Philodendron is a genus of flowering plant in the family Araceae. Phileo comes from the Greek words meaning to love and dendron meaning a tree for its affinity to climb trees. Many plants in this genus are grown as ornamental and indoor plants. The plant symbolises health and abundance.
Philodendron is a genus of flowering plant in the family Araceae. Phileo comes from the Greek words meaning to love and dendron meaning a tree for its affinity to climb trees. Many plants in this genus are grown as ornamental and indoor plants. The plant symbolizes health and abundance.
IDENTIFY PHILODENDRON PLANT
Philodendron is native to Central America and the Caribbean where it occur in humid tropical forests, but can also be found in swamps and on river banks, roadsides and rock outcrops. Philodendron species are often found clambering over other plants or climbing the trunks of trees with the aid of aerial roots. It is also native to Mexico, West Indies and Brazil.
The plants in this genus are mostly climbing plants which will grow to 20’ tall, but indoors are more often seen in the 4’ tall range. The features claim to be bright, glossy, heart-shaped, dark green leaves that may have a bronze tinge on emerging. The leaves typically grow to 3-4” long, but increase in size up to 12”. Twining stems of this plant will either trail from a pot or climb up a column if given support. The flowers infrequently appear as greenish-white arum on mature indoor plants. In frost-free climates, philodendron appears regularly in landscape plantings. In temperate regions this plant is used for interior landscape plantings in various organizations and public places.
PHILODENDRON VARIETIES
Philodendron hederaceum is the most common houseplant variety having a solid dark-green leaves approximately 5” long.
Philodendron Brazil is a popular cultivator with a band of yellow along the center of each leaf.
Philodendron bipinnatifidum, formerly known as Philodendron selloum, is common basis plant in zones where it can reach a height of 12-15 feet with an equal or greater spread, has deeply cut, green to dark green leaves up to 3 feet in length.
Philodendron var. Xanadu is a compact hybrid species which is found suitable for home use.
Other strains of Philodendron that have been made popular by tissue culture are Burle Marx, Congo and Hope.
The red strains of Philodendron include Anderson’s Red (mostly green, with red overtones), Autumn (light orange) , Imperial (green with some burgundy, also Imperial Red with much more bright bownish), Rojo Congo (bright brown leaves on red petioles and Prince of Orange (foliage rich orange).
Philodendron speciosum is alike to P. bipinnatifidum only difference is that the leaves are not lobed, they are entirely with toothed margins with an inflorescence having a white spadix and surrounded by a pink spathe. This plant is very rare.
Philodendron evansii is an ornamental plant with large, lobed leaves but not as deeply divided as P. bipinnatifidum which possess a colorful inflorescence that is white with pinkish edges.
Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ is a small, self- heading plant that important for places having small landscapes. It grows to 2-3 feet tall with a slender stem. The leaves are narrow and are shallowly lobed is of 6-12 inches in length.
Philodendron bipennifolium has lobed leaves similar to P. bipinatifidum, but occur in small and dark green in color. The upright stems grow 2 to 3 feet.
Philodendron eichleri and Philodendron undulatum both have large, undivided leaves.
Philodendron stenolobum is usually misidentified as P. williamsii. having wavy narrowed leaves that can get 2 to 3 feet in length and grows a slender trunk several feet taller.
Philodendron goeldii has divided leaves that resemble those of a P.schefflera.
Philodendron ‘Soledad’ is an unknown hybrid species which resembles P. vansii.
Philodendron corcovadense is found as a small species growing 3 to 4 feet in height.
Philodendron erubescens, which is also known as the Red-leaf Philodendron consist of a triangular leaves, green and glossy and have a red tint on the underside. The stems and leaves are reddish-purple.
Philodendron radiatum has deep lobed leaves up to 1 ft. in length.
Philodendron wilsonii is a large climber with lobed leaves, 2 to 3 feet in length.
PHILODENDRON PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Philodendron species grows best in bright and indirect sunlight. Exposure to the sunlight causes a yellowish color in the leaves or a sunburn spot. Artificial light gives best results if natural light is not present.
Temperature:
These plants will grow well in normal to warm indoor temperatures 24-27ºC (75-80ºF). They cannot tolerate temperatures which drop below about 13ºC (55ºF).
Substrate and growing media:
Philodendrons grows its best in loose, well-drained soil which is rich high in organic matter. Also grow in 100% sphagnum peat moss and mixtures such as peat-vermiculite or peat-perlite. Most kinds of this genus need supports to cling to. A totem pole, pieces of rough bark or stakes wrapped with a thick layer of sphagnum moss will serve well. Otherwise, many plants make very beautiful hanging basket specimens.
