Philodendron Silver Sword Plant Care

Have you ever seen a plant that screams majesty and elegance? No? Well, lucky for you, this blog is all about a dazzling plant called Philodendron Silver Sword or Silver Sword Philodendron hastatum.

Sure, you see a green plant everywhere, but seeing a plant with a layer of shimmering silver, almost mirror-like leaves is bedazzling.

This plant, native to the forests of Brazil, grows up to 6 inches tall, much like any other standard vine plant. When hit with slight sunlight or light, its silver foliage shimmers gracefully and is a sight to behold.

Though beautiful in sight, the Philodendron Silver Sword is an endangered species in Brazil because of the continuous destruction of its habitat. Saving exquisite-looking plants like these is very much what we need today.

Come and have a good read about this fantastic yet rare plant.

Silver Sword Philodendron Care

philodendron silver sword

Philodendron hastatum is a common Aroid vine, which means it has all of the expected benefits of easy maintenance, propagation, and many ways to grow it. In its native habitat, the climbing vine, Silver Sword Philodendron, grows up trees in understory canopies of the South American rainforests.

Hence, these tropical plants prefer warm temperatures with dappled light and consistent moisture. They are fast growers, always looking for climbing support with their climbing growth habit. So please provide them with their climbing habit, a moss pole, a coco coir, or a trellis. Make sure to check these out for your plant here.

Then read some of the Silver Sword Philodendron care tips from its soil, water, light, and more here.

Botanical Name: Philodendron hastatum

Other names: Silver Sword Philodendron, Philodendron hastatum silver, and Philodendron hastatum silvery blue.

Plant Type: Vine, flowering type

Exposure to Sunlight: Moderate to bright, indirect light/sunlight

Soil Type: Moist, well-drained soil

Color: silver-green leaves

Water: Regular, even moisture

Favorable Climate: Tropical climate

Preferable Fertilizer: Balanced Fertilizer rich in macro-nutrients

Propagation: Stem cuttings

Toxicity Warning: Toxic

Status: Rare

Height: 3-meter height (domestic pot)

Origin: Rainforests in Brazil

Silver Sword Plant Soil

potting mix for philodendron silver sword

Silver Sword Philodendron grows like any aroid plant in well-draining soil. It prefers moisture, but not too much, as this can cause root rot.

If this happens, your plant has a slim chance of recovering. Perlite, vermiculite, and peat-based potting media are ideal additives to increase soil drainage. Or you can look at this organic matter soil for your plant.

The majority of philodendrons may also be grown on 100% sphagnum moss. It’s up to you to buy a good mix of soil or make your own, as long as it’s rich in organic matter and has sufficient drainage.

Alternatively, you can add some orchid bark to the mix as well. The crucial thing to remember is that where this plant originates from, it does not grow in a rich soil mix but along trees with thick stems.

Philodendron hastatum Watering Needs

Philodendrons might sometimes struggle with watering. The most important thing to remember is not to overwater your plants. The tricky part is knowing if you’re watering it too little or too much.

You can perform an easy test with just your finger, bury your index finger up to your first knuckle in the earth. Examine the soil to see if it is wet or dry. For now, if it feels moist, don’t water it. If the plant is dry, saturate it thoroughly. Droopy leaves are a sign of underwatering.

Another thing to remember is to always check if the water in the pot is well-draining. Make sure your pot has draining holes. This will guarantee excess water drains from the pot, leaving the soil moist to avoid soaking.

Recommended Light For Aroid Plants

plant lighting requirement

One thing is for sure your Philodendron Silver Swords, with its silver sheen color, even look fabulous in a hanging basket. Still, these indoor plants, like other plants, need the correct light.

The Philodendron hastatum Silver Sword prefers bright indirect light but can thrive in low light. The Silver Sword stems to aerial roots wilt when the silvery leaves are exposed to direct sunshine.

So, plant lover, keep your Philodendron hastatum in indirect light a few feet away from a window to prevent the leaf surface from being scorched.

The leaves becoming dry and losing their luster is one of the most prevalent signs of the plant experiencing too much bright, direct sunlight. If this occurs, the plant should be relocated as soon as possible to bright indirect sunlight.

The leaves will not recover to their natural color once damaged and should also be taken from the plant as long as enough healthy foliage remains. Also, too little light can lead to a leggy stem as it reaches out to the light.

Temperature & Humidity

The Silver Sword Philodendron hastatum is a frost-sensitive plant that thrives in a tropical climate. It will do quite well as an indoor plant at ordinary room temperature. The ideal temperature range for this species is 65° to 80 °F (18 °C to 27 °C) through the day and around 60 °F (16 °C) at night.

Remember that it’s best to bring your plant inside (if you’ve ever left it outside your house) during cold months to avoid it withering from the cold. This variety does not require high humidity, which is surprising for a tropical plant.

We can certainly assert that a plant native to rainforests prefers a high-humidity atmosphere, and you should attempt to keep humidity levels in the average range, even manually increasing it if your home is too dry.

The glossy foliage will start turning to yellow leaves, becoming dry and crispy. We recommend using a humidifier or pebble tray to boost the moisture in the air.

