Proper Care for Philodendron Birkin

The Philodendron Birkin is a mutated cultivar from the ‘Philodendron Rojo Congo’ Philodendron and ‘Green-Leaf Philodendron.

This houseplant was believed to originate from Thailand. It’s a member of the Araceae family. The beautiful plant is one of the most sought-after plants by gardeners today. The Philodendron Brikin ancestors were discovered in Brazil’s rainforest in the 15th century; this means that Philodendron plants thrive in rainforests or, in other words, tropical plants.

Although, the variegated cultivar has only been found recently after studying the rare species of the Philodendron. The variegated Philodendron has dark green leaves with yellow or white markings. This Philodendron is a tropical plant with different leaf patterns. 

The Philodendron Birkin can be treated as an indoor plant

philodendron birkin care card

Philodendron Birkin Plant Care Basics

philodendron birkin

This beauty is easy to care for with its evergreen foliage. Yet, you need to follow a few steps to maintain the beauty and health of these species. These are also crucial for the cultivar to survive and thrive. Here are important Philodendron Birkin care tips that you need to be aware of:

Birkin Philodendron Soil

The suitable choice of soil for Philodendron Birkin is an essential factor in caring for the houseplant well. The houseplant highly prefers loose soil that retains a little excess water. The plant loves the ground to survive with minimal extra water for the roots to sip. 

The soil can be added with perlite and peat moss to help retain water. In this way, the moss protects the roots from going rotten. Perlite ensures the moisture and nourishment your houseplant needs to thrive.

Meanwhile, the peat moss can retain water and provide oxygenation. Potting soil is also a great help for these plants to thrive. As they say, the best soil is the best spoil ☺

Watering Philodendron Birkin

The water requirement of the Philodendron Birkin plant is a moderate amount of water only. The plant should not be overwatered or underwatered.

These factors can cause complications to the growth and nourishment of the houseplant. Overwatering also turns the green into yellow leaves.

Doing this consistently, you end up with a plant with brown leaves. Avoid overwatering to help keep the variegation of glossy leaves.

When you feel moist soil, refrain from watering your Philodendron Birkin to prevent root rot.

Philodendron Birkin Light

plant lighting requirement

The Philodendron Birkin light requirements should be bright indirect light, enough for the plant to create food. Like in its natural habitat, it doesn’t need direct sunlight because the forest protects these tropical plants from scorching.

Avoid direct sunlight exposure or full shade the whole time, as these two factors can significantly cause harm to the plant’s growth. The plant requires the right amount of sunlight and shade throughout the day.

Direct sunlight can wilt the plant, while a fully shaded area can make the plant droopy. On the other hand, indirect sunlight encourages the plant’s green leaves not just to become beautiful but to have stunning foliage.

If you install a grow light inside your home, the plant must only be under the grow light for 12 hours. Overexposure can harm or kill the plant. Grow lights are recommended for gardeners who cannot provide the right light requirements or temperatures for this plant.

The same applies when it grows as an outdoor plant. Please provide them with enough sunlight in warm temperatures with shade.

Philodendron Birkin Temperature

Philodendron Birkin, as mentioned earlier, is a tropical plant. They prefer indirect light in a humid and warm area where they fully bloom and thrive. The plant is said to tolerate a room temperature of 13 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.

Temperature exceeding 40 degrees Celsius can scorch the plant or dry the soil mixture quickly. On the other hand, a temperature of 12 degrees Celsius and below can freeze the plant. Be sure to place the plant indoors if it exceeds the temperature recommended.

Putting the plant inside your home ensures the room is warm enough to sustain the required temperature and soil moisture. It is said that during colder temperatures, the plant will show signs of minimal growth.

Spring and summer months will be the best time if you want to place your Birkin outdoors.

Philodendron Birkin Humidity

plant humidity requirement

As previously mentioned, the Philodendron Birkin is a tropical plant. The plant loves damp soil. The plant requires a certain amount of humidity.

There is no exact standard for the plant to survive and thrive. Nonetheless, the more moist the soil, the more healthy and beautiful the plant will thrive healthy and beautiful. The Birkin Philodendron loves a humid environment with high humidity levels.

Provide moist soil but it should not be soggy, as the leaves turn yellow. To increase the humidity level for the plant, use any humidifier. Another way to increase their humidity levels is to put a pebble tray filled with water underneath your plants.

Fertilizing Philodendron Birkin

As mentioned earlier, Philodendron Birkin should be fertilized to enhance the beauty of its leaves, leading to a healthy plant.

Preferably, use a balanced liquid fertilizer with all the nutrients like calcium and magnesium to nourish your plant. We recommend fertilizing your plants once every week and avoiding overfertilizing as it causes them to grow abnormally.

Summer and spring are the best time to feed your plants as it is the growing season. During the winter season, the plant can only be fertilized once a month. Yet, this is highly discouraged when it is placed outdoors.

Propagating Philodendron Birkin

One thing to learn about Philodendron Birkin care is how it should be propagated. It can only be propagated through stem cutting. The preferred time to propagate is during March and April—our favorite times, spring and summer.

There are various ways to propagate the houseplant. Although, the highly recommended way is through stem cuttings from the plant. There are two methods to propagate stem cuttings: marcotting or water.

Marcotting using stem cuttings:

  1. Take a knife to cut a stem two inches; the cut should be in the center.

  2. In the cut, insert a toothpick to hold the cut open.

  3. Apply a handful of damped sphagnum peat moss around the area. Always check the dampness of the peat moss, and please ensure that it remains moist.

