Philodendrons: not just collectors’ favorites
Philodendrons (in Czech you will sometimes also come across the spelling “filodendron”) are a very large group of plants that includes a huge variety of shrubby and climbing species. Their somewhat tongue-twisting name comes from the Greek words phileo = to love and dendron = tree, and they got it because the climbing species literally hug their host trees with their aerial roots. They come from Central and South America, where they grow as epiphytes and hemiepiphytes on trees, as well as in the lower layers of the rainforest, on rocks and in swamps.
They belong to the arum family (aroids), which means that, after a few years of good care, a philodendron may delight you with a spathe flower (much like the peace lily), but it is also poisonous. These plants contain calcium oxalate crystals in their tissues, which, if swallowed, irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth and digestive tract. But if you place it somewhere safe, out of reach of children and pets, it will certainly not be a problem.
When it comes to care, philodendrons are among the easier plants. If you follow a few principles, which we describe below, they will literally grow before your eyes. Most species grow really fast, so they can boost the confidence of even beginner growers.
Which one to choose first?
We have already mentioned that there is a truly vast number of philodendron species. That is why houseplant collectors in particular often fall in love with them and add all kinds of rare species to their collections. You could even fill your home with nothing but philodendrons, and they could still all look completely different. Because of their diversity, we will focus here on just a selection of varieties, and you can see more of them in person at our store in Prague 8.
Photo: The climbing Philodendron scandens Brasil is remarkable for its colors
Climbing philodendrons
There are certainly more climbing philodendrons than shrubby types, and, at least in our part of the world, they are more popular as houseplants. As the name suggests, they like to climb on something. If you give them a coir pole as a support
or, even better, a sphagnum moss pole, their aerial roots will grow into it and the plant will thrive. You can adjust the height of our sphagnum moss pole, so the pole will literally grow with your plant.
You do not necessarily have to give it a support: you can also just let it hang from a shelf or in a hanging planter. Its leaves will not get the chance to grow as large, though, and it will probably put on a bit less growth overall than it would on a support.
Probably the best-known and most widespread species is Philodendron scandens, which catches the eye above all with its heart-shaped leaves (it is sometimes also nicknamed the heartleaf philodendron). Young leaves have a slightly bronze tint. Philodendron scandens micans is a very similar species, but unlike the one above, it has velvety soft leaves of a darker shade. The gorgeous neon green Philodendron scandens Lemon Lime will certainly stand out in any interior. Another beauty is Philodendron scandens Brasil, whose glossy green leaves with a neon yellow stripe in the middle resemble the Brazilian flag.
Philos, as I lovingly call them, are among my favorite houseplants. Philodendron scandens Brasil probably beats them all. Every single leaf is one of a kind, new leaves come quickly and they always color up so beautifully. I could watch it instead of TV...
- Bětka
Photo: Philodendron Birkin will not grow very tall, but it will give you a compact display.
Shrubby varieties
A beautiful example from this group is the very popular Philodendron birkin. Its gorgeous glossy leaves with white and green lines catch everyone’s eye. The low-maintenance Shangri La grows huge and stands out above all for its long leaf stalks with frilly leaves. Interesting, very long serrated leaves are found on the variety Philodendron Narrow.
Photo: Philodendron Burle Marx Variegata is a rare plant prized by collectors. It is a variegated variety with white and yellow spots. Its equally stunning sibling is Philodendron Burle Marx.
Rare varieties
Philodendron melanochrysum is similar to P. scandens with its velvety leaves, but it has dark green to greenish-black leaves with light green veins. Philodendron White Knight is a beautiful collector’s piece. It has green leaves with white variegation and an interestingly colored stem on which purple alternates with white. Philodendron Gloriosum has gorgeous, huge, velvety heart-shaped leaves. It is a slow-growing variety, but it makes up for its slow growth with its perfect leaves, which are well worth the wait. Another stunning variety is Philodendron Painted Lady. It catches the eye with its variegated leaves, truly like a painted lady, just as its English name says. The youngest leaves have a yellowish tint and gradually turn a darker green. Their leaf stalks are pinkish brown, so the whole plant shows off a range of colors, a joy to behold. Philodendron verrucosum has velvety smooth, dark green leaves with light green to yellowish veins. The undersides of the leaves are red to purple, and the leaf stalks of older leaves are hairy. It is a truly interesting, majestic plant that no philodendron lover’s collection should be without.
