Philodendron Bipennifolium Plant Care

A trademark bearer. This eccentric, odd-looking plant will not only make your visitor’s head turn but couldn’t help themselves asking what is that rare beauty sitting in a pot. Their leaves are shaped like violins, a big green butterfly or a horse head is sure to keep your guests mesmerized.

The fact that this plant is extremely rare and well sought, you might be wondering what kind of care this exotic plant needs. Believe it or not, Philodendron Bipennifolium will just be another tropical houseplant that doesn’t need much.

It’s commonly called Fiddleleaf or Horsehead Philodendron due to its uncommon leaf shape. Just like any other houseplant, a little bit of TLC and plantly care will be needed if you want your Bipennifolium dancing in your garden or pleasantly sitting with your indoor plant collection.

  1. What is the Philodendron Bipennifolium?
  2. Philodendron Bipennifolium Plant Care Basics
  3. Philodendron Bipennifolium Varieties and Similar Plants
  4. Philodendron Bipennifolium Diseases & Pests
  5. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Philodendron Bipennifolium?

A spectacular thing about the Fiddleleaf is the leathery textured glossy green leaves. The plant comes from Argentina and Brazil, wrapping itself around the trees when growing. It has a skinny stem with aerial roots making it he-mi-epiphyte foliage and helping it grow like a vine.

You can create a steamy hot forest by hanging it from baskets or pots with a moss pole. Best of all, caring for this exotic foliage is easy, and we will show you how.

Philodendron Bipennifolium Classification

Philodendron Bipennifolium

Philodendron Bipennifolium Care Basics

bipennifolium

The tropical houseplant thrives in warm temperatures and does not love the cold. Furthermore, it mimics growing as in its native land with a large enough container for the enormous root ball. Here are some requirements to help your Horsehead Philodendron flourish in your home. 

Best Potting Mix

For the Fiddleleaf Philodendron, it is best to use well-draining soil as it helps retain the correct amount of water without causing root rot. The plant thrives in loamy soil consisting of clay, sand, and silt. It helps if the sand type used is little over half of the ground for perfect loamy soil. 

Furthermore, the silt you use needs to take up 40% of the loamy soil, and the clay should make up the rest of the mixture. Moreover, it needs to have a pH balance that is a little acidic, ranging from 5 to 6 pH.

Watering Needs

The Philodendron Bipennifolium care when it comes to watering is to keep the soil moist but not saturated. With soaked soil, it can prevent oxygen from reaching the roots and developing root rot. Another problem caused is discoloration of the leaves, or it slows down, stopping the growth.

The best is to wait until the soil dries out before watering the plant. A great way to make sure your Horsehead Philodendron gets enough water is using a soil probe. During winter, it does not need watering as often as in summer. 

Ideal Lighting

While your Fiddleleaf plant needs sunlight it cannot handle direct light shining on the leaves. Direct UV rays can cause the leaves to turn yellow and get scorch marks. With bright, indirect sunlight, the leaves can go through photosynthesis to thrive.

Therefore, the best is to place your plant at a window facing either north or south. If you treat them as an outdoor plant, make sure it’s planted near a tree or large plants so they can get shade from it.

Humidity & Temperature 

A suitable temperature range for the Horsehead Philodendron is between 70 degrees and F-80 degrees F (24C to 29C.) During the evening, it is best to keep the temperature between 65F-70F (18C-21C.) The crucial thing to remember is that the Philodendron Bipennifolium cannot handle freezing temperatures. 

humidifier

For humidity, this rainforest plant needs moisture using a humidifier in the room. Alternatively, you can use the pebble tray method, hanging the plant in a basket and filling the tray with water enough that it does not cover the pebbles. 

Place your plant on the tray, and as the water evaporates, it creates the moisture it needs.

Refill with water once you see the tray is dry. 

Fertilizer 

One thing you will find helpful is that you need not fertilize your plant often. It only requires fertilization about three times a year and depends on the plant’s health. Use a slow-release fertilizer as it helps you not to nourish it often.

plant fertilizer

Make sure to spray around the base about five inches. However, before doing this, water the plant to provide moisture preventing the plant from burning or damaging the roots. Prevent using fertilizers with a high salt content as it harms the plant.

