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There are over 200 different varieties of philodendron all with different sized
and shaped leaves. The one I am discussing here, cordatum, has dark green shiny heart
shaped leaves and looks great as a table or hanging plant. It can also be trained as
a vine. This philodendron is probably the most popular indoor plant because it thrives
on neglect and is almost impossible to kill. Its major drawback is that many consider it too “common.” NASA has found that the heart-shaped philodendron is one of the best plants to rid the air of formaldehyde.
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CARE OF HEART-SHAPED PHILODENDRON (CORDATUM)
Light: A heart shaped philodendron can live in low light: conditions, but will grow faster and produce more leaves in medium light.
Water:
Water well and then allow your philodendron to dry out before watering again. The soil can be moist but never soggy. Yellow
leaves indicate over watering while brown leaves indicate under watering.
Temperature:
Try to keep the temperature above 60 degrees at night and between 72-82 during the day.
Fertilizer: A philodendron is a fast growing plant so try to feed it every month to six weeks. Plants in low
light need less fertilizer than those in medium light.
Pruning: Cut back
long vines to keep the plant looking full and wash the dust off of the leaves so the pores don’t get clogged.
Toxicity: Philodendrons contain calcium oxalate, which may make small children and
pets ill if they ingest part of the plant. Calcium oxalate is also in the plant juices and may cause red itchy skin irritations.
Clean Air Plant: A heart shaped philodendron cleans the air of formaldehyde,
a chemical found in insulation, floor coverings, cleaning agents, pressed wood, and even paper towels.
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| Heart-shaped Philodendron (Cordatum) |
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HEART SHAPED-PHILODENDRON (CORDATUM) FAQ’S
1. Why are the new leaves on my philodendron small and further apart on the
stem?
Your plant needs more light; move it to a brighter area.
2. I
have lots of long vines, but the middle of my plant is very bare.
Cut your vines back to within 6-8 inches of
the rim of the pot. They will start to branch and your plant will become full and bushy.
3. How do I propagate a philodendron?
There are a couple of simple ways. Cut off pieces of stem, root them
in water, and then plant 4 or 5 rooted stems in a small pot of sandy soil. Another way is to use an open paper clip to pin
parts of some of the vines onto the surface of a small pot of sandy soil, leaving them attached to the main plant. The vines
should root in about 4-6 weeks; once they are rooted disconnect them from the main plant.
4. My philodendron keeps getting brown leaves. Am I over watering?
You are under watering your plant. If
you were over watering you would get yellow leaves.
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