Philodendron Hederaceum Care - A Complete Guide

How To Care For Philodendron Hederaceum

Have you ever read the story of Jack and the Beanstalk? I’m sure we all have an image of the giant plant in our minds.

When I first saw Philodendron Hederaceum, it reminded me of that beanstalk. However, despite looking like something out of a fantasy book, it doesn’t grow beans, and it won’t grow all the way to the sky.

However, it is a beautiful houseplant to have, and it can really help give your living space a much-needed splash of nature.

What does your philodendron hederaceum require?

The Philodendron Hederaceum is one of the more difficult houseplants to keep. So perhaps not ideal if you’re not used to looking after plants.

However, if you’re after a bit more of a challenge, and feel as though you’re ready to take on a plant that requires a bit of extra time and attention, then look no further than this one! And today, we’ll be talking all about how to take care of it!

Light Requirements

Generally speaking, Philodendron Hederaceum is not too fussy about what kind of light it gets.

However, for the healthiest plant, it’s best to keep it somewhere with bright lights, and being a tropical plant, indirect light is usually better than direct sunlight.

If you live in an area that doesn’t always get a lot of natural light, this could be a plant you should think about getting.

Temperature Requirements

The ideal temperature for Philodendron Hederaceum is between 70-80F. In this kind of climate, it will grow as bright and as healthy as it would do in the wild.

Some plants can go really cold before they die. This is not the case with the Philodendron Hederaceum; if the temperature drops below 55F, the chances of survival will be significantly reduced.

Soil Requirements

As with many other houseplants, the best kind of soil will be something that’s well-draining. If too much water can sit around in the soil, the roots won’t absorb all of it, and it may lead to root rot.

Although most of the potting mixes you get from your local garden centre will be fine, you should avoid using any plant-specific soils. Philodendron Hederaceum is not able to easily adapt to soils designed for other plants.

Humidity Requirements

Philodendron Hederaceum loves a bit of humidity! This could make it the perfect plant to keep in your bathroom.

In this room, it will get all of the moisture it needs. But if you have to keep it in another room, you can give it the humidity it needs by giving it two or three times a week.

You can tell it’s getting enough humidity when the leaves are larger and the colour is fuller. If it’s left in a room with not enough humidity, it will still survive, but it won’t be as vibrant as it could be.

When you notice the leaves going brown, this is a sign the air is too dry, and you should probably mist it more than you are currently doing.

One idea for keeping it humid is to keep it in a tray with pebbles and water. But be careful not to let the roots sit in the water, which could lead to root rot.

How to Water

During the summer and spring, you should be making sure the soil is kept moist.

Moist soil will allow it to make all the repairs it needs and become the healthy plant people love to keep in their homes.

But, as we’ve already mentioned, you should be careful not to overwater as this can lead to root rot. How can you tell if it’s being watered enough?

If these leaves start to go yellow, it’s a sign that you’re overwatering it. When this happens, put it into a warmer room so some of the water can be evaporated.

But if the leaves are brown, you’re not giving it enough water, in which case, give it some more water!

How to Fertilize

Fertilizing a plant can help to keep it even healthier. This is when you add extra nutrients into the soil so your plant’s cells can operate at their full capacity.

With Philodendron Hederaceum, you should give it a light fertilizer once a month. Make sure whichever fertilizer you use is PH balanced and water-soluble.

It’s a bit of a fussy plant when it comes to fertilization as it’s used to living in a very particular natural environment.

Extra tips for philodendron hederaceum

So, we’ve just taken a look at the basics of caring for Philodendron Hederaceum. But if you want to take it to the next level, here are our tips on how to make sure the plant is as healthy and happy as it can be.

Whether or not you read the following tips will depend on how vibrant and healthy you want you Philodendron Hederaceum to be.

Pests & Diseases

Unfortunately, Philodendron Hederaceum is a plant that the pests tend to love! Of course, there’s the classic root rot caused by too much watering, but there are other issues you will need to keep an eye on.

Some of the most common types of pests it can get are aphids, mites, and gnats (little flies). These bugs can eat at your plant, which can cause it severe damage, making it lose its colour and even die.

Should any of these guys pop up, you will need to spray your plant with a pesticide.

Annoyingly, it can also attract specific scales which have a shell that protects them from pesticides. You will need to remove these by hand.

Philodendron Hederaceum can also develop fungal infections. If this happens, spray the plant with a light fungicide.

Pruning

Pruning isn’t just about how a plant looks. By pruning your plant, you are also helping to keep it healthier.

To prune Philodendron Hederaceum, all you need to do is remove some of the leaves, making sure to do so with sharp and clean utensils. This will help you to maintain the plant’s bushiness and maintain its size.

Propagation

The propagation of Philodendron Hederaceum is similar to that of other house plants.

Cut off a leaf with a sharp utensil and wait 24 hours for the cut to dry. Then, place it into a small pot of water, and wait 3-4 weeks for some small roots to start forming. Once you notice the roots, put it into a small pot of it’s soil.

As the plant grows, you will need to upsize the pot.

It may take a few months (or even years) for you to get a tree this way, but once you do, you can have two Philodendron Hederaceum in your home or give them away to your friends and family.

FAQ

How do you care for a philodendron Hederaceum?

To care for your Philodendron Hederaceum, put it into some soil that’s well-draining, and keep it in a room with bright, indirect light and plenty of humidity. The bathroom is ideal for this!

Make sure that in the spring and summer, the soil is kept moist but never soggy! Give it a light fertilizing once a month, and sort of pests and diseases as soon as possible.

Make sure to prune it, so you can maintain its bushiness and control its size!

How much sun does a philodendron need?

The Philodendron Hederaceum needs as much sun as possible. Of course, how much is “possible” will depend on the time of year and where you live.

But so long as whatever sunlight you can give it, you do, your Philodendron Hederaceum will be fine.

Do Philodendrons like sun or shade?

Philodendron Hederaceum prefers bright but indirect sunlight. This is what it’s used to in its natural habitat.

However, if you need to give it shade, because there is not enough sun at this time of year, don’t worry too much. It will still survive until you can give it enough sun again.

What is the most rare philodendron?

There are loads of species of Philodendron. But the rarest of all of them is the Philodendron Moonlight. The most prominent feature of this version of the plant is it’s beautiful yellow leaves.

However, if you think Philodendron Hederaceum is a challenge to look after, Philodendron Moonlight is on a totally different level.

Do Philodendrons like coffee grounds?

Yes! If you (like me) love a nice cup of coffee in the morning, you can always give your Philodendron Hederaceum his morning treat after you’ve had yours.

Just put the leftover coffee grounds into his soil. These grounds are filled with nutrients that Philodendron Hederaceum absolutely loves!

How can I make my philodendron grow faster?

If you want your Philodendron Hederaceum to grow faster. The best thing you can do is to look after it properly. We’ve already spoken about how to do that throughout this article.

However, you need to remember that it is a living thing, and therefore there are limitations on just how fast it can grow.

An extra tip for you is to make at least the top 50% of the soil dry before giving it any more water.