Konnichi wa / Great Outdoors
Philodendron: How to Grow and Care for Your Houseplant
Introduction
Philodendron is a beautiful houseplant that can bring life and beauty to any room. The word philodendron literally means "tree leaf." It's easy to see why this plant got its name when you take a look at the large, glossy leaves with deep green coloration. In this article, we'll talk about how to grow and care for your own philodendrons!
Watch this video on philodendron care!
What is a philodendron?
A philodendron is a type of plant that belongs to the arum family in the genus philodendron.
This group includes three types:
- Philoglossums
- Araceae
- Monsteras
All three plants are grown from cuttings instead of seeds so you can't grow one in your backyard without buying it at a store first.
Philodendrons are tropical plant native to the warmer climates in jungles of Central and South America. They're often used for landscaping since they grow well even in shady areas that don't get a lot of bright light, such as deep forests with high-canopy leaves blocking the sun from reaching ground level. You can also use them indoors to create privacy screens or living room dividers without having to buy expensive curtains.
Philodendrons are a good-looking, low maintenance indoor plant that likes bright indirect light. They're easy to grow and take care of, so they make great specialty gifts for anybody who has limited space in their home or doesn't have much time on their hands. There's no need to worry about watering them because philodendron plants don't like moist soil all the time - just water every few days!
You should also be aware that this type of plant is toxic if ingested, so keep it away from small children and pets at all times. It can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and even death when consumed by someone with an allergy or other health issue. Make sure your pet isn't tempted by the nice green foliage, and always keep an eye on children in case they get curious.
Philodendrons are a type of plant that belongs to the philodendron genus. It's native to the jungles of Central and South America, so it can grow well even in shady areas or deep forests with high-canopy leaves allowing little light to reach ground level. This makes them perfect for those who have limited space at home but want a new plant so they have something green outside their window sill or indoors as privacy screens or living room dividers without having buy expensive curtains first!
In addition to being easy to grow and care for, philodendron plants also make great gifts because they're low maintenance - no need to worry about watering too often either because this plant doesn't like moist soil all the time! Just water every few days and keep it away from small children or pets. This plant is toxic if ingested, so make sure your pet isn't tempted by its nice green leaves and always watch over children in case they get curious about this type of plant.
Philodendron plants are also sold at stores around the country under different names, such as "Swiss Cheese Vine," "Pothos" and "Gold Dust Dracaena." These may not be true philodendrons but their care tips will still apply depending on what specific kind you decide to buy instead!
Where to buy them
Philodendrons are common plants that can be found at many garden centers, nurseries and even big box stores. You might also find them for sale by the foot from specialty plant vendors like Plant Guy's Nursery in California or Santa Rosa Aquatic Gardens on eBay.
If you're looking to buy a live philodendron online, one of your best bets is probably Amazon, where sellers offer everything from individual starter plants to complete packages containing several different species valued at over $200 apiece.
The only downside to shopping online is that you can't inspect the plants firsthand.
How to care for them
Philodendron likes to be watered infrequently and under-watered plants will usually recover on their own. It should not be kept in a small pot because the roots may dry out, which can lead to wilting leaves. The surrounding soil is important as too much fertilizer or water gives philodendron the opportunity to spread its spores more easily.
The plant needs an acidic environment with good drainage so that it does not develop root rot from standing water after heavy rains. A well draining mix such as 50% peat moss and 40% perlite provides this environment for your plant's roots while still allowing some air circulation around them - keeping them healthy and happy! Philodendra do best when they are repotted every other year in spring when the plant has finished its flowering cycle.
If you're one to forget those yearly repotting tasks, don't worry! A common misconception is that philodendron will grow and spread everywhere if not constantly pruned but this couldn't be further from the truth. If your philodendra's lower leaves are touching each other or there appears to be a lack of air circulation around them for more than three days then it may need some attention such as trimming back large aerial roots with heavy soil - which can cause root rot over time- either by hand (using sharp scissors) or using shears designed specifically for plants like these . If done properly, this procedure should only take about 15 minutes and your plant will thank you!
Tips on how to grow and care for your philodendron plant
Philodendron is a very easy plant to care for and it can grow in any location with low light conditions. You will need moderate amounts of water, but not too much that the soil becomes wet or soggy. The philodendron should be watered about once per week. Philodendrons are sensitive plants so you don't want to overwater them as this may cause root rot which would kill it eventually if not treated quickly enough. They also do well when fertilized monthly during their growing season and quarterly at other times of year (from March through October).
Since they are undemanding plants, they're perfect for beginners who have little experience tending houseplants or gardening! However, there are some basic facts about philodendrons to know so that you can best take care of them. For example, they like humidity and are sensitive to drafts, which means you should keep it away from a cold window or door in wintertime.
Popular types include philodendron brasil, philodendron selloum, heart leaf philodendron (sometimes spelled heartleaf philodendron), philodendron bipinnatifidum, split leaf philodendron, and rojo congo philodendron.
