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The Silver Interior

Silver Bay Aglaonema

Aglaonema - sold as Silver Bay

Broad silvery-gray centers and green margins give the named Silver Bay hybrid its quiet contrast. Grow it in indirect light and let the potting mix dry slightly between waterings.

Explore the care guide
Botanical illustration

Care at a glance

Know your plant

Aglaonema belongs to the Araceae family. Silver Bay is the retail name used here; the original breeder release documents an interspecific hybrid. [10][11]

The original Silver Bay description records broad silver-gray leaf centers, darker uneven patches and green-gray margins. [11]

Light

Provide indirect light, sheltered from scorching sun. Green and silver aglaonemas can grow in lower-light rooms. [12]

Watering

  1. Feel the mix before watering; allow it to dry slightly, rather than keeping it saturated. [12]

  2. Water evenly, let excess escape, then empty the saucer or cover pot. [1]

Soil and pot choice

Use a porous, draining houseplant mix and a pot with drainage holes. [1][2]

Temperature and humidity

Choose a warm location; daytime temperatures of 70-80°F suit aglaonemas. Protect them from cold. [14]

Aglaonemas prefer humid air but can tolerate drier indoor conditions. [14]

Feeding

During active growth, use a houseplant fertilizer according to its label. Pause feeding when growth rests. [8]

Repotting

  1. Repot when roots crowd the container. Choose a slightly larger pot. [8][2]

  2. Use fresh medium, keep the plant at its existing depth and water it in. Let excess drain. [2]

Propagation

  1. If basal shoots have formed, gently separate a section with attached roots, keeping those roots intact. [13][9]

  2. Pot the rooted section in fresh, draining mix at its existing depth. Water it in and let excess drain. [2][1]

  3. For cane propagation, cut a stem into roughly two-inch sections, each containing at least one node. Lay each section sideways, half buried in rooting medium. [15]

  4. Keep the rooting medium moist and the container warm, with indirect light while roots develop. [15]

Pruning and foliage care

Remove dead or yellowing leaves. Wipe dusty foliage with a soft, damp cloth. [13]

Problems and checks

Wilt or yellowing

Possible causes
  • Moisture stress or root damage.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Check moisture and drainage.
Low-risk next step
Water dry roots; restore drainage around persistently wet roots.
When to seek expert help
Seek advice for soft roots or continued decline.
Sources for these checks

Check moisture first. [3]

Scorched leaf patches

Possible causes
  • Excessive direct sun.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Check sun exposure.
Low-risk next step
Move behind filtered light.
When to seek expert help
Seek advice if injury spreads.
Sources for these checks

Review light exposure. [3]

Cottony clusters, bumps or webbing

Possible causes
  • Mealybugs, scale or mites.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Inspect leaf undersides and stem joints.
Low-risk next step
Separate the plant; identify the pest before treatment.
When to seek expert help
Seek advice for a spreading infestation.
Sources for these checks

Inspect pest signs closely. [4]

Seasonal indoor care

Reduce watering frequency in winter, while continuing to check the mix. Aglaonemas require no winter dormancy. [14]

Children and pets

Safety

Aglaonemas are toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing can cause mouth irritation, drooling or vomiting. Keep plants, fallen leaves and cuttings away from pets that chew them. [16]

Take a pet with trouble breathing or swallowing directly to a veterinary hospital. [16]

Aglaonema is harmful if eaten; its sap can irritate skin and eyes. [17]

Wear gloves when cutting, and keep sap away from skin and eyes. [17]

For suspected poisoning or signs of illness, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435. Provide the botanical name. [5]

Keep plants, cuttings and loose potting material beyond young children's reach. Keep the botanical name with the pot. [6]

For human plant ingestion in the United States, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Elsewhere, contact your local poison service. Call emergency services for breathing difficulty, seizures, collapse or inability to awaken. [7]

Similar plants

Silver Bay is described with broad pale centers and irregular green-gray leaf margins. [11]

Siam Aurora is described with crimson outlining green foliage and tracing its veins. [14]

Sources

  1. Watering Indoor Plants

    University of Maryland Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: 2023-03-10

  2. Repotting houseplants

    University of Illinois Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  3. Diagnosing Houseplant Problems from Improper Environmental Conditions

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2024

  4. Diagnosing Houseplant Problems Caused by Insect Pests

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2024

  5. ASPCA Poison Control

    ASPCA Poison Control

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  6. Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list

    National Capital Poison Center

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  7. Get help online or by phone

    National Capital Poison Center

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  8. How to Care for Houseplants

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed October 2023

  9. How to Propagate Houseplants by Division and Offsets

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Aaron Steil

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2025

  10. Aglaonema Schott - Plants of the World Online

    Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  11. Silver Bay Aglaonema - HortScience 27(11):1238

    American Society for Horticultural Science - R. J. Henny, R. T. Poole, C. A. Conover

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: 1992-11-01

  12. Aglaonema spp.: Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema - FP025

    University of Florida IFAS Extension - Keighly Graves, Wendy Wilber, Tom Wichman, Claire Lewis, Gail Hansen, Ryan Klein

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: October 1999 · Updated: Revised August 2018 and November 2025

  13. Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Interiorscape Aglaonema - EP160

    University of Florida IFAS Extension - Jianjun Chen, Kelly C. Everitt

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: July 2003 · Updated: Revised March 2015; reviewed July 2018; Reviewed: 10/2024

  14. Aglaonema - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  15. Propagating Houseplants - FSA2095

    University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service - Gerald Klingaman, Janet Carson

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  16. These Houseplants Can Cause Trouble for Your Pets

    ASPCA Poison Control

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: 2025-10-13

  17. Potentially harmful garden plants

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Accessed October 5, 2026