The Chinese evergreen is one of the most tolerant foliage plants you can keep, and the newer pink and red cultivars have made a once-plain office plant genuinely showy. The plain green forms shrug off low light and irregular watering; the brightly coloured ones want a little more light to hold their patterning.
It is slow, tidy, and undemanding — the main way to harm it is to overwater in a cold room, which rots the base. Keep it warm, out of draughts, and let it dry down between drinks. Wipe the broad leaves now and then and it will stay handsome for years with almost no effort.
Green types tolerate genuinely low light; pink, red, and heavily variegated ones need medium to bright indirect to keep their colour. No direct sun.
Water thoroughly and drain; it is far happier a touch dry than soggy
Tolerant — forgives a missed watering and prefers to dry out.
Contains insoluble calcium oxalates — mouth and throat irritation if chewed. Keep away from pets and children.
Water when the top inch or two is dry
Feed with a balanced houseplant fertiliser
Wipe dust off the broad leaves
Keep it above 60°F and out of draughts — cold, wet soil rots the base
Divide and repot when the clump crowds the pot