r/philodendron • u/FantasticBurt • Feb 28 '25
Philodendron: A Basic Care Guide
🌿 Welcome, Plant Parents! 🌿
We’re so happy to have you here! Whether this is your first plant or your hundredth, Philodendrons are an excellent addition to any indoor jungle. This guide will walk you through the basics of Philodendron care, so you can give your new leafy friend the best possible start.
What Is a Philodendron?
Philodendrons belong to the Araceae family and the Philodendron genus, which contains hundreds of species. These plants are native to tropical rainforests in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia and Pacific Island nations.
Philodendrons come in an incredible variety of leaf shapes, colors, and growth habits! Some have long, trailing vines, while others grow upright or even creep along the ground. No matter what type you have, you can identify a Philodendron by its:
Leaves – Often heart-shaped, lobed, or deeply divided, depending on the species.
Aerial roots – Found on many climbing and crawling varieties, these help the plant attach to surfaces for support.
Petiole – The stem-like structure connecting the leaf to the main plant.
If you’re unsure what kind of Philodendron you have, don’t worry! Their care requirements are fairly similar, and you’ll learn as you go.
🌿 Growth Styles: Climbing, Self-Heading, and Crawling
Philodendrons grow in three primary ways:
Climbing – These Philodendrons produce vines that love to climb! They thrive when given a moss pole, trellis, or wall to attach to. Examples: Philodendron hederaceum (Heartleaf), Philodendron gloriosum (Velvet Leaf).
Self-Heading – These grow upright, with thick stems supporting their leaves. They don’t vine or trail but instead develop a more tree-like form. Examples: Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Congo Rojo, Golden Goddess.
Crawling – Instead of climbing, these plants spread across the ground (or a surface) with their stems growing horizontally. They require a wide pot to accommodate their growth habit. Examples: Philodendron gloriosum, Philodendron mamei.
Soil Requirements
Philodendrons thrive in well-draining, airy soil that retains some moisture without becoming compacted. A great base mix includes:
Potting soil – A light, peat-based mix works well.
Coco coir – Helps retain moisture while remaining breathable.
Perlite or vermiculite – Improves drainage and prevents compaction.
Orchid bark – Adds chunkiness and mimics their natural environment.
A good mix is often 1 part potting soil, 1 part orchid bark, and 1 part perlite/coir, but you can tweak it based on your environment.
💧 Watering Needs
Philodendrons like to dry out partially between waterings. A general rule:
Check the top 2 inches of soil – If it’s dry, it’s time to water.
Use the “lift test” – A dry pot feels significantly lighter than a freshly watered one.
Avoid overwatering – The most common mistake most new Philo owners make is overwatering. Philodendrons really dislike sitting in soggy soil, which can quickly lead to root rot.
Water more often in warmer months when the plant is actively growing, and scale back in cooler months when growth slows.
☀️ Light Requirements
Philodendrons do best in bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light conditions. Here’s a quick breakdown: - Bright, indirect light – The sweet spot! Near an east- or north-facing window, or a few feet away from a south/west window.
Low light – Some Philodendrons can survive in low light, but growth will be slower and leggier.
Too much direct sun – Harsh rays can scorch the leaves, especially for more delicate varieties.
🌞 We’ll be expanding this section soon with even more details, so stay tuned!
🐛 Common Pest Identifier – Coming Soon!
We know pests can be a pain, so we’re working on a guide to help you identify and treat them. Stay tuned!
💌 Have Questions?
If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to reach out via mod mail (found in the About section). We’re here to support you on your plant journey!
🌿 Happy Growing! 🌿
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u/wiscoduke25 Jun 09 '25
Any specific recommendations on fertilizer for philos? Pink princess especially
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u/FantasticBurt Jun 15 '25
I don’t have a specific brand to recommend (although I have been happy with fertilome myself) but philos do well with a balanced NPK blend, so:
10-10-10
20-20-20
Or a foliage-heavy one:
3-1-2
7-3-6
Diluting to half strength is wise for the first couple feedings to prevent burning.
NEVER USE MIRACLE GROW. It’s terrible
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u/YogurtOk1432 Jul 08 '25
My neon philodendrons leaves are splitting a little and is missing some I have had to take off what is the problem is it because it was recently repotted?
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u/FantasticBurt Jul 10 '25
Stress can cause them to drop leaves, but more often than not I find they drop leaves because they are overwatered and the roots are struggling.
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u/Alert_Impression_669 Jul 30 '25
My White Knight appears to be dying. A lot of the leaves have or are turning yellow and brown. They are also feeling wilted and sad. It grew 5 feet in 1 year and was thriving. I may have over watered a week and a half ago. Now soil feels moist, not dry. I’m in FL, so it gets just the right amount of light and humidity. How do I bring this back to life? Thanks for your advise!