Philodendron plants are great for people who want the easiest plant to care for but still want something attractive! They're not too big, have heart shaped leaves, and come in lots of different colors such as green leafs with pink veins (albovariegata), dark green leaves with purple stems (variegated) or red fruit on the vine tipped with white flowers (harminei). The most common type is called "philopatens", meaning loveable plant! So don't forget to love your philodendron, they're worth it!
A few more things you should know about taking care of a Philodendron:
Watering
Philodendrons are sensitive plants so overwatering is not good. They prefer moist soil but can't stand wet or soggy feet and will get root rot if left in water too long. Water only when the top inch or two feels dry. Don't let them sit in stagnant water as this may cause root rot which would kill it eventually if not treated quickly enough. If you notice yellow leaves near the base that wilt easily, this could be due to either over watering or under-fertilizing (not enough nutrients). Check to see if the drainage is good. If you have too much water, then it might be time to add more soil and if there are problems with drainage, use a potting mix that's heavy on the peat moss or vermiculite.
Lighting
Philodendrons can be either inside plants (to take advantage of natural light) or outside plants in indirect sunlight (not in direct sun) like shady locations as long as they get enough moisture during dry spells. Outside philodendra may need protection from strong winds which could make their leaves wilt easily due to drafts. You should also keep them away from cold windows or doors in wintertime as they prefer higher temperatures and these will cause their leaves to die quicker when exposed for an extended period of time.
Insects
Insects typically don't bother philodendra plants but they should be kept away from fire ants which will cause the leaves to curl up and turn brown as well. They also love a good meal of philodendron plant so you may want to try hanging mosquito netting over them during summertime when these pests are at their worst.
Humidity
Philadendra like humidity so it's best if you mist them occasionally and keep the soil moist (but not wet or soggy). If there is too much water, then use potting mix that has more peat moss than vermiculite in order for better drainage. Also, take care where your philadandra grows because some locations provide less light such as near windows with curtains closed or doors.
Fertilizer
Philodendra like to be fertilized about once per month during their growing season and four times a year outside of it. The best time for fertilizing is from March through October when they are actively growing. Feed them with an all-purpose fertilizer that has nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium mixed in according the instructions on the package or ask your local nursery staff for advice (they usually know).
A few common problems with philodendrons
The most common problems for philodendrons include: leaf tip necrosis (dry brown leaves), root rot from soil mix that doesn't drain well, low light levels, too much fertilizer and over watering. There's also an organism called Pythium which can cause wilting without adequate drainage; it thrives on warm humid environments like those found indoors in wintertime when windows are closed against cold. Also, watch out for spider mites!
Leaf Tip Necrosis
The most common problem with philodendron is the dry browning of the tips of its leaves. This generally happens because they're getting too little sunlight or water. You'll want to ensure your plant gets a lot of natural light outside during summer months or as close inside as you can manage if you don't have a window. You'll also want to make sure the soil is moist, but not overly wet and that you're fertilizing with very little fertilizer once or twice a year.
Root Rot
Root rot can happen when there's too much water in the potting mix or if your philodendron isn't getting enough drainage. There are many different ways to address root rot depending on what type of potting mix you use (i.e., bark chips versus peat moss). But most importantly: provide adequate lighting, good airflow (not too close to walls) and fresh air circulation from an open door or fan; avoid cold drafts; allow for occasional standing water while plant is growing during summer months because it will need the water to produce food and new leaves.
Low Light Levels
Philodendrons do best in a bright, sunny window or an area that's kept lighted all day long with fluorescent lights. If you don't have either of these options available to your plant then it'll require more frequent watering and fertilizer than usual because they won't be able to create their own food from sunlight alone.
Too Much Fertilizer & Overwatering
Too much fertilizing will make growth too rapid for the roots which can lead them struggle when they're trying to keep up while also absorbing enough moisture. And overwatering is one of the most common causes of root rot so as stated above: use less fertilizer and liquid fertilizer; check soil moisture regularly and don't water until it's dry.
The best time of year to repot your plant, if necessary, is in the spring
A philodendron can be repotted when its roots have grown into a pot so tightly that it’s hard to remove them without breaking them, or if there's no more room for the plant to grow. It should not be put into too large of a pot; this will cause problems with drainage. The new pot should only be about an inch wider than the old one and you may need professional help getting your plant out of the old container and into the new one because they are often heavy pots full of soil which won't budge easily once set up on their side. Once you get all those steps completed, take care to water moderately for at least two weeks after planting or moving your plant to a new pot.
Do not repot your plant if it shows signs of illness or poor health, such as yellow leaves and wilting stems. A healthy philodendron will show no symptoms when its roots are cramped in the pot so water it well before any major changes!
Philodendrons love fresh soil that is rich with organic material like manure, peat moss, mulch, composted bark chips and leaf mold. Fill the bottom of your container with two inches of this mixture for best results; you can add some commercial planting mix on top too but make sure there's at least one inch between the surface layer and the edge of the pot because otherwise moisture won't be able to evaporate through the soil.
If you have a pot that is too shallow, it can be sunk into the ground to give an illusion of depth and this will help with drainage problems as well.
Final thoughts on philodendron
Hope you enjoyed this article on philodendron!
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