What is Aglaonema ‘harlequin’(Donna Carmen)?
Aglaonema’ Harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) is a popular plant among home gardeners that comes in many varieties. It is especially common in malls, where it provides easy-to-care-for greenery. The plant gets its name from the white and green pattern on some of its leaves.
This plant is part of the Aglaonema genus, which includes more than 60 species. Despite its tropical appearance, this plant is native to Southeast Asia. It prefers bright but indirect sunlight and moist soil rich in organic materials.
- What is Aglaonema ‘harlequin’(Donna Carmen)?
- Appearance and characteristics
- Quick summary
- How to care for Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen)?
- Other guides
- How and when to prune Aglaonema ‘harlequin’(Donna Carmen)
- How to propagate Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen)
- Common FAQs
- How much light does Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) have?
- What is so special about Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen)?
- Are Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) good indoor plants?
- Can Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) grow in low light?
- Summary
Appearance and characteristics
Aglaonema’ harlequin’ has fascinating foliage variegated with green, cream, white, and pink.
The plant has a bushy appearance and can grow up to 3 feet tall. Since it is a low-light plant, it makes an excellent houseplant. The only flip side is that it needs to be repotted frequently, about every three years.
This plant tolerates low light and likes humidity. It is recommended to water it about every five days and fertilize once a month during the growing season with liquid fertilizer.
Related reads: Growing tips for Neon Pothos
Quick summary
Botanical Plant name: Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen)
Native to: Southeast Asia
Care: Bright but indirect sunlight and moist soil rich in organic materials, preferring 70°F or warmer during the day.
Common problems: root rot, few fine roots, few secondary roots, glossiness.
Size: Can grow up to a maximum height of 1.2 m
Toxicity: Poisonous to humans and pets
How to care for Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen)?
Sunlight requirements
The Aglaonema Harlequin can grow in indirect sunlight and prefers warm temperature.
Watering
Aglaonema’ harlequin’ typically needs to be watered every 2-3 days.
In winter, drop back to weekly watering as growth is slower.
When possible, it is best to use room temperature distilled water, but you can occasionally use tap water. Never let it sit in water for too long; keep it in a well-draining pot.
Watering should be adjusted based on the humidity and temperature of your house.
In colder places, less watering may be needed, while more may be done in hotter spaces. The soil should be dry by the time you go to water it again.
Aglaonema likes a lot of humidity, so misting is a great way to offer extra water and raise humidity levels for your plants.
Humidity & Temperature
Aglaonema’ harlequin’ is best in humid, warm environments – around 60% humidity is optimal for most plants.
They cannot tolerate cold temperatures, preferring 70°F or warmer during the day with a 10°-15°F drop in temperature at night.
Cleaning
If you want to use a mild soap or water solution, make sure to rinse very well with room-temperature distilled water afterward.
Fertilizing & Soil
Aglaonema’ harlequin’ are typically fertilized weekly.
You can use an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer – if using a water-soluble fertilizer, try to follow the instructions carefully not to burn your plant.
Repotting
This plant will grow best in a 4″ pot with a well-draining potting mix. Make sure to add lots of extra drainage at the bottom of the pot before you put it in its new pot.
When repotting, make sure that the soil is moist and then gently remove your plant from its old pot, check if there are any offsets (small plants growing from around dwarf palm trees) that you can pop out and add into your new pot, then plant it in the new one.
Fill it in with extra soil around the roots so that no air pockets remain near them.
Tap down on the soil a bit to get rid of any air pockets and water thoroughly after planting.
Other guides
How and when to prune Aglaonema ‘harlequin’(Donna Carmen)
The pruning of Aglaonema requires you get it right, here are 3 tips to pune:
1. Never prune by removing all the leaves from a stem as you would an herbaceous or woody plant
2. Pruning must be done every 3 to 4 months to keep the plant compact
When you receive a new A.’ harlequin’, the first thing I recommend you do is to BEGIN PRUNING IMMEDIATELY. This plant MUST be pruned every 3 or 4 months, or it will become leggy.
Start by removing all leaves from the longest stems, leaving only one or two leaves on each stem that you are reducing. This will force the plant to branch, creating more fullness.
Next, shorten all of the stems by removing 20% of their length. This encourages the plant to branch lower on the stem, resulting in more fullness at that level.
This means that if your branch is 10 inches long with eight leaves and you cut off eight leaves, there will be two new leaves on the end of the branch below where you made the cuts.
This results in an ungainly, leggy plant. Instead of removing all the leaves on a 10-inch stem, try cutting off 4 inches instead. This will leave you with six leaves at the end of the branch, resulting in a much more compact plant.
How to propagate Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen)
Usually, Aglaonema propagates by stem cuttings, but you can also propagate them from leaves. Hi-tech nurseries grow the cuttings in a sterile medium, and it won’t be possible without this high-tech stuff to get Donna Carmen propagated.
The least expensive way is leaf propagation.
Common FAQs
How much light does Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) have?
As for shade, the plant does best with a little filtered sunlight through a window, which means it can be placed beside a window where the sun shines in for at least part of the day.
What is so special about Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen)?
Aglaonema ‘Harlequin’(Donna Carmen) is an Aglaonema hybrid. The exact seed-parents are unknown. It is a result of different crossing attempts.
Are Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) good indoor plants?
Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) is a popular houseplant because of its easy care and air-purifying qualities.
Can Aglaonema’ harlequin’ (Donna Carmen) grow in low light?
Yes, Aglaonemas can grow in low light, but you should provide bright indirect sunlight if possible.
Summary
This plant has been hybridized to produce an exciting and unique pattern of white bands on the leaves. It is also a very durable houseplant that can be grown in low-light environments, making it perfect for those with limited space or time.
Though not as common as some other plants, this one should certainly be considered by anyone who wants something unusual.
Plant recommendation: brighten your home with the colourful Neoregelia Fireball.