Photo: Most plants of this kind will thank you for a moist support, for which you can use a sphagnum moss pole or a coir pole. The plant then evenly takes in nutrients through its aerial roots too, and over time it grows bigger leaves.
How to care for them
Philodendrons in general are fairly low-maintenance plants that will thrive in most conditions. That makes them a great choice for beginners too. Most species grow very fast, especially in spring and summer, but we know from our own experience that they can grow all year round. In a year, they can even double their number of leaves. When you bring a young plant home, make sure you choose a suitable spot for it. After several years of growing indoors, they can become somewhat untidy and leggy because of their vigorous growth. Then nothing could be simpler than rejuvenating the plant. We describe how to do it below.
Light conditions
They do best with plenty of diffused light. Just watch out for direct afternoon sun, which could scorch their leaves. A few hours of direct morning light certainly will not hurt, though. They also tolerate shady spots; just expect that growth will not be as vigorous and colorful varieties will not color up as vividly.
Photo: Besides misting, you can gently clean a large-leaved philodendron with a damp cloth every now and then.
Watering and environment
The temperature should not drop below 12 °C; in summer, 20 to 25 °C is perfectly fine, but you must provide them with high air humidity. Since they come from rainforests, they will not thrive in dry air. You can spritz them with a mister several times a week, and they will certainly be happy near a humidifier too. Or stand the plant on a saucer filled with pebbles and water, but make sure its roots do not touch the water, or they could start to rot.
Use lukewarm water, and water only after at least the top layer of the potting mix has dried out. From spring through summer, you will certainly water more often, because many species grow vigorously; in fall and winter, cut back on watering. About every 14 days, you can add fertilizer to the water. The plant will certainly appreciate it if you regularly remove dust from its leaves. Wipe the leaves with lukewarm water and a cloth, or skip one watering and take the whole plant into the shower. Plant leaf wipes are also a good solution: they clean the dust off the leaves, partly nourish them thanks to the fertilizer they contain and also boost their shine.
Potting mix
Philodendrons do best in a potting mix that drains well but still holds on to enough water. Drawing on our experience, we have blended a special peat-free potting mix for plants of the Araceae family, which includes philodendrons, and it has given us nothing but great results. The mix is made from coconut fiber, worm castings, perlite, sand, pine bark, sphagnum moss and biochar.
Photo: All philodendrons have aerial roots, which also make them very easy to propagate. Just take a cutting with an aerial root and leave it in water or sphagnum moss for a few days
Repotting and propagation
These plants do not benefit from frequent repotting; instead, you can wait until their roots grow out of the drainage holes. But if the plant is many years old and its center of gravity is disproportionately high (or low, when grown without a support), go ahead. With very large specimens, it should be enough to replace at least the top layer of soil if you are worried about handling a big plant. But if you want to do a complete repotting, you will find out how in our article.
You can remove unsightly or damaged leaves at any time as needed. If you want to shape the plant or propagate it, nothing could be easier than taking cuttings. We have written detailed instructions on how to do it in this article.
Most philodendron species root very well in water, and you can also add lignohumate to speed up root formation. You can also put fresh cuttings in another moist medium, such as sphagnum moss. Another option is to use a rooting powder: carefully sprinkle it on the cutting where it has aerial roots, and you can then place it straight into soil.
Problems and pests: what to do when things go wrong
Philodendrons rarely suffer from pests. But you may find that every now and then your plant curls its leaves up as if into little tubes. No need to be alarmed: it does this when it is short of water. If it otherwise looks healthy and is just a bit droopy and limp, water it and it will perk right back up.
If the plant is turning yellow from the bottom and its leaves are falling off, it is overwatered. Stop watering for a while and let the potting mix dry out or, better still, repot it into fresh potting mix and water less often, especially in winter or in a dark spot.
Brown, drying leaf tips mean low air humidity. Get a humidifier, or stand the planter on a saucer with pebbles and pour water into it (but make sure the roots are not standing in water), or spritz the plant more often with a mister.
Brown or black spots on the leaves or along their edges are burns. They can appear from direct sun or, in winter, from frost, for example if some leaves were touching the window.
It can also happen that new growth is small or almost nonexistent and the plant is poorly colored. That would mean it has too little light and needs to be moved to a brighter spot.
For every home
With so many species, surely there is something for everyone. We will be happy to help you choose at our store in Prague 8. And believe me, you cannot go wrong. Philodendrons are great.
Author: Ing. Alžběta Lacinová