Philodendron hastatum - Silver sword philodendron leaves are 20-45 cm long by 5-15 cm wide, gray/green and blue gray colored (especially in juvenile)
Philodendron hastatum also called as Silver sword philodendron, Philodendron disparile, Philodendron elongatum, Philodendron hastifolium, Philodendron simsii, is a species of the genus Philodendron. This species was described by Karl Heinrich Emil Koch and Friedrich Sellow in 1855.
DESCRIPTION OF PHILODENDRON HASTATUM - SILVER SWORD PHILODENDRON
Philodendron hastatum is native to Southeastern Brazil. It is found growing in tropical forests in southeastern Brazil in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais as well as the state of Rio de Janeiro at elevations of 0-597 meters above sea level.
It is an evergreen hemi-epiphytic vine with green stem and 1.5-8 cm long internodes. The leaves are 20-45 cm long by 5-15 cm wide, narrowly ovate to ovate-triangular, apex rounded to sub-acute, base sagittate with extrorse lobes, distinctly paler on lower surface, chartaceous, gray/green and blue gray colored (especially in juvenile leaves) and are held on the 13.5-46 cm long petioles.
Silver sword philodendron blooms from the inflorescences (1 per floral sympodium) that are formed by the white outside, cream with dark red base inside, 8.5-12.5 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide spathe and 7.5-12 cm long spadix that are held on the 3.5-4.5 cm long peduncle. All parts of plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth and esophagus.
PHILODENDRON HASTATUM - SILVER SWORD PHILODENDRON 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 hastatum grows best in bright and indirect sunlight. Exposure to the sunlight can causes a yellowish color in the leaves or a sunburn spot. Too little light can result in leggy growth with lots of space in between the leaves. Artificial light gives best results if natural light is not present. They can be very vigorous growers and need support to keep the stems from breaking. Provide a tree bark or strong, moss-covered support sunk into the pot for the aerial roots to attach to. Sphagnum moss wrapped around a wooden slat, secured with monofilament fishing line or nylon thread, will work well.
Rotate your plant periodically to ensure even growth on all sides and dust the leaves often so the plant can photosynthesize efficiently. When dusting the leaves, also take the opportunity to inspect the undersides and keep an eye out for pests.
Temperature:
Silver sword philodendron grows well in normal to warm indoor temperatures 24-27ºC (75-80ºF). They cannot tolerate temperatures which drop below about 13ºC (55ºF). In mild, frost-free climates, the plant can be grown outside in shady spots. If grown outside, night temperatures down to around 15°C and day temperatures around 30°C are ideal.
Substrate and growing media:
Philodendron hastatum grows best in loose, well-drained soil which is rich high in organic matter. It also be grow in 100% sphagnum peat moss and mixtures such as peat-vermiculite or peat-perlite.
The plants 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 the plant 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:
Fertilizer:
Philodendron hastatum are considered heavy feeders. Regular feeding program with a nitrogen fertilizer will increase leaf size and produces a larger, healthier plant. Throughout the months while the plant is actively growing (from spring until fall) 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 which mainly grows in low-light conditions require less fertilization than actively-growing plants. Moist soil requires fertilizers to avoid injury to plant roots.
Pruning:
Use a sharp pruners or scissors to control the size and shape of the plant. You can remove entire leaves by cutting them off at the base of the leaf stem. You can also remove the lower leaves if you want to reveal the plant's stem. Always wear gloves when pruning and wash your hands and tools when finished. You don't want to get the sap in your eyes or mouth.
Pests and diseases:
No serious insect or disease problems is however reported. Watch for aphids, spider mites, mealy bugs and scale. Leaf spots may occur. Root rot can occur in overly moist soils. Small leaves or long spaces between leaves show that the plant need enough light to grow.
Propagation:
Cutting and layering are popular methods of Silver sword philodendron 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.
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