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Some plants are just iconic because they ’re straight off placeable . Philodendrons are one of those houseplants . They had their heyday in the 60s and 70s and have lately made a comeback , plausibly because they are just so darn easy to produce . philodendron are sodding for the houseplant develop founding father !
Plus , they amount in a massive variety . There are rise types and unsloped types in a Brobdingnagian image of leaf formula , colors , shape , and sizes .
If you want to try an iconic houseplant that is toilsome to kill , you ca n’t go faulty with philodendrons .
Get to Know Philodendrons
philodendron , otherwise known as sweetheart flora and bosom - folio , uprise by nature in tropical rain forest environments in Central and South America . They become most domicile environments and grow well with little attending . In USDA Growing Zones 9 - 11 , you could also get them out of doors .
There are around 489 varieties , and two growth drug abuse : climbing / vining or upright . They can have one of three growth design :
They are easygoing to distribute and want little maintenance .
Varieties of Philodendron
think back , there are a vast act of species , cultivars , and hybrids of philodendron , so I ’ll show a few that are vulgar , wait great and change in flesh and size of it .
Brasil
Philodendron hederaceum‘Brasil ’ is a crossbreed that looks alike topothoswith more rounded leaves than heart - influence .
Spade Leaf
Philodendron domesticumleaves are Brobdingnagian , which has pull in it the nickname elephant ear . Each leaf is up to two base farseeing and are form like a spade .
Imperial Red
As the name suggest the stem ofPhilodendron erubescens‘Imperial Red ’ are deep red and the leafage is red when they ’re young . As the farewell mature , they turn deep , glossy green . This is a very salient miscellanea that draws mess of attention .
Fiddle Leaf
Philodendron bipennifoliumis sleep with as violin leaf or horse head philodendron because of its bombastic , unusually - shaped , leaves . Each foliage is about about 10 inches long . Give this a stake or pole to go up and fiddle foliage will mount up to seven feet tall .
Black Gold
Philodendron melanochrysumis a real stand out . It ’s a mounting sort with drab , almost black leave-taking with yellow vein .
Splitleaf
While this plant used to be relegate as as part of the Philodendron genus , it ’s really a close-fitting relative , classified asMonstera deliciosa . It ’s a big plant that grows up to eight feet marvelous . The leaves are like lobe come from a central stem . This plant can be grow similarly to a philodendron .
How to Grow Philodendron
The effective temperature for growing philodendrons is above 55ºF. Anything below this and the plant life will suffer .
expend good character potting soil that will control moisture while draining away excess water . The flock should have good drainage .
You should apply the pee to the land until it runs out of the bottom of the container . Once the period stops , murder any standing piddle in the container the pot sits in .
Allow the top inch to become dry to the trace before you water again .
feed in your philodendron with a balanced liquified fertilizer specifically for houseplants . In leap and summer when the sunlight is strong , feed once a month .
Feed once every two months in the fall . Stop in the winter .
If the new are pallid , the philodendron may be deficient in calcium or magnesium . adapt your liquid fertiliser if necessary .
If your plant is smaller than it should be and growth is slow , it necessitate extra eating .
Place your philodendron in a well - lit sphere , but out of lineal sunlight . It loves warmth and humidness so near a window is serious . If you’re able to value the humidity , above 60 percent is good . Do n’t concern if it drops a bit .
If your colored philodendrons are in too much nuance the leafage will become sluggish . On the other hand , when the green leaves turn yellow , they may be get too much light . Leggy plants might not be getting enough sunlight .
Growing In Water
Like ivy arum , you could grow philodendron in a water - filled vase or container .
Cut a six - inch piece of vine from a healthy plant . Make certain there are at least three nodes .
Insert this into a methamphetamine hydrochloride of pee with the lip supporting the plant . You do n’t want the whole affair to fall into the water .
Change the piddle every week and wait for the roots to form . presently enough , new leafage will form .
you could drop liquid fertilizer into the water if you retrieve the works is deficient in anything . A few drops will be enough to start with . Monitor the flora and sum more if necessary . Eventually , you might desire to move the plant to soil because water can only support a evenhandedly small plant .
Growing Philodendrons Outside
In Zones 9 to 11 , you’re able to plant your philodendron outside . In cooler region , you could keep them in pile during the warm conditions and fetch them indoors during the cold months .
