leaves can be caused by either severe underwatering or severe overwatering. Determine the cause by checking soil moisture: if the soil is bone dry, the plant needs deep, thorough watering. If the soil is saturated, the plant is waterlogged and may be experiencing the beginning stages of root rot. If overwatered, allow the soil to dry out completely before resuming a proper watering schedule.