What is Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum)
Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum) is a beautiful flowering plant grown as an indoor houseplant. It has shiny, silver-colored leaves and the flowers are white with purple veining.
It is part of the Aglaonema genus and is most closely related to Aglaonema modestum. Silver Queen is native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand and Vietnam. It can be grown both indoors and outdoors in subtropical climates.
Appearance and characteristics
It is an evergreen perennial that has broad, lance-shaped leaves with silver veining. It can grow up to 40 cm tall and 30 cm wide, while the color of its leaves remains a deep glossy green.
It can grow upright or as a bush with its branches reaching out to cover the space it is given. This plant can also grow in dark areas, but it will require you to give it bright indirect sunlight.
The common name “Silver Queen” refers to its color, often described as silvery white.
Quick summary
Botanical Plant name: Aglaonema nitidum
Native to: Southeast Asia
Care: Low to medium light, average indoor temps (65-75°F/18-24°C)
Size: Reaches heights of about two feet.
Common problems: Leaf drop may be attacked by mealybugs and red spider mites.
Toxicity: Not poisonous, but it can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Plant inspiration tip: need a strong confident plant then check out the Calathea lancifolia.
How to care for Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum)
Watering
The most difficult thing about caring for a Silver Queen is providing the plant with the correct water (which is not that difficult). You must reach the right balance between humidity and watering; if either one of them is too low or too high, it can quickly cause damage to the plant.
With that said, as long as you provide proper lighting, humidity and keep the soil moist, you should maintain a healthy plant.
Lighting
The Silver Queen is one of the few plants that thrive in both shade and bright indirect light. However, too much sun exposure can cause the leaves on the plant to burn or bleach out. Therefore, it is best to provide bright indirect light or shade to prevent sun damage.
Humidity & Temperature
The Silver Queen needs relatively high humidity to survive. You should mist it twice a week and place the pot on top of pebbles sitting in water (a humidity tray). The tray should be large enough that the Silver Queen’s pot isn’t sitting in water, as this can give the roots a fungal infection.
68-88 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures will speed up transpiration and decrease humidity around the plant; lower temperatures will slow down transpiration and increase humidity. The Silver Queen does best at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit with 50% humidity.
Cleaning
The Silver Queen is a low-maintenance plant, so it does not need to be cleaned in most cases. However, when dust accumulates on the leaves, they should be wiped down with a damp paper towel or cloth to prevent insect pests from infesting the plant.
If the Silver Queen becomes infected with another type of insect, you may need to wipe down the leaves with a pesticide or insecticidal soap.
Fertilizing & Soil
The Silver Queen does not require very much fertilizer; in fact, too much fertilizer will burn the roots and damage the plant just as easily as not fertilizing enough.
Therefore, it is best to use a well-balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer and apply it once a month at half the recommended dosage.
If you are using a water-soluble fertilizer, be sure to flush out any remaining fertilizer in the pot after 30 days to prevent root burn from occurring.
Repotting
The Silver Queen is an extremely slow-growing plant, so it needs to be repotted every 1-2 years.
Repot the Silver Queen in loose, well-draining soil. If you are repotting a severely root-bound plant, it is best to gently remove as much of the old soil from the roots as possible to prevent root rot from occurring.
Plant recommendation tip: looking for a popular Asian plant, then check out the Burmese evergreen (Aglaonema oblongifolium)
How and when to prune Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum)
Topping the plant means cutting off [or “pruning”] the top [of a plant]. Topping is typically done when you wish to produce a plant with multiple stems instead of the single stem that the Aglaonema typically grows into.
By removing the top of a plant, you cause the plant to branch out, and multiple stems will grow from the place where the original stem was pruned.
Problems with Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum)
Growing Aglaonema nitidum, the Silver Queen, has its benefits. It is an easy houseplant to grow since it can be grown in low light, average home temperatures, and slightly moist soil.
However, there are some drawbacks to growing Aglaonema nitidum.
Silver Queen is susceptible to a condition called “leaf tip burn,” which makes the tips of its leaves brown or black. This can be caused by adding too much fertilizer, over-watering, or having too much light.
Another problem is Aglaonema nitidum’s susceptibility to the mealybug, a type of scale insect. Mealybugs look like white powder and cling to the leaves and stems of plants, sucking sap from them.
How to propagate Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum)
Silverbug, Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum) is one of those plants that can be propagated by leaf cuttings, which I will detail below.
By propagating your Silver Queen, you can create new plants that will stay true to the color and texture of the original without putting in as much work.
● The first thing you’ll need to do is get a clear plastic cup.
● Fill it with a mix of half peat moss and half perlite, water it well, and let it drain for about an hour.
● Please take one of your Silver Queen’s leaves, and place it in the cup on top of the soil mix.
● Neatly tuck the sides of the leaf into the soil so that it holds itself in.
● You can use a flower stake to help hold the leaf in place while the soil around it settles.
● Now put your cup in a well-lit room (but not direct sunlight), and check it once a week to make sure the soil is moist but not soaking wet.
● In about 2-3 weeks, some roots should start to grow from the leaf.
● Once the roots get over an inch long, you can remove your new little Silver Queen from the cup and pot it in its container.
Plant inspiration tip: does your home need a versatile plant, then check out Jade pothos from Solomon Islands.
Common FAQs
How much light does Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum) need?
They do well in lower light levels, making them popular as living room plants.
What is so special about Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum)?
The silver-white color of the leaves makes it look attractive and reflects most of the light into the sky instead of absorbing it.
This makes the plant less likely to overheat in direct sunlight, making Aglaonema nitidum a suitable indoor plant.
Are Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum)good indoor plants?
Yes, they make a nice, if somewhat ordinary, houseplant. But adding the variegation makes it quite spectacular.
Can Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum) grow in low light?
Yes, Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum) can be grown in low light conditions.
Summary
If you’re still not convinced, the Silver Queen is one of the few plants that can thrive in low light conditions. It’s a perfect plant for offices or anywhere else with less-than-ideal lighting.
All this information does make it sound like an ideal houseplant to have around if you want something easy and beautiful. But don’t just take our word for it – try planting your own Silver Queen (Aglaonema nitidum) today.