Overwatering
Wet soil plus yellowing lower leaves points squarely at overwatering — the most common way to lose a Chinese Evergreen.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
Aglaonema likes its soil to dry partway down between waterings. When the roots sit in soggy mix they can't take up oxygen, so they begin to suffocate and rot. The plant answers by shedding its oldest, lowest leaves first, which turn a soft, uniform yellow before they droop and drop.
How to fix it
Stop watering and let the soil dry well down. Slip the plant out of its pot and check the roots — healthy ones are firm and pale, so trim any brown, mushy roots with clean scissors and repot into fresh, airy, well-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. From now on, water only when the top 2 inches feel dry; this plant tolerates slight dryness far better than constant moisture.
What fixes it
- A soil moisture meter — A moisture meter removes the guesswork — only water when it reads dry a couple of inches down.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Chinese Evergreen care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this