A partially shaded country is necessary , especially with shade in the heat of the afternoon . They do well against a paries where the warmth can ray , but reflected light source is too firm .
The land pH should be between 5.0 and 6.0 . check that it is well - draining and has plenty of fertilizer or organic issue .
Feed once a calendar month with a atomic number 7 - rich fertilizer . you could swerve back if the growth is too much . Stop feed in winter to give the plant a break .
Outside 60 to 70 pct humidity is skilful . Although you do n’t want the temperature to drop below 55ºF , the left drop is okay as long as it does n’t go below 36ºF.
Pruning and Repotting Philodendron
you may cut back your philodendron anytime . Whether you have your industrial plant in a hanging basket , on a board , or trailing down a bookshelf , a quick prune now and then is good for it .
In a can , drive the great leaf back to expose the small-scale new ones at the bottom on the edge . Pinch those small 1 off , make trusted the pinch is clean .
For trailing variation , trend any to a fault leggy stem above a node .
Basic pruning keeps the philodendron lush .
Repot your philodendron every two years or if it outgrow the pot earlier .
Propagating Philodendron
This is a very simple-minded plant to circularize . you may grow root in a potentiometer of seed - raising premix or in urine .
Cut a six - inch duration of vine just above where a leafage connects . Remove all the leave except the top two .
Lower the gelded end of the base into a Methedrine jarful of water system . Do n’t take into account the parting to be submerged . If they are , lower a Oliver Stone or similar into the piddle to reserve the stem a little eminent .
In a couple of weeks , you should see roots produce . At this stage , you could graft the stem to a pot with good quality potting soil .
When you circularise , take a identification number of cuttings to maximize your success . If they all grow roots , then that ’s a bonus .
Common Problems and Solutions for Growing Philodendron
Philodendrons are seriously easy to succeed at grow , but that does n’t imply that they are wholly pest and disease - free . You might from time to time encounter one of these problems :
Spider Mites
wanderer speck feed on the sap and soft tissue paper of plants and indoor plants are no different . They roll in the hay dusty folio and will attack a flora that is suffer from insufficient water .
With spider mites , your philodendron may be yellow , or you could notice very fine web on the leafage .
pass over the leave-taking with a damp cloth to keep them dust - detached and ensure you water well .
If the plague is established , apply an insecticide spray made for indoor plants . insecticide with pyrethrum orneem oilwork well .
Mealybugs
Are there niggling mini cotton balls on your philodendron ? It ’s in all likelihood mealybug . You may be contract by surprise because they can look overnight .
mealybug are sapsuckers that cause yellowing , leaf drop , and stunt growth .
If you have mealybug on just one flora , you should quarantine it .
If you do n’t have a lot of bugs on the philodendron , get a cotton fiber dipped in rubbing alcohol and touch it on each bug . This is very satisfying .
Scale
No matter how diligent you are , some philodendrons will end up with scale – more sap sucking intruders .
They look like a short lump on the plant , but they are actually an louse that has secured itself to your flora and is mirthfully feeding on it .
habituate insecticide at night or when there is no sunlight on the leaves .
Bacterial Leaf Spot
If your plant has this disease , you will see red to browned spots with a yellow halo on the foliage . If the spots get big , they become drab brown and have an irregular shape . Remove any infected leaves and water the filth , not the foliage .
Bacterial Leaf Blight
If you see very dark , fleeceable spot on the works ’s leaves , you might have leaf blight . The blot may spread to where the folio and stem meet . Eventually , the leaves waste in a foul - smelling wet blob .
nullify it by not watering from overhead but at the dirt storey . Remove any leaves you cerebrate may be infected . Repot if you have overwatered and the potting soil is n’t run out decent . Use dry , fresh pot soil and a newfangled container .
Cold Injury
When dark brown situation seem between the folio veins , your philodendron could be break to consistent temperatures below 50ºF.
Maintain your room temperature above 55ºF and do n’t try growing your philodendron decent next to the AC register .
Tip Curl
Tip curl is normally due to over - fertilizing a philodendron . The tip of the leaf curls downward and the outside of the leaf become chocolate-brown .
Reduce the amount of eating and if you have used slow - release plant food , repot the plant with fresh potting dirt .
Use Caution Around Pets
Like many indoor plants , philodendron may be toxic to fauna . Make certain your trailing plants do n’t give ear where a playful creature will think it is a toy to be played with .
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