Philodendron Care
Vining, small-leaved philodendrons are moderate to fast-growing indoor vines and once established can grow to 10’+ indoors! Its best to keep them pruned to maintain a full, lush form. Non-vining philodendrons are slow-medium growers indoors. If they are given proper care and placed in a warm, bright environment, then they can give you all they can give!
philodendron
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philodendron, (genus Philodendron), approximately 450 species of stout-stemmed climbing herbs of the family Araceae, native to tropical America. Many species begin life as vines and then transform into epiphytes (plants that live upon other plants). Because many young philodendrons are adapted to the low light levels of rainforests, they are popular potted plants for homes and offices.
Physical description
The foliage of philodendrons is usually green but may be coppery, red, or purplish; parallel leaf veins are usually green or sometimes red or white. Shape, size, and texture of the leaves vary considerably, depending on species and maturity of the plant. The fruit is a white to orange berry. Juvenile and adult phases differ, making it almost impossible to identify different species of small plants.
Most philodendrons are great climbers, usually growing upward by wrapping their modified roots around the trunks of trees. Once they have worked their way up to the canopy, they often transform themselves into epiphytes. Plants with this life strategy are called secondary hemiepiphytes. Unlike most plants, the seedlings of hemiepiphytes do not grow toward the Sun; instead they grow toward a tree trunk. Once there, they shift to a light-seeking strategy as they climb to the top using modified roots. Eventually the stem dies at the tree base, severing its connection with the soil. A small stem is retained only at the top of the plant. Arriving at the treetop, the philodendron may wander further. If its spot is too shady, it can move to a better location by producing more stem, growing in front while dying behind. If the spot becomes too dry, it can drop new roots to the ground. Unlike most epiphytes, many philodendrons do not die if they fall to the ground. They simply begin their climb upward all over again.
Major species
Many forms of philodendron are available in cultivation. Foremost among them is the common heart-leaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum, variety oxycardium). Another variety, the velvet-leaf philodendron (P. hederaceum, variety hederaceum) has small bronzy green velvety leaves with reddish undersides. Of moderate size is the fiddle-leaf, or horsehead, philodendron (P. bipennifolium), with large fiddle-shaped glossy green leaves up to 15–25 cm (6–10 inches) wide and 45 cm (18 inches) long. Larger types include the spade-leaf philodendron (P. domesticum), with triangular leaves up to 60 cm (24 inches) long, and the tree philodendron (P. bipinnatifidum), with deeply cut leaves up to 1 metre (3 feet) long, both of which are striking plants that require considerable indoor space.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
Philodendron Care
Family: Araceae
Common Name: Brasil, Lemon, Heart Leaf Philodendron, Birkin, Mia, Florida Green, Prince of Orange, Ring of Fire and many more!
Botanical Name: Philodendron hederaceum, Philodendron cordatum, and many hybrid upright and vining species. (see below for available varieties)
Upright Growing Philodendron
If you like your plants big and mindless, then you are going to love ALL the upright forms of philodendron! In fact these indoor plants grow slower than the climbing forms of philodendrons, but do in fact sprawl out over time. They are in fact a very slow growing vine. Another fact about these upright forms, is that they grow large, with the right care and enough time, you will want to either trim them back to keep them under control, or you can enjoy them in their more mature stage in life! As they age, you might have to stake them to help support the weight of the large leaves and thick stems (Philodendron giganteum, Pink Princess, Lemon Lime, etc). In most cases upright forms of philodendron will not get massive indoors, rarely will they grow beyond 5′ tall and wide, but if your space has lots of indirect light, high humidity and relatively warm temperatures (greenhouse conditions, baby!), then they will be in the most ideal conditions and will reach their full growth potential! You do NOT need a greenhouse to have perfectly beautiful and healthy philodendron. They adapt easily to many light levels, temperatures and humidity levels!
Vining Philodendron
We love all vining forms of philodendron because they are fearless and fierce growers while looking gorgeous doing it! Indoor plants that hang, trail, climb and cling are our thing! Climbing philodendron use aerial roots to cling on to surfaces to gain access to light. It is in their DNA to find the light source and when they do, their leaves will become large, and in some cases, change form. There are so many species of vining philodendron that are suitable to grow indoors like the lovely Brasil, the heavenly brandtianum and the classic Heart Leaf Philodendron. Calling them hardy houseplants is an understatement as they can go for long periods of time without water, but it is important to make sure they are watered when you see their leaves start to droop down.