The plants of this genus benefit from repotting to a larger container when they become root bound and outgrow the original pot. A combination of half soil-based potting mixture and half leaf mould or coarse peat moss is used. Move Philodendron species into container one size larger only when their roots have completely filed the current one. This is done at any time of year except during the short rest period. After the long rest period the convenient pot size has been reach (probably about 25-30cm (10-12 inch)), an annual spring top-dressing with fresh potting mixture will help to keep the plat healthy. A container with drainage holes to prevent root rot is used. A cachepot is used if a decorative container is without drainage. It is necessary to cover the bottom of a cachepot with pebbles so as to keep the plant above the drainage water.
Watering:
The vital factors in keeping Philodendrons growing evenly with large, uniform leaves is plentiful of water. Keep the potting mix consistently moist, but not wet. Make sure all excess water drains, since sitting in water or overwatering can cause root injury, which will cause leaves to turn yellow and drop. A high-humidity environment should be maintained with a pebble tray or by grouping plants will encourage larger leaves.
Fertilizer:
They are considered heavy feeders. Some of the species will live for a long time without supplemental fertilization, however, a regular feeding program with a nitrogen fertilizer will increase leaf size and produces a larger, healthier plant. Throughout the months while the Philodendron species is actively growing apply standard liquid fertiliser once every two weeks. It's a nice strategy to fertilize more frequently at half strength than to apply one strong dose. Plants of these species which mainly grows in low-light conditions require less fertilization than actively-growing plants. Moist soil requires fertilizers to avoid injury to plant roots.
Propagation:
Cutting and layering are popular methods of Philodendron species propagation. Try propagating them during the growing season. A small brown nubs are formed where the leaves meet the stem. These nubs, when in contact with soil or water, will grow roots. There are many ways to propagate this plant, the easiest being to cut a branch just below a root-nub and place it in water with a few pieces of horticultural charcoal to reduce the likelihood of rot. As soon the growth of new leaf takes place it is potted in the rich soil. Similarly it can also be propagated within its own pot by pinning vines at the root-nub to the soil with hairpins or bent wire. The root nub in contact with the soil will sprout new roots in a very short time. When the different parts of Philodendron species are rooted, the plant will greatly profited from misting several times a day.
BUY PHILODENDRON PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS
SOME SPECIES AND CULTIVARS OF PHILODENDRON WITH CARE TIPS
- Philodendron 69686
- Philodendron balaoanum
- Philodendron billietiae
- Philodendron bipennifolium - Horsehead Philodendron
- Philodendron Birkin
- Philodendron Black Cardinal
- Philodendron Bloody Mary
- Philodendron Brasil - Philodendron Hederaceum 'Brasil'
- Philodendron Burle Marx - Philodendron burle-marxii
- Philodendron camposportoanum - Philodendron Campos
- Philodendron Congo
- Philodendron cordatum - Philodendron Angra dos Reis
- Philodendron Deja vu
- Philodendron domesticum - Spadeleaf philodendron
- Philodendron erubescens - Blushing Philodendron
- Philodendron Florida Green
- Philodendron gigas
- Philodendron Golden Dragon
- Philodendron grazielae
- Philodendron hastatum - Silver sword philodendron
- Philodendron hederaceum - Heart Leaf Philodendron
- Philodendron Imperial Green
- Philodendron Imperial Red
- Philodendron joepii
- Philodendron Jose Buono
- Philodendron lacerum - Toothed Philodendron
- Philodendron Lemon Lime
- Philodendron linnaei
- Philodendron Little Hope
- Philodendron luxurians
- Philodendron mayoi
- Philodendron melanochrysum - Black Gold Philodendron
- Philodendron mexicanum
- Philodendron micans - Velvet Leaf Philodendron
- Philodendron microstictum
- Philodendron Moonlight
- Philodendron Painted Lady
- Philodendron Pink Princess
- Philodendron Prince of Orange
- Philodendron pogonocaule
- Philodendron radiatum
- Philodendron Red Emerald
- Philodendron Rojo Congo
- Philodendron scandens - Velvet Leaf Philodendron
- Philodendron selloum - Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
- Philodendron sharoniae
- Philodendron Sodiroi
- Philodendron speciosum - Thaumatophyllum speciosum
- Philodendron subhastatum - Silver Sword Philodendron
- Philodendron xanadu plant - Thaumatophyllum xanadu
- Philodendron White Wizard
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