Propagation

When the time comes for Philodendron Bipennifolium propagation, you do it with stem cutting. Another method is air layering and an excellent method to use. The plant can grow between 3 ft. to 7 ft. high and works well with a mossy pole to climb.

The leaves grow between 10 inches and to 18-inches in length. The fun thing is the propagation steps you can do as follow and are best done in March:

Air Layering

The first step is wounding the plant which needs a sterilized knife done with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Cut a wound about two inches deep by two inches in length.

  • The wound needs to remain open and using a toothpick through it helps.
  • Get some sphagnum peat moss and moisten it to stick to the wounded area. To speed up the process, you can use the hormone-rooting compound.
  • Take some string to wrap it around the wound and tie it back to keep the peat moss in place. Use some plastic wrap around the wound but not too tight, as it needs to breathe.
  • Now you need to be patient for the wound to root. So get a pot or hanging basket ready in the meantime with enough drainage holes. It takes about a month with this process as the roots start poking through the peat moss.
  • Wait until the roots grow at least four inches in length before you cut the stem. Use a sterilized knife again to cut it.
  • Cut a few inches above and below the peat moss. Now remove everything carefully and plant the root under the soil to help expand the growth.

Stem Cutting

Start with finding an ideal spot below the leaf node which needs to be between 2-4 inches in length. Make sure there are at least two leaves attached. Also, use sterilized pruning shears as mentioned with the other technique.

Once cut, you want to cure the new cutting by placing it in a warm room for up to two weeks. Doing this lets the stem cutting form a callous over it and place it into the soil. You do this by sticking your finger a few inches into the ground.

Place the cutting in the hole and pack it with soil to help it grow. If the stem does not want to remain standing up by itself, best use a mossy pole or a straw. 

Growth Zone

USDA map for Philodendron Bipennifolium plant

USDA Hardiness Zone:  10b-11

Philodendron Bipennifolium is an extremely rare tropical houseplant that will grow with just the right amount of care. This rare beauty appreciates indirect sunlight and moderate watering. T

hey are native to the tropical rainforest of Brazil so frost-free areas are highly encouraged to grow them.

Their odd-looking, leathery texture, and glossy green leaves can grow from 1 to 3 feet in length when fully mature. Bipennifolium can also thrive indoors with low humidity and warm indirect light.

Potting and Repotting

To add some exceptional home décor to display your Fiddleleaf Philodendron, you can use a glazed ceramic pot or a plastic one if preferred. You can place it in a hanging basket or start a macramé hanging planter DIY project to show off your handy work.

The important thing is that the pot size needs to be one to two inches larger in diameter than the root ball.

When your plant matures, you will need to re-pot it every 2-3 years.

Philodendron Bipennifolium Similar Plant

In the species, Philodendron Bipennifolium variegated varieties such as the Philodendron Bipennifolium Glaucous have more blue-colored leaves. While the Philodendron Bipennifolium Aurea, also known as the Golden Violin, has neon yellow leaves with exaggerated lobes, and the leaf shape varies.

Philodendron bipennifolium also looks similar to Philodendron golden dragon and Philodendron fiddle lime.

Philodendron Bipennifolium Diseases & Pests

The good news for you is that this plant does not attract many pests. You may find it attracting aphids, tiny soft-bodied insects. These pests can harm your plant and are best treated right away.

Another common pest is brown scales and is easier to kill. Both these insects feed on the sap of your plant, and using Neem oil helps suffocate them. All you need is a sterilized clean spray bottle with the oil to get rid of them.

If you find the plant, leaves wilting it is under-watered, causing it to dehydrate. Another problem is water-soaked lesions, a plant disease that can kill your plant very fast. You may even notice black leaves, dying, or wilting leaves.

First, remove all the infected areas and invest in a copper-based fungicide. Spray it down with the solution but first test a small area to see how the plant reacts to the chemicals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as it comes from the tropical rainforest and one Philodendron Bipennifolium price can go sky high depending on the size you buy.

The genus Philodendron comes from tropical America, and you can find more than 450 species of this stout-stemmed plant.

Yes, as it is an exotic plant from the tropics and helps it to thrive.

Philodendron bipennifolium, also known as the Horsehead Philodendron, prefers average to warm temperatures similar to most tropical plants. It thrives in temperatures ranging from 60°F to 85°F (15°C to 29°C).

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!

Leave a Reply

Plantly Menu