Aglaonema is widely distributed in South East Asia. 16 to 2eC. (6o to 70F.). The suitable temperature for Aglaonema is less than 16C. (60F.); for a short period this may do little harm, but it is essential to provide adequate warmth if these plants are to do well.

Aglaonemas are mostly of compact habit and deserve to be more popular than they are at present. Specialist nurseries list several varieties, but on the whole they tend to be neglected. A few, such as the species Aglaonema commutatum, have rather dull foliage, so the hick of interest may be quite understandable.

When buying plants in flower it is best to select those that arc more backward in order to get the longest life possible from them. The ideal stage is when the pink bract is a little above the water level in the urn. Plants that have developed to the stage where the blue flowers in the otherwise pink bract are fully open should be avoided.

Though expensive, if purchased at the proper stage of development, A. rhodocyanea will give anything from eight to ten months of pleasure before the bract eventually deteriorates. The high cost merely reflects the time taken by the nurseryman to bring the plant to maturity, at least five years from seed under normal conditions.

Aechmeas belong to the bromeliad family, and an essential part of their culture is to ensure that the water reservoir formed by the leaves is kept permanently topped up with water. This may take on an unpleasant odour in time, and it is therefore advisable to change the water completely every six weeks or so. Only a little water requires to be given to the actual compost, so that it is just moist and never saturated.

The time can be reduced by adding carefully controlled amounts of chemical to the water in the reservoir, but it is not the sort of treatment that can be recommended to the householder owning just one or two plants.

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