Red Ruby Aglaonema
🌿 Product Name: Aglaonema 'Red Ruby' (Chinese Evergreen)
🔬 Scientific Name: Aglaonema hybrid 'Red Ruby' (a cultivar within the Aglaonema commutatum/A. rotundum breeding line)
☠️ Medicinal value: Not used medicinally — mildly toxic like other Aglaonema cultivars. Contains calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and throat if chewed or ingested; no established therapeutic use.
🌎 Origin: A cultivated hybrid bred from Aglaonema species native to tropical Asia (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, southern China); 'Red Ruby' was developed for its striking red-and-pink leaf coloring, popular in modern Southeast Asian and Thai Aglaonema breeding programs.
🎨 Uses: Purely ornamental — valued for its vivid deep red to pink leaves edged in dark green, one of the more colorful Aglaonema varieties. Common as an indoor houseplant, office plant, and decorative accent, prized for both its color and reputed air-purifying qualities.
🌡️ Plant needs: Warm indoor temperatures (65–80°F / 18–27°C), moderate to high humidity, and low to medium indirect light — tolerates shade well, though brighter indirect light intensifies the red coloring. Well-draining potting soil.
💧 How to care: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry; avoid soggy soil and let it dry out slightly more in winter. Keep out of direct sun, which can scorch leaves and fade color; too little light dulls the red pigmentation. Fertilize lightly every 4–6 weeks during spring/summer. Wipe leaves occasionally to remove dust. Protect from cold drafts and temperatures below 55°F (13°C).
⚠️ Warning (children & pets): All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals, toxic if chewed or swallowed. Symptoms include mouth and throat irritation, burning, drooling, and swelling; can cause vomiting in cats and dogs. Keep out of reach of young children and pets, and seek medical or veterinary attention immediately if ingestion occurs.
