I once had a colleague with an insane yearning to get each and every thing in red. Being very active online, her social media platform is usually dotted with daily posts, reels, clips and images that boldly reflect the reds within.

From her attire and accessories to her pet’s gear, there is some shade of red in every element of her life. It was equally ubiquitous in her professional life: from her cubicle to her presentations, there was a splash of red in everything. It was not a passing fancy, but an absolute craze and nothing would stop her from buying anything which would be red in colour. This red rampage even extended to her kitchen and included appliances and utensils.

When she was about to leave for postgraduate studies abroad, her parents threw a farewell party for her at their house. It should not be a surprise that it was at her house that I first came across the red lipstick. It is not what you think it is, but one variety of a massive range of the visually delightful plants, the Aglaonemas.

With borders of red encompassing the greener portion of the leaves within, the plant itself is a treat for the eyes. Also known as the “Chinese Evergreen”, it is a favourite houseplant for many due to its ease of care: it can survive on indirect, bright light. Moreover, direct exposure to sunlight can virtually kill the plant. There is a strong belief among Aglaonema red lipstick growers that the plant with the darker shade leaves requires even less light exposure.

The Aglaonemas are a favourite houseplant for many because of their visually delightful appearance and ease of care

It is, somewhat, a perennial plant, which grows extremely well in humid conditions. If the plants and growers experience drier weather, then misting of the plant is highly recommended.

There is another thing many gardeners do to combat dry conditions. They simply put a bowl of water near the plant to make up for the lack of humidity and create an artificial environment for the plant. The plant does not require daily watering.

The rule of thumb is to check the first couple of inches of the soil surface of the plant container. If it is dry, then one may water the plant. Watering should be done in a manner that it wets the soil and excess water is drained off. Collection or retention of extra water can cause root rot and the eventual death of the plant.

The soil combination should also be kept in a manner that it does not retain water within and it should be a well-drained potting mix. While most plants require smooth soil for optimal development, the Aglaonema red lipstick has a slightly different requirement.

For this variety, the ideal combination of the soil includes a mix of nursery soil with vermicompost, any organic compost and small quantities of perlite and coco peat. The advantage of this mix is that it helps to continually drain water and the soil does not compact, both of which can be devastating for the plant. For those who may have difficulty in arriving at this soil combination, they can achieve the desired results by simply adding a handful of very small stones or pebbles to the soil of the container.

While some might find the colourful foliage of these plants to be ‘plastic and unnatural’, others simply adore the aesthetic combination of different shades and contrasting colours against the backdrop of the basic green in an Aglaonema plant.

The red lipstick variety, with the subtle and shocking shades of red along with the greens, provide an interesting option. It is definitely for those who want to decorate their house with a unique ornamental potted plant, which is visually appealing for them as well as their visitors. It takes relatively limited space, needs low sunlight exposure and minimal care, being a low-maintenance plant.

Its scientific name is Aglaonema Siam Aurora, and the plant of the red lipstick variety achieves a height of around two feet. It usually looks at its best when it is grown in a potted container.

Every few years, when new stems grow and there is crowding within the container, one can either shift the plant to a larger container or make some new pots out of it.

In our next article, we will find out how the Aglaonema red lipstick plant can be propagated at home, using limited resources. I will also share with you some tips and tricks on shifting the baby plants and making new plants from the parent Aglaonema red lipstick plant.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, June 9th, 2024