Spotlight: Philodendron
Throughout the rise of popularity with houseplants, you may have noticed the Philodendron family at the top. When you see plants from this clan, you know exactly who they are. With over 450 species, Philodendron have a lot to bring to the table. Let’s take a deeper look at what we adore about them —
about the philodendron
There are more than 450 types of Philodendron out there and they all come from the climbing family of Araceae. Their natural habitats are within tropical rainforests where they begin life as vines but evolve into what’s called an “epiphytes”: a plant that sources life from another plant. Being tropical plants usually found within rainforest environments, they are accustomed to thriving in low light spaces, which is why they blew up as popular home and office plants the past 10 years.
As mentioned, Philodendrons are climbers and its not until they reach the very top of another plant that they become an epiphyte. Once this transition occurs, their root connection to the soil dies and they become fully reliant on the adjacent plant as a life source. Plants from this family are resilient and can easily adapt to changes in their environment when needed. Aren’t they amazing?
popular philodendrons
Here are some popular Philodendrons that we’re sure you will recognize and maybe even currently own!
Monstera Deliciosa: Native to Mexico and Panama, this is often confused with the Split-Leaf Philodendron. So, guess what? A Monstera is a part of the larger Araceae family, but it is not technically a Philodendron. We placed it here anyway because it sure is close and it really does mirror the Split-Leaf.
Heartleaf Philodendron: This is most likely the most popular Philodendron by far. The Heartleaf is commonly mistaken for a Pothos, but this one IS indeed a Philodendron. They are adored for their heart-leaf leaves that trail down beautifully like a plant waterfall. Did we mention they are extremely low maintenance?
Philodendron Bipinnatifidum: Native to South America, this Philodendron is non-climbing, but rather it is floor-grown plant. It’s leaves are lively and can grow out to more than 5 feet in width.
Philodendron Erubescens: Everyone calls her the “Pink Princess” and for good reason. The Erubescen is known for its variagated pink foliage and is definitely the perfect plant for those who want to make a colorful statement in their space.
Philodendron Mican: Also known as the “Velvet-leaf Philodendron”, the Mican is nothing short of stunning. Their leaves are a green, red and brown mix with a velvet finish.
typical houseplant care tips
Make sure to do some research on your specific type of Philodendron, that will drive the majority of your care!
This goes across the board—water your Philodendron when the top 1/3 of the soil has dried out. If you want to give your plant some more love in between waterings, mist their leaves! They’ll love that.
Being aware of the signs of unhealth is important. Your plant will signal to you when it’s either being underwatered, overwatered, exposed to too much direct sunlight, or pest infested. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves, crispy browning leaves, or unusual holes in within the foliage.
