Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Plant Care

If you want a majestic houseplant, it is time to add the Philodendron Spiritus Sancti to your wish list.

The stunning Aroid is part of the endangered species, and you find it native to the Brazilian state. Unfortunately, finding one of these plants is rare. So, if you do have one, count yourself lucky.

However, how do you make sure your plant survives? You stay a while and read our primary care needs until the end.

What is the Philodendron Spiritus Sancti, a rare specimen?

philodendron spiritus sancti

Are you looking for the holy grail of houseplants? You have it! Compared to the Monstera adansonii or Monstera Obliqua, this plant tops them all. Unfortunately, it is hard to get one and very expensive if you find one. The tropical plant originates from Espirito Santo, which is found in Brazil.

You can only see a handful of these plants left. It is ultra-rare, and doing your best to care for it will help it thrive.

The plant is a hemiepiphyte vine that can begin as seed climbing trees or grow downward to set a root in the soil. The leaves are supported on petioles ranging from 12.75 to 23.6 inches in length.

The dark blades look green and dull, while the Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Juvenile has roughly elongated triangle blades.

Another popular name known by Brazilians is the Philodendron Santa Leopoldina.

Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Classification

Philodendron Spiritus Sancti

Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Care Basics

While the Philodendron Spiritus Sancti tissue culture is more in cultivation than in the wild, it remains challenging to find the original one. You will rarely find it sold in a garden center or nursery.

Furthermore, according to the SS care sheet, some growers say they are easy to grow if you can prevent root rot from happening.

Humidity and Temperature 

temperature and humidity requirement

Before we even get to the other Philodendron Santa Leopoldina plant care, it helps to have the proper humidity and temperature in your home. The exotic plant does not enjoy escalating temperatures, and holding a constant one is essential.

While searching for the ideal temperature, we found no related information, and it is best to imitate it as in its habitat. As you discover the foliage growing in Domingo Martins, it is 567 above ground with a tropical climate.

Their average temperature is 70.7 degrees F, with the highest at 75.74 degrees F.

The lowest is 66.02 degrees F, so keeping the temperature between 66 to 76 degrees is best. When growing in Brazil, the humidity is below 80%, but it does well in average humidity inside your home. Furthermore, it does depend on where you live. For this reason, if you keep a constant 20% humidity level, it should be sufficient.

Lighting Requirement

Now, where should you place your tropical queen? The plant thrives on bright indirect light with a few hours of direct sunlight during the morning. The light must be received from above to direct the leaves towards it.

Unless you keep rotating it, you do not want to end up with a strange-looking plant, but it is not recommended.

What Size Pot Does the Spiritus Sancti Need?

If your Philodendron Santa Leopoldina is still in its juvenile stage, there is no need for concern now. However, as with any Philodendron, you need at least a two-inch-sized pot when the time comes for transplanting. Check our repotting section out later when your plant outgrows its home.

Soil Requirementpotting mix with coco peat

Whether you have a Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Juvenile or a full-grown one, it needs the proper humidity and temperature to grow. As with most Philodendron plants, this one needs an airy soil mix. While the specimen grows best as an epiphyte, the soil needs to drain fast, according to Exotic Rainforest.

Many growers in Brazil use dried leaves and sphagnum (shredded moss) with minimal bark. Alternatively, you can use orchid bark with charcoal to hold the moisture. In contrast, most growers plant it in sphagnum moss with perlite and a mix of coco chips. 

The Spiritus Sancti needs air pockets to prevent root rot from happening.

Water Requirements

Watering the Spiritus Sancti is the trickiest part, as you do not want it to die from root rot, right? We recommend keeping it moist with a wet feel. However, it should not stand in water or be soggy.

The root must not be too dry, long, or too wet. You will say goodbye to your pendent friend and many grand.

Plantly recommends investing in a tensiometer to test the moisture in the soil to help ensure it gets the water it needs.

Fertilizer Requirement

The Aroid does well with little to no fertilization. It survives the water, fallen leaves, wind, and natural rain. The fallen leaves provide the nutrients they need.

Liquid fertilizer

Furthermore, it depends on the water you use as well. If you use distilled water, you must provide it with a liquid fertilizer now and again.

Repotting

Whether you have the original or a Philodendron Spiritus Sancti variegated pot, it needs ample airflow. The water needs to drain fast and well. Some growers have added holes to the side of the pot as well.

Furthermore, it needs something like a podium to vine along or even works well in a hanging basket. Moreover, once you notice the roots growing through the water holes, you must repot your plant.

How to Propagate Philodendron Spiritus Sancti

Here is where the tricky part comes in. Growing the plants seems simple, but propagating them is challenging. You can reproduce using cuttings from the root, but it takes a very long time, as the new cuttings are not eager to grow. Air layering is a better option here as it helps produce leaves first.

Now, we are not saying it is impossible.

Philodendron Spiritus Sancti Diseases & Pests

As with most houseplants, concerns arise from spider mites and mealybugs to root rot. For spider mites and mealybugs, a good shower with water followed by a soap insecticide removes these critters. You can follow it up using Neem oil to ensure they do not return.

To prevent root rot, ensure the pot has enough water drainage holes and follow the steps mentioned in providing your outdoor plant with the right water.

Philodendron Spiritus Sancti and Santa Leopoldina

While you can find some juvenile versions going around, and the Brazilians refer to the Spiritus Sancti as Santa Leopoldina, it is not always the same. Many sellers online state that their plant, the Santa Leopoldina, is the real thing.

However, many use the name for a wide selection of flora sold online. Therefore, if you see the name and sell it for under $35, it is not genuine, as the original goes for thousands of dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is a scarce plant not easily found online, and you can expect to pay up to $1500 for it. So best make sure you get the real thing.

Yes, Philodendron plants are toxic as they have calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth.

In most cases, the leaves curl if the plant is cold or too dry. To prevent this, do not place it in a draft, and during warmer months, you can mist it with water.

The plant is hard to find, and there is a nursery in the US that does have it available from time to time. Alternatively, you can check in countries such as the Philippines or Thailand. Or you can buy from a collector, but the challenge is to find the original plant and price. You can also find specimens sold by IAS, or you can check out our buying list on Plantly here.

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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