Fertilizer 

plant liquid fertilizer

This minimal-maintenance house plant doesn’t need a complicated fertilizer to grow. It only requires monthly fertilizing of a balanced liquid foliage houseplant fertilizer that contains macro-nutrients.

The only thing to note in a well-draining soil mix, Philodendron Silver Sword, is that it needs fertilizing every six to eight weeks during winter and fall and not during the growing season.

Alternatively, you can add earthworm castings to give the plant’s roots the necessary nutrients.

Silver Sword Philodendron USDA Zones

Considered a Hemi-epiphytic plant, the Silver Sword Philodendron can grow fully and beautifully once you give it a space or place to climb.

The plant will start as a root and become epiphytic once it severs its connection to the root. Silversword is a trailing plant. Its leaves will grow fuller and prettier once it starts climbing.

This is the perfect outdoor plant to climb around your garden or backyard if you want to treat it as an outdoor plant.

Potting Philodendron hastatum

The best pot recommended for the silver sword is a round pot, though hanging baskets may also work. Each container must have round holes (draining pot) at the bottom, yet a bigger pot is needed when the plant grows.

Transplanting or repotting of Philodendron Silver Sword is easy. You need to use loose soil and water it the day before transplanting. Remove the plant and untangle the roots before placing them in the other pot.

Pruning

Because the Philodendron hastatum Silver Sword is easy to care for and increase, you may need to prune them to fit your place regularly.

Pruning philodendrons also keeps them looking tropical and prevents them from growing too big for their surroundings.

These plants do not require pruning to flourish, but taller plants can become lanky and ungainly if not pruned regularly.

If you’re unsure if your plant needs pruning, observe it and wait. Pruning a philodendron should be avoided unless required.

Remember to sanitize your pruning equipment before pruning philodendron plants. Remove any dirt or debris from pruning tools before wiping them down with rubbing alcohol.

Cleaning your pruning equipment helps prevent the spread of disease-causing microorganisms that could harm your philodendron’s health.

Also, pruning will not lead to bushier growth as it happens naturally when they start getting healthy and reaching a few inches long.

Silver Sword Philodendron Propagation

When it comes to the Silver Sword Philodendron, you can easily propagate them using a stem cutting.

So, follow these simple steps:

  1. Take a pair of pruners and cut a stem cutting from healthy growth.

  2. Each cutting should have one node on the stem; up to four should be even better.

  3. Remove the bottom leaves from each cutting and leave one pair on the top. If using a single node cutting, then there will be no leaves.

  4. Fill a jar with room temperature water and place the cutting with the nodes at the bottom covered with leaves above the water surface.

  5. Place the Silver Sword Philodendron cutting in a warm spot to receive bright indirect sunlight.

  6. Refresh water every one to two weeks.

  7. New roots should develop in about two to three weeks.

  8. Once the roots are a few inches, you can place them in a potting mix and water well.

  9. Place the containers in bright indirect light for the first two weeks and keep the soil moist. Then resume with regular watering.

Philodendron hastatum Silver Sword Varieties

Silver Sword philodendron varieties and similar plants that you may collect or partner with your silver swords are the following:

Philodendron Micans

philodendron micans

Philodendron verrucosum

Philodendron verrucosum plant

Philodendron Brasil

philodendron brasil plant

Philodendron Birkin

philodendron birkin plant

Philodendron Silver Sword Diseases & Pests

It is rare for silver swords to catch a disease or even be prone to pests. However, spider mites and mealybugs may visit your silver sword. You may get rid of or avoid it by spraying your plant with water containing insecticidal soap or neem oil, while a cotton ball soaked with alcohol is the easiest way to remove mealybugs. Furthermore, it can also cause fungal infections.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are different reasons as to why a Philodendron silver sword can go yellowing. One of the primary care guides of philodendron is making sure the moisture and the plant’s soil should be damp but not wet or overwatered.

The second is the humidity level of the environment. When the humidity is low, the leaves might droop down, turning brown and later on turning entirely yellow.

The third is the lighting if it’s placed in an area with low lighting or less sunlight. Fourth is pests, these insects will drain out most of the plant’s moisture, and if not removed soon, it will exhaust it.

Lastly, in some cases, yellowing is natural because the old ones turn yellow whenever new leaves are growing.

When the Philodendron silversword plant starts curling, there are different causes, so the first is because of parched soil or underwatering. The second is the quality of the water. When using tap water, there can be chlorine, minerals, fluoride, and salt that could build up the plant’s soil and curl the leaves. The third is the temperature.

If the area is too cold or very dry, it can cause curling. Lastly, when there is not enough humidity, make sure to mist the plant from time to time.

When there are brown tips, there are different reasons as to why. The first thing is if it’s given too much water or overwatering. The second is lighting. When given too much sunlight, the leaves can suffer and burn the tips turning them brown. Lastly, browning could cause diseases because of specific bacterial infections.

The Silver Sword Philodendron is considered rare compared to most other plants in the genus. But the more well-known they become when sold at plant shops or a local nursery, they become less rare.

The Philodendron hastatum Silver Sword is toxic to humans and pets as all parts, including the plant’s leaves, have calcium oxalate crystals. It can cause skin irritation or an upset stomach when ingested.

The Silver Sword Philodendron has a climbing growth habit. So, they do not grow bushy but can prune the vines back to encourage fuller growth.

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

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