Philodendron Care

You see their heart-shaped leaves spilling out of pots and planters everywhere, from the doctor’s office to your neighbor’s bookshelves. Vining philodendrons are pretty, easy-to-grow houseplants that thrive in almost any light, whether it’s bright, indirect sunshine coming through a curtain or artificial fluorescents.

Trailing and Non-Trailing

I love philodendrons for their trailing habit, but you can also train the vines, which have aerial roots, to climb up a small trellis or a post covered with something they can grab onto, like rough bark or moss.

There are non-trailing philodendrons, too, in case you’re looking for an undemanding, upright plant to decorate a boring corner. These arborescent, or tree-like types need plenty of space if you grow them indoors, because they can reach 6 to 8 feet in height. With their broad leaves and strong trunks, they’re also great for creating a “jungle” feel in your landscape, although they’re natives of the tropics and won’t survive outside unless you live where the winters are mild.

How to Care for Philodendron

Light

Philodendron prefer bright, but indirect sunlight. Yellow leaves may indicate your plant is getting too much light.

Soil

No matter what kind of philodendron you grow, or whether indoors or out, give your plant loose, rich, well-drained soil.

Watering

Water when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch, but don’t let the plant sit in water.

Fertilizing

Fertilize regularly, as most philodendrons are heavy feeders. The exception is when your plant is growing slowly, as it might in low light conditions. You can still feed regularly, but more lightly.

Keep Them Comfortable

One of the key things to remember about philodendrons is that while they’re happy in average home temperatures, they don’t like to drop much below 55 degrees F. If you grow them outdoors, bring smaller plants inside before the temperatures start to fall, or take cuttings from the vining types.

Happy Plants

Philodendrons also like humidity and appreciate being misted, but most are durable and adapt well to the dry air in most houses.

How to Take Cuttings

Cuttings are easy to root. Just start with a cutting about 3 to 6 inches long, and pinch off enough foliage to leave the bottom 2 inches bare. Drop it in a glass of water, and wait for roots to form. Cuttings also root easily in some moist vermiculite or good quality potting soil. (You can use a dab of rooting hormone on the end of the cutting first, if you want to speed things up.)

Philodendron Types

There are many species and cultivars of philodendrons, so you're sure to find one you like.

Here are a few to try:

• Heartleaf philodendron (P. scandens) – my favorite, this plant has dark green, heart-shaped leaves. Use it in dish gardens, hanging baskets or pots. It can take very low light, such as the exposure from a north window. A type of Heartleaf, ‘Aureum’ has beautiful chartreuse-lime foliage.

• Red-leaf philodendron (P. erubescens) – This vining type has reddish-purple stems and arrow-shaped leaves that are coppery-red on the undersides. It likes medium light and grows vigorously, up to 10 to 20 feet.

• Spade leaf or burgundy philodendron (P. domesticum) – As its name suggests, this climber bears green, spade or arrow-shaped leaves up to 2 feet long. It's sometimes called Elephant Ear Philodendron.

• Velvet-leaf philodendron (P. hederaceum hederaceum) – Tiny "hairs" give this plant's heart-shaped foliage a velvety appearance. The leaves start out bronze and mature to green. It grows 3 to 8 feet, although you can keep it trimmed back as much as you want.

It might surprise you to discover that the big, tree-like, "split-leaf philodendrons" aren't really philodendrons at all. They’re actually Monstera deliciosa, although they're related to their look-alikes. Their name is appropriate, because they can become giants when they're planted outdoors in a warm climate. Like philodendrons, they can't take frost, so try them in very large containers if you grow them indoors, or plant them outdoors only if you live in a warm-winter region.

Not a Philodendron

Some people mistake the similar pothos plant for a philodendron but pothos is a smaller plant and generally boasts variegated white or yellow splotched leaves.