Painted Drop Tongue Plant Care

Painted Drop Tongue (Aglaonema costatum) belongs to the Araceae family within the Aglaonema genus. Painted Drop Tongue is native to Bangladesh, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Painted Drop Tongue is also known as Costatum Aglaonema.

Painted Drop Tongue displays an upright, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Painted Drop Tongue produces rarely flowers indoors, inconspicuous blooms resembling peace lilies.

Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Painted Drop Tongue every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Painted Drop Tongue thrives in bright indirect to low light. Avoid placing Painted Drop Tongue in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Aglaonema costatum tolerates temperatures of 65–85°F. Painted Drop Tongue prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining, peat-based potting mix with perlite for added aeration. Good drainage is essential for Painted Drop Tongue to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Painted Drop Tongue every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect to low light and well-draining, peat-based potting mix with perlite for added aeration. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Painted Drop Tongue is suited to USDA Zone 10b – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Painted Drop Tongue can spread to about 2 ft (0.6 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Painted Drop Tongue while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Painted Drop Tongue is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Painted Drop Tongue can be propagated through stem cuttings, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to chinese evergreen plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Painted Drop Tongue is susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Painted Drop Tongue grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10b. Painted Drop Tongue is native to Bangladesh, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. In cooler regions, grow Painted Drop Tongue as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.