Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor Care Guide: Light, Watering, Propagation & Maintenance

Shortly About Aglaonema

The full name is Aglaonema Tricolor Pictum. It’s a shrub that commonly grows in Asian forests. People mainly grow it for ornamental beauty, mainly for the unique camouflage pattern. It’s hard to believe that this plant is not artificially made, but it's all natural.

As a side note, the famous military camouflage design was not inspired by this plant. Rather, this shrub was named after this design.

Tricolor Pictum Aglaonema Overview
Feature	Details
Origin	Tropical Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia
Type	Evergreen tropical foliage plant
Size	1 to 2 feet (30–60 cm) tall
Life span	5–10 years or more with proper care
Leaf Colors	Variegated leaves with a mix of dark green, silvery-gray, and pale green in a marbled “tricolor” pattern
Flowers	Small, inconspicuous flowers, somewhat resembling Peace lilies
Propagation	By stem cuttings or division
Toxicity	Mildly toxic if ingested by pets or humans
Special Features	Compact and has a unique coloration

Aglaonema Growth and Flowers

Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor plant grows in 3 stages.

1. Vegetative Growth:

This is the phase where the plant focuses on developing its leaves and stems, becoming larger and more robust.

During this stage, the plant is still vulnerable and needs more water.
To reach Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor maturity, the shrub will need a few years. Depending on the care and conditions, it might reach adulthood faster.

2. Flowering:

An Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor full grown specimen starts producing flowers.
Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor flowers are small, white, or cream-colored. The flowers are typically self-pollinating, but they can also attract pollinators.

3. Seed Production:

Following flowering, the plant may produce seeds. This stage is a natural progression of the plant's reproductive cycle.
The seeds are hidden in the buds. If you open the wilted bud, you might see small green and bigger red seeds. Red seeds are fertilized.
After harvesting the seeds, you can plant them and continue your camouflage “dynasty”.

Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor Care

Most ornamental plants like Aglaonema need tender care to keep their colour bright and noticeable. This shrub is generally considered picky, but after some time, it gets established and needs less time and energy from you.

Follow these care tips, and your Pictum Tricolor Aglaonema will have the best leaves.

Light Requirements

This flora prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves or fade the vibrant colors.

East or west-facing windows are ideal, as they provide gentle, indirect light, while a sheer curtain can help filter harsh southern sunlight.

Water Requirements

A good watering strategy is watering this plant with contrasts. You should give it a good weekly watering, but before the new watering session, the soil should become very dry. Thai strategy helps prevent dangerous root rot.

Reduce watering in winter when the plant's growth slows down.

Temperature Requirements

This flora thrives in environments between 65°F to 80°F (18°C to 27°C). It comes from warm Asian regions, and cold may easily destroy it. For these reasons, growing this flora outdoors is usually impossible.

During the winter, you can protect your plant from freezing by shutting the windows and checking the cold damage. Usually, leaves get black or gray spots when they are damaged by frost.

Soil Requirements

Most house plants, including Aglaonema, like a well-draining, airy potting mix. A mix of peat, perlite, and orchid bark works well to provide moisture retention and drainage.

Fertilizer Requirements

Feed this flora monthly during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer.

Reduce feeding in fall and winter. The shrub stops growing in these seasons, so there's no point in feeding it.

Pest Treatment

Nothing ruins the beauty of this shrub like disease and nasty pests. As for pests, this shrub gets common pests that other house plants may contract, like:

Spider Mites: Tiny, often red or brown arachnids. They create fine webbing on the undersides of leaves. Such leaves may become speckled, yellow, or dry out altogether.
Mealybugs: White, cottony bugs that usually appear in clusters on leaf joints or stems. They suck sap, weakening the plant and causing yellowing or leaf drop.
Aphids: Small green, black, or white bugs. They often huddle on new growth. They suck the sap and cause distorted or curled leaves.

Pest control measures are simple. Usually, you just need to wipe the pests from the leaves with a moist soapy cloth. If pests still don't go away, use insecticidal soap or a dish soap solution.

Disease Treatment

Common diseases for this shrub are:

Root Rot. Caused by overwatering and poor drainage. Root rot has symptoms like yellowing leaves, wilting, mushy roots, and a foul smell from the soil. If detected, remove affected roots and repot the plant in fresh soil.
Leaf Spot Disease. It can be defined as fungal or bacterial spots appearing as brown, black, or yellow patches on leaves. Often caused by high humidity and poor air circulation. To treat leaf spot diseases, remove affected leaves and avoid overhead watering. Fungicide can be used in severe cases.
Powdery Mildew. A fungal disease that appears as a white, powdery coating on leaves. Caused by poor room climate, when there’s high humidity with poor airflow. To remove the mildew, improve air circulation, and treat the shrub with fungicides or a mixture of baking soda and water spray.

Toxicity and Safety

Unfortunately, Aglaonema Pictum is toxic to both humans and pets if ingested. Moreover, almost every representative of this plant’s family is toxic, like Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor Pink, Lemon, etc. are not safe to swallow.

The toxicity comes from calcium oxalate crystals inside the plant. If you swallow them (by biting the plant, for example), you will feel a burning sensation in your mouth, swelling, and nausea.

This plant is not a deadly poison. The same oxalate crystals are ubiquitous in many house plants (for example, Fittonia). Just a very unpleasant experience.

Benefits and Use

Aglaonema is an ornamental shrub, first and foremost. But it has other uses that could benefit your home.

Benefit	Description
Aesthetic & Decorative Value	Unique camouflage-patterned leaves add a striking visual element to homes or offices. Works well with the modern style of white painted rooms.
Air Purification	This shrub is among the plants that purify the air indoors. Helps filter indoor pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde, improving air quality.
Stress Reduction & Well-being	The presence of plants can reduce stress, improve mood, and boost productivity.
Low Maintenance	Requires minimal care, suitable for busy people and beginners.
Rarity & Collector’s Appeal	Considered a rare, highly sought-after plant prized by collectors. Some varieties cost over 25$.
Feng Shui/Cultural Value	In some cultures, Aglaonemas are believed to bring luck, prosperity, and positive energy.

AI Plant Finder

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Diagnose plant issues through photos. The app analyzes symptoms, identifies potential diseases, estimates severity, and offers step-by-step treatment recommendations.
The app also offers two tools: Light Meter, which evaluates light conditions for optimal placement of your plants, and Water Calculator, which suggests watering amounts based on pot size, soil type, and humidity.

Are you unsure about your gardener's skills? Fear not, as the app includes an AI Botanist that offers advice on plant care, pest control, repotting, fertilizing, and more.

AI Plant Finder is Available on both iOS and Android.

Comprehensive Care for Aglaonema Pictum Tricolor: Tips for Growth and Propagation

Contents:

Shortly About Aglaonema

Aglaonema Growth and Flowers