Philodendron Splendid Plant Care

Bring the jungle to your home by investing in the Philodendron Splendid climber, a rare philodendron plant.

It is a remarkable hybrid variety with a velvety leaf texture and fascinating growing lengths. Hold on because we have all the information prepared for the philodendron splendid plant care.

What is Philodendron Splendid?

philodendron splendid

The Philodendron Splendid, also called the Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum, is part of the Araceae family. It features stunning foliage with heart-shaped leaves. The veins run from the midrib to arch out to the edges.

It also originates from Ecuador’s rainforest and has loads of tropical charisma. Mature leaves can reach up to two feet in length, growing one foot wide. So, make sure to provide this plant with enough space to grow.

It is a climbing Philodendron it attaches to a support structure like a moss pole, quickly growing upwards.

Philodendron Splendid Care

philodendron splendid care card

Despite the Philodendron Splendid’s dramatic look, caring for it is pretty easy once you have the basic needs covered. Today, you will learn more about how to care for this splendid houseplant. So let us dive in and get started.

Best Potting Mix for Tropical Plants

Here, the important thing is to provide your hybrid plant with soil to prevent overwatering leading to root rot. So, you need the right well-draining soil that is airy and light.

Whether grown as a houseplant or plant outdoors, the soil needs to remove excess moisture. Water should drain freely out of the pot or around the roots.

We recommend using sphagnum peat moss as potting soil, or you can use soilless mixes like peat and vermiculite or peat and perlite.

Philodendron Splendid Lighting Requirement

philodendron splendid

Your tropical plant grows best in bright indirect sunlight as it is native to the tropics growing under huge tree canopies. Hence, they receive a lot of dappled light compared to direct sunlight.

Thus, they cannot tolerate standing for long periods in direct light as it can burn those gorgeous leaves. The best spot is a north or northeast-facing window as it provides your plant with low light conditions without risking the leaves getting burned.

For south or west-facing windows, you can place your plant behind drapes or blinds. Or, move your plant a bit further away from the window.

The fantastic thing is that your houseplant grows with less light. Placing it three to seven feet away from bright light is perfect.

Watering Needs of Philodendron Plants

With the tropical Philodendron, the trick is to keep the soil moist by watering them often.

Refrain from overhead watering where the whole plant gets wet. Doing this can lead to numerous diseases as the leaves get moist, inviting pathogens to grow. Instead, water the soil but do not overdo it.

You can leave the soil to dry about up to two inches at the top before watering again. Then, test the soil using your finger before you quench your plant’s thirst. Doing the finger test will help you to know when to water your plant in winter or summer as you go by feel.

Ideal Temperature and Humidity

Your vining Philodendron thrives in high humidity and warm temperatures. It will grow happily in temperatures between 55°F and 80°F.

Try to avoid fluctuating temperatures and keep your plant away from cold drafts at an open window, door, or air conditioner.

If you live in the USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, you can grow your plant outdoors in warmer weather.

The plant is not frost-tolerant, and neither can it survive freezing climates like snow. Still, you can grow your plant in a container to bring inside when the temperature drops.

You need to provide your plant regularly with the correct humidity levels. Hence, keep checking the humidity if you live in a desert region or have dry summers and winters.

humidifier

You can use a pebble tray or humidifier to push up the moisture levels. When using a pebble tray, it’s vital not to let your plant stand directly in the water. We don’t want the roots to drown. Put it above the pebbles. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the Philodendron Splendid.

Necessary Fertilizers for Philodendron Splendid

While the rich organic matter in the soil helps give your gorgeous plant nutrients, fertilizer will help it grow.

You want a plant food high in nitrogen as it helps the vegetation grow. You can feed your Philodendron plant once a month in the warm months, and in the fall, you can stop feeding. 

Philodendron Splendid Propagation

Using stem cuttings is an easy way to propagate your Philodendron Splendid at home. In addition, you can quickly clone the parent plant.

philodendron splendid cuttings @rplantclinic

  1. Pick a healthy stem of at least four to six inches long with a leaf node, preferably two. Also, make sure to use sterilized shears to prevent infection.

