Philodendron

Varieties we grow

Cordatum

The classic heartleaf philodendron, with plain emerald-green leaves; trailing.

Brazil

Dark green leaves with a yellow and lime-green stripe down the center; trailing.

Rio

Slightly narrower leaves with creamy white and silver center variegation, paler than Brazil; trailing.

Micans

Velvety, bronze-green leaves with a sheen; new leaves emerge reddish; trailing.

Brandtianum

Olive-green leaves with silver patches between the veins; more upright habit.

Malay Gold

Yellow-green leaves; forms a compact mound rather than trailing, and scorches in strong light.

Monstera Minima

Actually Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, not a philodendron or a monstera cross; small split leaves like a miniature monstera on climbing vines.

Light

It copes with low light, but in medium to bright indirect light it grows fuller and variegated types like Brazil and Rio keep their stripes. Direct sun scorches the pale areas. Malay Gold wants less light than the others to avoid burning, while Monstera Minima prefers bright light.

Watering

Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry and empty the saucer. Do it in the morning so no water sits in the growing tips overnight, which can damage new leaves as they unfurl.

Soil and pot

All-purpose potting mix with coco coir and perlite works well, in a pot with drainage holes. Let it trail or give it a coir pole to climb. If the vines get long, trim them just above a node and root the cuttings in water for new plants.

Humidity and temperature

It appreciates a bit more humidity than pothos. Warmth is what drives its growth; it's happy between 70 and 90 °F (21–32 °C) and slows down below 59 °F (15 °C).

In the Dominican Republic

Our heat is exactly what it needs to grow fast. On a porch or terrace, always keep it in the shade, as afternoon sun burns the leaves. During the rainy season make sure the pot drains, and if it spends the day in air conditioning, watch for dry tips. Planted in the ground by a tree, it climbs and its leaves grow much larger.

Also known as

Filodendro

Common Spanish name

Filodendro corazón

Common Spanish name (P. hederaceum)

Heartleaf philodendron

Common English name (P. hederaceum)

Sweetheart plant

Common English name (P. hederaceum)

Mini monstera

Common English name (Monstera Minima, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma)

Common problems

• Yellow leaves→Usually overwatering; let the soil dry out more between waterings.
• Variegated leaves losing their stripes→Not enough light; move it closer to a bright window, out of direct sun.
• Brown patches on the pale parts of the leaf→It's getting direct sun; move it to indirect light.
• Long vines with small, widely spaced leaves→Low light; trim the vines and move the plant.
• White cottony clumps where leaves join the stem→Mealybugs; dab them off with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and use insecticidal soap.