Philodendron
Philodendron
Philodendron scandens oxycardiuim,
P wendlandii , P. selloum, P. cordatum
Light Level: High
Water Level: Medium
Philodendron is a Greek word meaning “tree loving.” They are one of the most familiar foliage plants and have been cultivated for centuries. There are several types of Philodendrons.
- The vining type (P. scandens) includes the heart-leaf philodendrons which are grown as ornamental vines, totems, and hanging baskets. They have glossy, dark green leaves and are vigorous climbers.
- The scandent type (P. wendlandii) are self heading and grow upright on their own. They often have bright green, yellow veined, spear-shaped leaves with red stems, such as on ‘Red Emerald.’
- The erect-arborescent type (P. selloum) appears as a self-heading type when young and later attain a woody treelike appearance when mature. These are a non-climbing, cut-leaf species.
- A vining type (P. cordatum) has glossy, dark green heart-shaped (cordate) leaves and can be grown as either a climbing or trailing vine. Leaves will be larger when grown as a climber. ‘Brazil’s’ leaves are variegated yellow and green.
Country of Origin
South America
Maintenance Tips
Most Philodendrons are heavy feeders. Leaves may become too large if excessive nitrogen is applied. Small foliage may indicate inadequate nitrogen. If both the leaves and the stems are small and weak and the rooting performance is poor, lack of light or fertilizer is generally the cause.
Cool soil temperatures may cause Philodendrons to grow slowly, with thin stems and short internodes.
Older plants or those that are cut back several times may show marginal chlorosis of the older foliage when they are deficient in magnesium.
Pests and Problems
Dactylaria humicola is leaf spot disease affecting newer leaves with tiny watery spots on the under surface. As the leaves age, the lesions turn yellow with a brown watery center. The centers collapse leaving dents that look somewhat like a thrips infestation.
Dasheen mosaic virus affects members of the Araceae family. In Philodendron scandens oxycardium, the disease affects new leaves and is characterized by chlorotic bands along the veins with some distortion and stunting of growth.
Phytophthora is a fungal leaf, root, and stem disease of the water-mold variety affecting Philodendronsamong other species. It is related to Pythium, and causes mushy, watery leaf spots which turn rust colored with yellow halos when dry. Severe infections result in complete plant collapse.
Rhizoctonia is a fungal pathogen which causes a disease with symptoms characterized as a root rot as well as an aerial blight. The entire plant and soil surface may be effected by rusty-colored minute filaments (the fungal body).
Scherotium rolfsi, also known as Southern blight, is a white cotton-like fungus, complete with an spore-like objects, on the soil surface and the stem at the soil line. The stem rots and the plant collapses.
For more care information visit our comprehensive Indoor Gardening Guide.