Philodendron Florida Ghost Plant Care

Native in Northern, Center, and Southern Americas, Philodendron Florida Plant is another tropical, outdoor plant that may be added to your lovely houseplant collections!

White, cream, lime green to dark green—this is Philodendron Florida Ghost’s cycle when growing its beautiful, unique shaped leaves. And since most Philodendrons are actually epiphytes, considering the fact that Philodendron is a Greek word for ‘hugger’, this lovely plant is a vine climber.

Information overload yet? We have got to know what is the word ‘ghost’ for, it’s actually because the leaves started off as white. Easy and fun to grow, let’s get to know what Philodendron has to offer and how to take care of it well. Good reads!

Philodendron Florida Ghost Plant Care Basics

philodendron florida ghost

The Philodendron Florida Ghost is ideal for those who enjoy tropical plants. It’s entertaining and simple to maintain. But before you go out and buy one of these Philodendrons, be sure you understand the essentials of their maintenance.

Following is the information you will need to properly cultivate your own Philodendron Florida ghost plant.

philodendron florida beauty care card

Recommended Potting Mix

A Philodendron Florida ghost plant requires well-draining soil. This implies that the soil you use must not retain too much water.

Organic matter levels in the soil should be high, according to the University of Connecticut. If you don’t want to buy soil, sphagnum peat moss can be substituted as a soilless potting mix. You won’t need anything else when you use this moss.

Because the moss is coarse and aerates nicely, it works well. Water is held in place by its coarseness. The aeration, on the other hand, permits any excess water to run right through.

It makes your job much easier while also saving you some money. Bark, charcoal, and peat are included in an organic mix for the Philodendron Florida ghost. This is for plants that require a pH that is slightly acidic and slightly alkaline.

Sphagnum peat moss, on the other hand, is more neutral. It’s possible that you’ll have to experiment to see which your Philodendron requires. Several factors, especially the environment, have a role.

Watering Needs

The plant, like most Philodendrons, has a medium water demand. Allow the soil to dry out in between waterings. You can also set a schedule ahead of time but nothing is set in stone. Such a schedule could vary depending on what season and climate prevail.

In the summer, just water your Ghost Philo three times. In the fall and winter, once a week will suffice. Over-watering should be avoided at all costs.

As a result of the standing water at the base, root rot may occur. Droopy leaves are a sign of insufficient irrigation. Examine your plant and make necessary adjustments in the watering frequency.

Maintain a damp but not humid environment for your Philodendron Florida Ghost. Before watering, let the top one to two inches of the potting mix dry. Before watering, feel the potting mix with your finger to see if your plant genuinely needs it.

Ideal Lighting

philodendron pedatum

Philodendrons endure a wide range of light conditions, which is one of the reasons they’re so popular as house plants. Philodendron Florida Ghost is no exception and will thrive in both dimly lit and highly illuminated environments. It will do well in a room with a lot of indirect or filtered light.

It’ll work best if you put it near a window that doesn’t get direct sunlight if you treat them as an indoor plant. The plant will be harmed by direct sunshine, which will scorch its leaves. If you don’t have access to a suitable place, you can filter the light using a netted curtain or shade cloth.

You can use a grow light in places where natural light isn’t accessible, as long as it’s not too close to the plant. A ghost of the Philodendron Florida necessitates equal amounts of day and night. This means that if you’re using artificial lighting, you must ensure that it receives 12 hours of light.

Also, make sure that the plant receives an equal amount of light from all sides. This is necessary for symmetrical growth. Continue turning the plant to evenly expose all of its sections.

Recommended Temperature & Humidity

The Philodendron Florida ghost thrives at temperatures ranging from 65°F (18°C) to 95°F (35°C) (35C). They’re susceptible to the cold. Ensure that the heat is set to an acceptable level during the cold months so that it does not freeze.

During the winter, keep it away from an air conditioner or an open window. These plants, in contrast to the temperature, are fairly tolerant of humidity and will benefit from the extra moisture in the air. These plants will not complain if you reside in a region with a lot of humidity.

Philodendron Florida Ghost plants thrive in slightly higher humidity levels, about 70% is ideal, but they can adapt to lower humidity levels as well. If you live in a particularly dry region, a pebble tray can be used to give humidity to the area around the plant.

A pebble tray is a tray with pebbles at the bottom and water at the top.

Place your plant pot on top of the pebbles, and the water from the tray will evaporate, providing some humidity around the plant.

Fertilizer Requirement

plant fertilizer

Nitrogen-rich fertilizer is recommended for your Philodendron Florida ghost plant. This is the most important feature to look for in a fertilizer. Nitrogen will ensure that your plant’s leaves grow large and that it has a healthy green glow.

It’s safest to fertilize your plant more frequently and with half as much fertilizer as usual. It needs more nutrition to give it a boost because it grows slowly. Before fertilizing your Philodendron, ensure that the soil is moist.

It is harmful to the roots to fertilize the plant while the soil is dry. In the spring and summer, provide some extra nourishment on a monthly basis. You can do this with any standard houseplant fertilizer that is acceptable for aroids.

Winter, on the other hand, reduces the plant’s nutritional requirements. On cooler days, no fertilizer is required.

