The Philodendron is an easy, air-purifying plant and comes in many shapes and sizes. There are hundreds of species of Philodendron. This means that every plant lover can find a beautiful gem. Some of the most unusual Philodendrons can be found in our webshop. For example, we offer the Philodendron billietiae Variegata, Philodendron Florida Beauty, Philodendron joepii, Philodendron Snowdrift, Philodendron Jose Buono, Philodendron Paraiso Verde and the Philodendron domesticum Variegated. (The other Philodenrons in our assortment can be found here).
Origin
The Philodendron is a tropical plant that is native to Central and South America and belongs to the Araceae family. The first Philodendron was registered in 1644 and since then hundreds of species have been added.
It owes its generic name to the combination of the Greek words 'philo', meaning affection or love, and 'dendron', meaning tree.
This beautiful plant can be divided into two categories: climbing and non-climbing Philodendrons. Climbing Philodendrons form aerial roots and produce tendrils that can be beautifully displayed in, for example, a hanging pot or climbing against a bamboo rack.
In contrast, the non-climbing Philodendron grows upright.
Light requirements
With its tropical roots, Philodendron is generally accustomed to filtered or indirect sunlight. Place this plant in a spot where it will receive bright, indirect or filtered sunlight. Do watch out for direct sunlight, as this can damage the plant. This particularly applies to the colourful varieties, as they are even more sensitive to this than the completely green Philodendrons. If your Philodendron receives too little light, it may cause its leaves to discolour.
Incidentally, there are also Philodendrons that can survive perfectly well in a shaded location. One of these is the beautiful Philodendron patriciae.
(If desired, you can turn your Philodendron a quarter turn every week to prevent it from growing too much to one side).
Watering
Most Philodendrons do not like too much water and prefer to be in loose, well-draining soil. If excess water accumulates, this may cause root rot. With these specimens, you can let the top layer of soil dry out before watering them again.
During the growth period, you can support your Philodendron in its growth by adding diluted fertiliser to the water every now and then.
There are, however, exceptions to this rule, so always look carefully at the description of the specific plant. For instance, Philodendron spiritus sancti does not need any extra nutrition.
Humidity
Because Philodendron is a tropical plant by nature, it thrives best at high humidity levels. Think of an optimal humidity level between 60% and 90%. However, many Philodendrons can also thrive between 50% and 70% humidity.