  4. Tie the peat moss around it using string. This will make the stem stick on the dampened peat moss.

  5. To tightly cover and protect the moss and the stem, wrap it with a polyurethane film. The film should be enough to hold both the stem and the moss. Afterward, you can secure it using duct tape.

  6. The roots of the stem will begin to outgrow the peat moss after two weeks. Remove the stem from the mother plant below the moss when possible. 

  7. Remove the film from the moss. Be extra careful with the roots to not damage them when transplanting them into a potting mix, as it can lead to plant death.

Water:

  1. Cut the stem about three to six inches using the pruning shears. Ensure that the stem’s essential parts, such as the leaves or the leaf node, remain intact.

  2. Remove the bottom leaves.

  3. Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone and place them into the water-filled jars.

  4. Ensure the bottom part where you removed the leaves is immersed in the water.

  5. Change the water every two days. After a week or two, roots appear on the stem cutting.

  6. You can plant it into a potting mix and keep it moist to not leave the soil dry.

Growth Zone

The Birkin is a fast-growing plant that grows for about 1.5 to 3 feet. When planted outside the house or within the garden, it can grow up to 6-12 meters. Yet, the growth may depend on the basic requirements it receives.

Potting Philodendron Birkin

philodendron birkin potting @flickr

The Philodendron pot should have drainage holes and a highly preferred potting mix that retains moisture. This will be a great help before you repot them.

As mentioned earlier, the growth rate determines if you must repot your plant. You have to check the status of the plant and how it thrives before you jump into repotting them. One indication that the plant needs repotting is when the roots have reached the bottom part of the pot.

This means it is high time for the Birkin to be repotted to another pot with more room to grow. Ensure that the pot is larger than the former one to prevent the roots from becoming tangled within the pot. For other varieties of Philodendrons, a year is sufficient for repotting.

Still, it may vary depending on where you have planted it; some may require to be repotted after two years.

Philodendron Birkin Varieties and Similar Plants

There are other Philodendrons. There are approximately 100 known Philodendron plants with leaf variegation. These plants are classified into two groups: vine and non-vine types. Here are the other houseplants from Philodendron plant varieties: These plants can thrive outdoors or as indoor plants.

Philodendron Hederaceum

philodendron hederaceum

This Philodendron plant is known for having heart-shaped leaves. Thus, gaining the nickname “sweetheart.” This Philodendron variety is easy to care for. 

Philodendron Brasil

Philodendron Brasil @danandhelensdiscountplants

Another Philodendron variety with green, white, or even cream colors. The plant also has heart-shaped leaves.

Philodendron Xanadu

Philodendron xanadu

AnotherPphilodendron variety is eye-appealing to gardeners. The plant can grow as blooming and big whenever it was carefully grown.

Philodendron Moonlight

Philodendron moonlight

The Philodendron variety with a bold, gorgeous green color was also considered a hybrid variety. This Philodendron variety can be suitable as an outdoor plant rather than placing it indoors.

Philodendron White Knight

This Philodendron variety has variegated leaves with a mixture of colors spotless white and brilliant green. This exceptional plant is gorgeous and ideally, the best plant to be placed in every walkway.

Philodendron Birkin Diseases & Pests

One of the plant’s antagonists was the spider mites. These creepy mites are reddish-brown in color and super small in their size.

spider mites on a plant

One of the plant’s enemies is spider mites. These creepy mites are reddish-brown in color and super small in their size. They suck out all the plant’s nutrients by biting the leaves and leaving light dot-shaped marks.

You notice yellow leaves that dry up and fall off when the mites constantly do this. To eliminate the bugs, it helps to prune away the infected parts or use neem oil as insecticidal soap. Thrips are another pest that will infest the Birkin. Like spider mites, thrips are known for sucking out all the plant’s nutrients.

The thrips are tiny and have wings. Due to their size, it is tough to look for them unless you focus on getting them out of the foliage. The bug is black or yellow pale in color. They aim to make the Birkin weak and pale until the plant’s demise.

Thrips can be removed by bathing the Birkin using insecticidal soap to remove them permanently and stop them from infesting the foliage in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Philodendron Birkin is a low-maintenance, exceptional, and rare houseplant. You can take care of it as an outdoor or an indoor plant. The remarkable thing about this houseplant is found in the color of its leaves which have different variegations. 

This plant is easy to maintain, and we must take care of the plant to preserve the beauty that can be found on its leaves.

The Birkin plant is a rare houseplant with variegated colors. The beauty of this houseplant can be found on the leaves, which show the variation of colors.

On rare occasions, the Philodendron Birkin plant’s variegation is not stable, making its leaves change color differently from its mother plant when propagated.

There are instances that the Philodendron will not variegate because of the number of nutrients or needs it accumulates. The lack of sunlight, water, and humidity can affect the plant, explaining why it does not seem variegated.

If the plant lacks sunlight, water, and moisture, this could be why the plant does not produce variegated

When you notice the foliage drooping, it indicates your Birkin plants need watering. You can water them twice weekly and ensure the soil is dry before watering.

The Birkin plants have a moderate growth rate compared to other slow-growing varieties and can take up to ten years before they reach a mature height.

Yes, the Birkin is toxic to pets if ingested. It’s essential to keep it out of reach of pets and children.

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