  2. Leave the cutting to dry for a while.

  3. Take a glass of water and place the cutting in it, or you can fill up a pot with fresh soil to plant the cutting.

  4. When you propagate Philodendron verrucosum, x melanochrysum in water, provide it with fresh water every day. Also, keep your plant soil moist if grown in a container.

  5. You should notice new growth after 21 days. Once the roots reach about half an inch, you can transplant them into a pot.

  6. Another important thing is that you will need to provide your plant with a small stick to help support it.

  7. After a few months of providing it with the proper care, you will see new plants growing.

Philodendron Species

If you want something different from the Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum, we’ve got you covered with other species to possibly add to your collection.

Philodendron hederaceum

Philodendron hederaceum

The plant is also known as the Heartleaf Philodendron as it has gorgeous heart-shaped leaves similar to your plant.

Philodendron hastatum

Philodendron hastatum

The species grow in an upwards form to create arrowhead-shaped and oval-shaped foliage. To keep it as an indoor plant, provide enough room to grow.

 Philodendron verrucosum

Philodendron verrucosum

Yes, it is one of the plant parents of Philodendron Splendid and is a colorful plant with velvety leaves. It grows as a hemiepiphyte from a seed growing under tree canopies.

Philodendron melanochrysum

Philodendron melanochrysum

The other plant parent of the Philodendron Splendid does not always get the credit it deserves. It has beautiful dark green leaves and shows off a bright yellow vein.

Philodendron Splendid Diseases and Pests Attacks

Your Philodendron Splendid is prone to disease and pests as with any houseplant.

An important note when bringing your plant home for the first time is to check it for any presence of pests. Remember to keep it separate from your other plants.

One of the main concerns with your plant, according to Clemson University, is over and under-watering as it can attract pests.

The biggest concern is the mealybug that forms cotton webs over the foliage. The insect feeds on the sap of your plant. Another insect is aphids, and they are very small and have a fast reproduction you need to remove fast.

You find these insects breeding under the leaves and clustering together. Sometimes, you might find spider mites also feeding on your plant.

The best way to combat these critters is using neem oil. But remember to dilute the oil first with water in a spray bottle.

Signs Your Plant is Unhappy

Sometimes your plant can show you signs that it feels neglected or a bit sick. Here are some indications you can look for and how you can treat the problems:

Brown Curling Leaves

The main problem can be over-fertilizing. One solution is to flush the soil from the salt build-ups. Doing this prevents the salt from burning the roots resulting in brown leaves that curl at the tips.

You can flush the soil regularly or provide your plant with new potting soil. Do this by opening the faucet with a small stream of water and letting it flow over the soil for 15-minutes.

But do not do this if the soil is moist. Wait for the soil to dry completely.

Brown Tips on The Leaves

Brown tips are a sign of too much light as the rays burn the leaves. Find another spot for your plant out of direct sunlight. If your plant still gets too much light, you can move it a bit further away from the window. You can also remove the leaves, and with less light, it will grow healthier.

Leaf Spot

It can be a sign of a bacterial infection caused by over-watering. If you leave it untreated, your plant can die. The best is to remove the infected foliage to stop the bacteria from spreading to other parts of your houseplant. Then use a fungicide but test it on a small area of the plant first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Droopy leaves can result from over or under-watering your Philodendron Splendid plant. If the soil stays muddy, leave it dry out before watering. If the soil is dried out, provide your plant with water. The best is to keep doing the finger test to see if the soil is too dry or wet.

Curling leaves result from over-fertilizing, and best to flush the soil with water to remove the salt build-up as it burns the roots resulting in the leaves curling.

To grow your plant, it helps to provide it with filtered light under the canopy of a tree or through sheer curtains standing at a window.

The Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum is a rare plant you can find by visiting specialist plant stores. But you need not look far for one as Plantlyhas this rare collection available for you to browse through.

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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