Araceae

Philodendron

A very large genus — over six hundred species, nearly all of them climbers or epiphytes; the self-heading tree types the trade sells are a small group of about twenty. More forgiving of lower light than Monstera or Alocasia, which is most of why they became houseplants.

Native to Mexico to tropical America and the Caribbean

Species

Philodendron 'Florida Ghost'

Florida Ghost

7 photographs

How Philodendron generally wants to be treated

Plant care

Species pages start from this and record only where they differ.

Light: Bright indirect, and genuinely tolerant of medium light: they hold on at very low levels, but leaf size and colour need a few times more than that. The velvet-leaved species burn in direct sun more readily than the glossy climbers do.
Water: Keep evenly moist without being wet. Water when the top 2-3 cm has dried; the thinner-leaved species wilt visibly and recover quickly, which makes them easy to read.
Humidity: 50% is enough for most. The velvet-leaved species want 60-70% and show it immediately when they do not get it.
Temperature: 64-81 °F (18-27 °C). Growth stops around 59 °F (15 °C), and chilling damage starts below about 50 °F (10 °C) without any frost.
Substrate: Airy and bark-heavy for climbers; a slightly finer mix with more coir for the crawlers, which root along the surface rather than down.
Fertilizer: A balanced feed at half strength every third watering in growth. Velvet-leaved species are sensitive to over-feeding — the leaf edges go first.
Propagation: Node cuttings for climbers; for crawlers, cut the rhizome between leaves leaving at least one node and one root per piece.
Dormancy: None, but growth slows in winter. Reduce water and stop feeding.
Common problems: Yellow leaves with brown wet spots are overwatering; yellow with crisp edges is dry air or underwatering
Velvet-leaved species mark if water sits on the leaves
Long gaps between leaves and small leaf size mean the plant wants more light or something to climb
Thrips are the usual culprit behind stippled, silvery new growth
Yellow lesions in a mosaic pattern are a virus: no cure, isolate or discard
Every part carries calcium oxalate crystals: the sap irritates skin, and a chewed leaf burns the mouth. Poison-centre records show it is rarely worse than that, but keep it away from pets and children anyway

Sources ¹²³⁴⁵⁶⁷

In the collection

Florida Ghost Philodendron 'Florida Ghost'
Pluto Choco Empress Philodendron 'Pluto'
Ring of Fire Philodendron 'Ring of Fire'
Tangerine Philodendron 'Tangerine'
White Wizard Philodendron 'White Wizard'
Brasil Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil'
Spiritus Sancti Philodendron spiritus-sancti