The pictum tricolor plant is a gorgeous, color-variegated plant that all plant lovers can enjoy growing in their own homes once equipped with proper care knowledge.
Have you found yourself pining over these beautiful plants and want to know more about what they are, how to grow them successfully and what they’re generally like?
The pictum tricolor plant, AKA the “camouflage plant” or “Chinese Evergreen Tricolor” is considered one of the rarer species of houseplants and comes in a variety of green hues, all mixed together on one leaf. This plant generally loves rich, well-draining soil such as perlite or orchid bark and bright, indirect sunlight.
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If you’re still finding your interest is piqued and would like to give growing this plant a shot, you’re in luck- this article will cover all the information you’ll need to ensure you grow a healthy pictum tricolor plant.
Not only will you be successful at growing your plant; you’ll be able to wow all your guests the next time you have a function at your home.
About The Pictum Tricolor
The pictum tricolor plant is an uncommonly found plant that is considered a bit expensive. The cost of this plant can range anywhere from $75-$300 for a young plant.
It is considered to be a more dramatic plant than other houseplants. With lack of proper care, you may quickly witness your pictum tricolor leaves droop, root rot or other issues.
Aside from this plant’s occasional fussiness, it is generally an easy to care for plant that requires little effort once you know its basic requirements. The pictum tricolor is native to the jungles of Sumatra and Nias Island.
It is considered an Aglaonema plant, meaning a type of Chinese Evergreen. This plant loves humid areas and is generally slow growing.
The pictum tricolor comes with green camouflage looking leaves and can even serve as an outdoor shrub in humid, warm areas that don’t get direct sun.
This plant is an herbaceous evergreen that belongs to the Aglaonema genus and stems from the Arceae family. Out of all the Chinese evergreen varieties, the pictum tricolor is considered to be the rarest.
1. Choosing Proper Soil
To grow a healthy pictum tricolor, you’ll need to understand what type of soil this plant enjoys and needs to thrive.
Pictum tricolor plants require well-draining and moisture-retaining soil such as perlite, orchid bark and indoor potting mix. Soil for these plants also must be rich in minerals. You should be vigilant not to plant these plants in soil that gets easily compacted.
Peat moss mixed into perlite and orchid bark is another good addition to soil for pictum tricolor. If you opt to use a potting mix, you should try to buy a porous potting mix to allow for water to drain quickly from pictum tricolor containers.
You should also be sure the mixture for your plants mimics a rainforest floor, opting for loose, aerated potting mixes.
2. Lighting For Growing Pictum Tricolor Plants
Imagine walking through a rainforest and how that would look- likely a very shady area that’s humid, with light piercing through the tall treetops. This is the exact setting this plant enjoys and craves- indirect lighting that only hits it a few times a day.
If it receives too much sun, its leaves may burn. Another good option for growers may be to purchase timed grow lights.
Without proper lighting for your plant, it will become very leggy, elongated and “stretched” looking. If you observe your plant doing this, this likely means your plant is not receiving enough light and it is trying to move itself to a brighter area.
Keeping an eye on your pictum tricolor for legginess or burnt leaves is a good way to determine proper lighting.
3. Temperatures For Growing Pictum Tricolor Plants
This plant grows very well in temperatures between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. This subtropical plant enjoys warm temperatures and starts to fail in 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
During the wintertime you should keep your plant in temperatures between 60-64 degrees Fahrenheit. During this time, your plant may stop growing and go dormant until it gets warmer.
4. Humidity For Growing Pictum Tricolor Plants
Since this is a jungle subtropical plant, it is vital that you grow your pictum tricolor in an environment with a high amount of humidity. Humidity above 65% is ideal for these plants, and facilitates a good pace of growth.
If your humidity is rather low in your home, you should take care to keep the container your plant is in on top of a pebble tray filled with water.
It is also recommended that you mist these plants every so often to maintain proper humidity levels. If your plant’s leaves become too dry, crispy and begin to lose too much water, they will become brittle and begin to droop, eventually dropping off the plant altogether.
You should mist your plant every 2-3 days and consider using a household humidifier to control humidity.
5. Fertilizer For Growing Pictum Tricolor Plants
When choosing a fertilizer for growing your pictum tricolor plant, you should opt for a diluted fertilizer and try to apply it once every two weeks in the spring and summer.
Different fertilizers good for these plants include water-soluble fertilizers, fast-releasing fertilizers, temperature-controlled slow-releasing fertilizers and organic fertilizers.
6. Pictum Tricolor Plants Disease And Pest Resistance
The pictum tricolor can become vulnerable to a variety of pests, some being aphids, mealybugs and spider mites.
These pests can hide themselves well and leach the chlorophyll from your plant, preventing future photosynthesis. You should monitor these plants routinely for pest invasions and use neem oil to get rid of visible threats.
Common Problems Of Pictum Tricolor
Without adequate attention and care, your Pictum tricolor may begin to show unpleasant signs. Here are the common problems with these plants.
1. Leaves May Begin To Wilt
One of the most common problems your plant may suffer from is drooping leaves. This happens when the Pictum tricolor does not receive enough water.
When you ignore these plants for a while, they tend to show unpleasant signs. So once you notice the leaves are beginning to wilt, add a moderate amount of water to the soil as fast as possible.
2. Yellowing of Leaves
Interestingly, many factors can cause Pictum tricolor leaves to turn yellow. If the problem was not caused by too little water, it may have been caused by overwatering or too much exposure to light.
If you notice this problem, try to find out the main reasons for it. Make sure the plant is not facing the sun directly or receiving excess water. Also, make sure your Pictum tricolor’s soil is not too dry.
3. Leaves May Turn Brown
Another possible problem your Pictum tricolor plant may experience is browning of the leaves. Most of the time, this occurs as a result of low humidity or underwatering. While overwatering is not good for the plant, underwatering can also harm it.
Summary
As beautiful as the pictum tricolor plant is, everyone deserves to know how to grow it successfully to enjoy the artful image it provides.
This plant is known to love humid environments with indirect lighting, rich, fertilized, well-draining soil and warm temperatures. Although it can be fussy, it can make a great addition to anyone’s house plant collection.
Hey, I’m Lisa and I’ve been an avid gardener for over 30 years. I love writing, talking and living in the garden! Feel free to connect with me on my socials below
