The Aglaonema, commonly known as the Chinese Evergreen, is a popular houseplant prized for its colorful, patterned foliage and tolerance for lower light conditions. When grown indoors, however, this plant can develop a condition known as “legginess,” which detracts from its naturally dense, bushy appearance. Legginess is a botanical term describing the elongation of internodes—the sections of stem between leaf attachments—resulting in sparse, stretched-out growth. Understanding the mechanisms behind this stretching is the first step toward restoring the plant’s compact, full structure.
Identifying the Root Cause of Stretching
The primary driver of legginess in an Aglaonema is etiolation, the plant’s adaptive response to insufficient light. When light levels drop below the optimal range, the plant initiates a search for brighter conditions. This involves the production of auxins, which accelerate cell elongation in the stem. This results in rapid vertical growth and the characteristic long, bare sections of stem between leaves.
While Aglaonema is often advertised as low-light tolerant, it grows densely only when receiving adequate photon energy. The plant thrives best in bright, indirect light, such as near an east-facing window or a shaded south-facing window. Placing the plant deep within a room forces it to stretch significantly as it attempts to maximize the light-capturing surface area of its new leaves. This stretching indicates the plant is not receiving the daily light integral required for dense, healthy growth.
Preventing Future Legginess
Preventing the recurrence of etiolation involves meeting the plant’s light needs. The most effective long-term solution is relocating the Aglaonema closer to a consistent, indirect light source. If natural light is limited, a supplemental LED grow light positioned 12 to 18 inches above the foliage can provide the necessary daily light integral (DLI) to maintain compact growth.
Consistent, uniform light exposure prevents uneven stretching. Rotating the container by a quarter turn every week ensures all sides receive equal light access. Also, managing nutrient inputs is important, as high-nitrogen fertilizers encourage rapid, weak stem growth prone to stretching. Maintaining a consistent temperature, generally between 65°F and 75°F, supports a regulated, robust growth pattern.
Rejuvenating the Leggy Plant
Once a stem has stretched, the elongated internodes will not shrink back, requiring physical intervention to restore the plant’s shape. Rejuvenation is achieved through cane pruning, which forces the Aglaonema to activate dormant axillary buds lower on the stem. Use a sharp, sterilized cutting tool, such as bypass pruners, to ensure a clean cut and minimize the risk of introducing pathogens.
The proper cutting location is just above a leaf node or a visible ring on the stem where a leaf was previously attached. Cutting here removes the primary apical meristem, the source of growth-inhibiting hormones called apical dominance. Eliminating the dominant growing tip diverts energy to the inactive axillary buds along the stem, signaling them to break dormancy and produce new shoots.
For severely leggy plants, the entire cane can be cut back aggressively to within a few inches of the soil line. Making several cuts at different heights encourages new shoots to emerge at various levels, resulting in a bushier appearance. This pruning immediately redirects the plant’s resources into lateral growth.
Propagating Stem Cuttings
The material removed during pruning can be utilized to create entirely new Aglaonema plants. Each pruned stem section can be cut into smaller segments, ensuring each cutting retains at least two or three leaf nodes. Remove any existing lower leaves to prevent them from rotting once submerged in water or a moist substrate.
The prepared stem cuttings can be rooted in either water or a soilless medium like perlite or a peat-perlite mix. When using water, submerge the nodes and change the water every few days to maintain oxygen levels. Once the cuttings develop a robust root system, they can be potted individually or placed back into the parent plant’s container. Replanting the new, rooted cuttings alongside the pruned parent plant enhances the overall density and fullness of the container.