Aglaonema Rotundum Aceh
📖 About this plant
Aglaonema Rotundum Aceh is a rare and extraordinary natural species from the rainforests of Aceh, Sumatra. Unlike most Aglaonema species which have lance-shaped leaves, Rotundum produces nearly circular, almost heart-shaped leaves that are unlike anything else in the genus. The deep green upper surface features subtle silver markings, while the leaf underside is a striking purplish-red — a color that becomes visible when leaves flutter in a breeze or when the plant is viewed from below. This rare combination of round leaf shape and red undersides makes it one of the most distinctive collector plants available. As a rainforest species, it requires higher humidity and more stable conditions than hybrid Aglaonemas.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Medium Indirect Light
When top 2-3 cm of soil is dry
60-80%
20-29°C (68-85°F)
Well-draining aroid mix with perlite, orchid bark, sphagnum moss, and coco coir
Diluted balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during growing season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Aceh province, Sumatra, Indonesia — natural species (Aglaonema rotundum)
- 📏 Max height
- 20-40 cm (8-16 in)
- 📐 Spread
- 15-30 cm (6-12 in)
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Occasionally in summer — rare indoors
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Pale green spathe
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Nearly circular dark green leaves with a distinctive purplish-red underside and subtle silver markings
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial (5-10+ years indoors)
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Toxic to cats and dogs — calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem cuttings in moist sphagnum moss or perlite; roots in 4-6 weeks. Division of mature clumps
🛡️ Health & Safety
Toxic to cats and dogs — calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing
Common issues
- Very sensitive to low humidity (leaf curling and browning edges), slow growth, root rot from overwatering, cold damage below 15°C (59°F), mealybugs and spider mites, leaf spots from fungal infection in high humidity, shock from sudden environmental changes
💡 Care tips
- This rainforest species requires consistent high humidity (60-80%) — a terrarium or humidity cabinet is ideal. Keep temperatures above 20°C (68°F) and avoid cold drafts. Medium indirect light with no direct sun. The purplish-red leaf undersides are one of its most striking features — display at a height where they're visible. Water with room-temperature filtered water. As a slow grower, patience is essential. Well worth the extra care for its extraordinary appearance.