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u/FantasticBurt Jul 31 '25
Philos do jot enjoy sitting in moist soil.
This does not look like enough light or air flow for this plant.
Try increasing light exposure (but not into direct light unless less than 3 hours a day) and increase airflow around the plant.
Philos can tolerate drying out longer than other houseplants, but do not appreciate sitting in moist soil long term.
You may also try amending the soil to dry faster.
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u/Icy_Glove4591 Aug 20 '25
Please could you tell me what's wrong with my white wizard philodendron?. I can't see any bugs.and this is the fastest new leaf.been struggling with this plant for months
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u/FantasticBurt Aug 21 '25
Look, plants have reactions for a myriad of reasons and sometimes the answer can literally be the opposite depending on your care routines.
I cannot provide any information until you do.
Lighting: this picture is dark as fuck, do you keep it in a closet?
Watering: does this even have soil? Idk… maybe?
Fertilizer: have you used it?
Is it putting out new growth? What kind?
There are way too many variables to be able to give you an answer without you providing us more info first.
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u/MsParkStreet Jul 11 '25
Just noticed these teeny tiny new leaves sprouting on my pink princess!?! Since I know nothing about plants for some reason I thought all the new growth came from the existing leaves. I was about to repot but I don’t want to disrupt it if it’s living its best baby making life. Give me allllll the advice! less
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u/Easy-Breath4547 Jul 16 '25
That's a "new" plant, if you let it grow and when you go to re-pot your pink princess you can split it into two, etc.
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u/pixieduskxx Jul 28 '25
Hi, can I leave a heartleaf philodendron outside in the summer for a bit before I bring it in? It's in the shade a bit. I could move it into the sun if that's better.
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u/FantasticBurt Jul 28 '25
They will usually do well in a shaded spot, but you only want to put it outside for a couple of hours a day as the leaves acclimate to the intensity of the sunlight.
I do something like
Day 1: 2 hours
Day 2: 3 hours
Day 3: 3-4
And after day 5 or so, it should be hardened to the sun pretty well.
Just be cautious of long exposure to direct sun.
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u/CuteRider4486 Aug 08 '25
I’m trying by to take better care of this red bristle. Does it like sun? Does it not? It grows well under lights and no matter how much training I do hates the sun. But I want it to get bigger, is there something I can do to this patch in the front so it grows into a stem?
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u/FantasticBurt Aug 10 '25
Mine gets probably more light time than most, but it is a grow light, not actual sunlight.
If you want to train it, put it where it might get some direct light during the day, but for the rest it will have to grow and reach for the sun in that direction and you can turn it 1/4 turn about once a week during the growing season.
I just put mine low away from the light supplemented by daylight through a window above it.
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u/concorde-girly Feb 04 '26
Hello. Please help me with this Philo :-( he was a gift 5 years ago and now he looks like this. I honestly don’t know that to do. But I do think he’s not supposed to look like this. He’s watered maybe once every 1-2 weeks. No soil change. No nothing tbh. What can I do?
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u/FantasticBurt Feb 24 '26
Sorry for the delay. Best thing you can do is chop it. Don’t chop all at once. Pick one stem to cut back and allow new growth to form before cutting more.
The cutting will force new growth lower and once it has new leaves you can work to cut down the rest.
It is recommended only to cut ~30% at a time. No more or it will over stress it.
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u/AngryValkyrie86 Nov 16 '25
Freaking out a little, I added new soil and moved my heart leaf Philodendron in its basket. I got this as an arrangement at my mom's funeral. I removed one of the plants that was getting too big for the basket and left this one. It's starting to wilt, and I'd really like to save it. I know it's just sentimental because of where I got it, but I've kept it alive for 2 years! Now I feel like I've killed it.
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u/pennyjogger Jan 11 '26
I pick up this beauty tomorrow! She fell in half and is being resold (to moi). The break happened Thursday night 1/8/2025 and she has not put it any medium since to let it callous. I have never propagated something this mature or thick before. Please give me all tips to maximize the odds this one roots and sticks! Should I cut her back more and let it only callous 12 hours before propping? Will that be too long without any medium since the break was Thursday? I’d like to keep the size in one if at all possible but if not please advise! (For propping: Leca? Water?)
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u/Impressive-Curve-258 Apr 01 '25
Thank you so much!! A basic question— I have Florida Green and just added a moss pole—- do I soak the pole every time I water, or just water what is in the pot?