Propagation

The optimal time to propagate these plants is when they emerge from hibernation in the spring season. This can be done in two ways: stem cuttings and tip cuttings. Place the required cutting in the medium and let it dry.

Put it in the right environment and give it the Philodendron Florida Ghost care it needs. To avoid spreading germs and diseases, sterilize and sanitize all of your instruments and equipment, and wear protective clothing on your hands and face.

First, carefully cut a stem cutting at least 2 to 3 inches long with a knife, blade, or set of scissors. Cut off a part of a healthy stem but make sure it has leaves connected to its tip if you want to utilize a tip cutting instead.

You can fill a pot with a suitable soil combination and place the cutting inside.

Next, cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to increase the moisture factor. Make sure to air out the bags every now and then to avoid microbial growth and root damage. Remember that in warm temperatures and natural sunlight, water the growing plant and keep it moist and hydrated.

Then, gently tug on the plant and feel the resistance it offers you to ensure that the roots have begun to grow. You can move the plant to a larger pot after you’re sure it’s developed robust roots.

Finally, dip the growing end of the cutting in growth hormone before planting it, and dip the cut end in cinnamon are two home cures for boosting the plant’s development. Cinnamon is also a wonderful fungicide replacement that protects your plant from harm.

Growth Zone

Plants of the Florida Ghost Philodendron grow slowly in general, so don’t become discouraged if you’re propagating or nurturing them at home and they’re not progressing quickly. Don’t give them too much food or too much water. This will not hasten their growth, but it may hasten their death.

The Philodendron Florida ghost can reach a height of two to five feet. The plants can grow up to two feet tall. The adult leaves of the plant can grow to be two to four inches long.

The plant’s shape can assist determine how long it will live. Flowers on a Philodendron Florida ghost plant are uncommon. When the purple flowers do appear, they can reach a height of 12 inches.

It’s important to remember that these plants are vine climbers. That means you’ll need something to keep it stable. Your plant’s height may be affected as a result of this.

Potting

The appropriate container can make a major impact on a plant’s health. Because ghost plants are climbers, their roots grow downward rather than horizontally. As a result, you’ll need a container that’s bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

The container should drain effectively and be of sufficient size and weight to support the plant and, if applicable, a growing pole. Because this is a top-heavy plant, the container must be sturdy enough to prevent the plant from tipping over.

However, rather than opting for a larger pot made of light materials, choose one made of a heavier substance (e.g. terracotta is heavier than plastic).

Larger pots retain water and can become soggy, even in well-draining containers, because there is more potting medium in comparison to the root structure.

Pruning

Pruning this plant isn’t strictly necessary, but it can help you manage its size, control legginess, and promote new growth. To encourage new development, cut above a node with clean, sharp scissors, ensuring that the node, not the section you cut off, remains on the plant. The sections you remove can also be propagated.

You should also remove any dead or dying leaves by carefully peeling them off or cutting them with clean, sharp scissors.

Philodendron Florida Ghost Varieties and Similar Plants

There are some plants you may partner your Philodendron Florida Ghost with. Some philodendrons varieties you may also try are the following:

Philodendron brandtianum

Philodendron brandtianum

Also known as Silver Leaf Philodendron, this creeping vine is another awesome species of Philodendron. Its leaves resemble the shape of an elongated heart and it has a prominent color of grayish-white.

Philodendron grazielae

Philodendron grazielae

This philodendron has fat heart-shaped leaves. It has a glossy texture and is deep green in color.

Philodendron Moonlight

Philodendron Moonlight

Moonlight has yellow-green leaves. Sometimes, the bright color makes it appear like a neon green color. This makes the plant look striking even from afar.

Philodendron Prince of Orange

Philodendron Prince of Orange

The Prince of Orange has a fiery color of red-orange to orange and dark yellow. The pretty combination of colors makes this plant an eye-catcher.

Philodendron Florida Ghost Diseases & Pests

Philodendron Florida Ghost can be, but not at a high percentage, prone to pests and diseases if not taken care of well. Some of the problems you may encounter as the plant has quite big leaves are houseplant pests.

Mealybugs can pay your plant a visit, a common houseplant pest, then suck up the sap out of your Philodendron Florida Ghost.

A cotton ball soaked with alcohol can wipe the litter critters away. Fireball disease is one problem you should watch out for from your Philodendron Florida Ghost plant, which actually is the same problem you may find on some of your Philodendrons.

This bacteria will attack your plants—branches first. You will know when your plant is infected if the branches turn black or dark brown.

In this case, pruning the infected branch will save your Florida Ghost.

Root rotting will occur when you overwater your plant, this is actually, already a common problem to overwatered plants. Make sure to check the soil before watering your Florida Ghost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Philodendron Florida Ghost and Philodendron Florida Beauty are two almost the same but different species. Florida Beauty is actually a hybrid plant of Philodendron. A crossbreed between Philodendron Squamiferum and Philodendron Florida Ghost. It looks like Florida Ghost but with thinner and longer leaves.

Yes. Every philodendron is considered rare and beneficial as well, so owning a Florida Ghost means owning a rare type of Philodendron.

Yes. Florida Ghost is a vine climber, as some of the philodendrons are. It’s their thing, climbing

Amazing Florida ghosts can be bought only here at Plantly! All of the finest and freshest Philodendrons are available and can be bought and delivered at the comfort of your own home

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