You have many choices when it comes to displaying these magnificent vines! Try letting them cascade off of a table top or counter. Supply them with a stake and encourage them to grow up vertically. Plant different varieties together to create a rainbow of greens, yellows and deep reds. A clean plant is a happy plant. Make sure to wash their leaves every month to allow them to undergo photosynthesis.
Light
Philodendrons prefer bright indirect sunlight but can live in lower light conditions. When philodendrons receive less than 5 hours of indirect sunlight each day, their new leaves will emerge smaller, their vines will become leggy, and vibrant colors and variegation may fade! If you bring your philodendrons outside for the summer place them in a shady spot. Direct afternoon sunlight is a no-no for all philodendrons as the intense rays of the sun will burn the leaves, but early morning sun (from 6-8am) will do no harm. If your home does not have bright indirect sunlight, you can use artificial light as a supplement. We recommend LED grow lights turned on for 8-10 hours each day! Read more about indoor plant lighting needs!
Water
Water the soil thoroughly after the soil is almost completely dry. It is a good indication that it needs water when the leaves start wilting. Water more often in the growing season and reduce the frequency during the winter months. It is best to refrain from watering if you cannot decide if its time to add more. Larger plants can go weeks without water, but younger, less established plants need to be watered on a regular basis until their roots have fully developed. When you water your philodendrons, water them slowly, with room temperature water and always drain any excess water from the pot. If you notice that the soil has become compacted and or so dry that it looks like a a dried up river bed, then soak the entire root ball in a bucket of water for 10 minutes, or until the water has been thoroughly absorbed into the soil. This will loosen up the compacted soil.
Soil
All philodendrons love loose, nutrient-rich potting soil. Use a soil medium that can retain moisture but also allows for draining excess water to avoid root rot. Most pre-mixed soils will suffice. Make sure that there is plenty of organic matter, like coco-coir, peat moss, or shredded leaves, and avoid soils that contain moisture retaining crystals. If your soil drains too quickly, we recommend re-potting into a compost-rich soil mixture, with less drainage materials. Learn how to create your own universal soil mixture for all of your indoor plants!
Temperature
Most household temperature ranges (65-75°F) are adequate for these indoor plants. Temperatures under 55℉ will stunt their growth, and prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can be fatal for these tropical indoor plants.
Humidity
As with most tropical indoor plants, Philodendrons will benefit from higher humidity, but will do fine in average household air. Higher humidity (over 50%) is always better for tropical houseplants. Learn how to increase the humidity in the air around your indoor plants!
Fertilizer
Philodendrons benefits significantly from regular fertilizing because they are fast-growing houseplants! Use a weak solution (diluted to ¼ the recommended strength) of a complete liquid fertilizer every two weeks throughout the growing season. Do not fertilize during the winter months. Sometimes your indoor plants will grow all year long. If this is the case, fertilize them during obvious foliage growth with a ¼-strength diluted liquid fertilizer, or top dress the soil with worm castings or rich compost. Learn more about how to fertilize your indoor plants.
Growth Rate
Vining, small-leaved philodendrons are moderate to fast-growing indoor vines and once established can grow to 10’+ indoors! Its best to keep them pruned to maintain a full, lush form. Non-vining philodendrons are slow-medium growers indoors. If they are given proper care and placed in a warm, bright environment, then they can give you all they can give!
Pet Friend or Foe
All philodendron are toxic to pets! Foe!
Pro Tips
- When you trim back vines to make your plant fuller, you can propagate the cuttings by placing them in water. Remember to replace the water weekly!
- Staking your plant to climb upwards encourages larger leaf development.
- For philodendrons with colorful leaves, maintain their vibrancy by providing more light.
- Leaf drop is normal for indoor plants when they are acclimating to their new home. Although if many leaves are lost, then it could be other issues like over or under watering or a lack of light.
- Sometimes we over-love our indoor plants! Read about houseplant mistakes to avoid!