Philodendron Home Care and Reproduction

The botanical name of the plant Philodendron comes from the Greek "Phileo Dendron" - "I love a tree." This evergreen perennial plant comes from the tropical forests of Australia, America, the Pacific Islands. The philodendron received the name “loving tree” for a reason; the liana needs natural support. In humid and hot tropics, some species reach gigantic proportions, twisting neighboring trees with clinging roots.

Flower description

The stem of the plant is fleshy, at the base covered with a layered bark. Leathery leaves, dense texture. Their shape is surprisingly diverse: there are cirrus-dissected, palmate, arrow-shaped, oval, lobed, heart-shaped.

Philodendron in the rainforest

In nature, the size of adult vines varies in length from two or more meters. The room philodendron, registered in the Guinness Book of Records, grew in the UK, its length was 169 m.

Philodendron: Home Care

To provide liana philodendron care at home, it is important to consider several points:

• Based on the parameters of an adult plant of a particular species, a room is chosen where the flower will have enough space for growth;
• the place for the container with the flower should be well lit, but be out of reach for direct sunlight. For varieties with a variegated color of light, more is needed than evenly colored. Only a blushing and climbing species can tolerate a light shadow;
• the optimal room temperature will be 20-25 ° C in the summer and not lower than 15 ° C in the winter;
• philodendron does not tolerate drafts.

Flowering philodendron

Watering and humidity

The most important condition for keeping the vine is to ensure a comfortable level of humidity in the room. In the hot season, the plant can withstand a significant increase in temperature, provided that the leaves are sprayed or smoked.

The frequency of watering depends on the air temperature in the room. You need to focus on the state of the upper layer of soil in the pot, it must not be allowed to dry out. The plant is shed generously, but after an hour, excess water must be drained from the pan. To water the philodendron, use soft, lime-free water. To do this, you can boil or defend tap water or collect rainwater.

To increase air humidity, especially during the heating period, you can by regularly wiping and irrigating the leaves from the spray gun. The support for plants imitating a tree trunk, as a rule, is covered with coconut fiber or its synthetic substitute. By wetting such a coating, it is possible to further provide comfort to the moisture-loving philodendron.

Features of landing and transplanting

It is advisable to plant the acquired plant immediately. For this:

1. A pot or container is selected that is larger than the root system.
2. At the bottom of the tank drain holes are made, a drainage layer is laid out.
3. Set a support that is suitable for the dimensions of the creeper.
4. Trying not to destroy the earthen lump, remove the store container and transship the plant into a prepared container.
5. The soil for planting should be nutritious and light with low acidity. Fill the pot with the plant carefully, sprinkling soil, shaking gently to prevent voids around the roots.
6. Filling the planting tank to the top, the plant is shed with settled water at room temperature. If the soil settles, it is added and watered repeatedly.

Potted philodendron

Young vines need an annual transplant. A tight pot depresses the root system, the plant begins to wither.

An adult philodendron is transplanted every 2-3 years as it grows, moving the plant to a more spacious container. In some cases, the plant requires an emergency transplant:

• dense caked soil, covered with moss, signals regular waterlogging, the root system can rot;
• the presence of white spots and stains on the surface - a consequence of soil salting;
• the roots of the plant are visible from the drainage holes;
• slowing the growth of vines, shredding foliage;
• the appearance of pests.

In these cases, the plant is transplanted after careful processing of the roots. To do this:

1. Rinse the roots with prepared water at room temperature.
2. Inspect the root system, cut off damaged parts.
3. Treat with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, foundationazole or phytosporin according to the instructions.
4. In case of further use, the container with drainage is disinfected.
5. Plant a plant in a new soil.

Plant location

A large well-groomed plant will decorate any spacious room, a winter garden, a covered terrace, a lobby. The decorativeness of large-sized philodendrons is actively used in the design of residential premises to delimit space.

Compact species of vines feel great near the east and west windows.

Dormant care

During the growing season, plants are fertilized for active growth. Mineral fertilizers and organics are added monthly from the beginning of spring to the beginning of autumn. With the onset of cold weather, watering and top dressing are reduced to a minimum. By the end of February, the dormant period of philodendrons ends. This time is optimal for transplanting young vines.

Philodendron Reproduction

To preserve the decorativeness, it is recommended to periodically rejuvenate the philodendron.

You can propagate your favorite vine with:

• seed;
• cuttings;
• air layers;
• tops;
• leaves
• fragments of the trunk.

Rooting of air layers

Rooting a suitable shoot with aerial roots layering is not difficult. It must be placed in moist soil, fixed with a wire or hairpin. One month after germination, the new plant is separated from the mother bush.

Propagation by cuttings and leaves

Such a method as propagating philodendron using cuttings does not require special skills. It is important to observe the temperature regime of 25-30 ° C and provide future sprouts with high humidity. To do this, as a mini greenhouse they use a cut-off bottle made of plastic; The apical or stem shoot for rooting should have 2-3 leaves, and the leaf stalk - air root or "heel".

Cuttings are planted in moist, light soil, after dipping a root powder into a powder. After 2-3 weeks, when 3-4 cm long roots are formed, young vines are planted in separate containers.

Seed cultivation

The tree-like philodendron, in addition to the usual methods, can also be propagated by seeds. It is important to use quality seed:

1. The seed is soaked in boiled or distilled water for 10-12 hours.
2. In the prepared container (it is convenient to use a transparent plastic container) with moist peat mix spread the seeds, you do not need to sprinkle and deepen them.
3. The container is closed and placed in a lit place, avoiding direct sunlight.
4. For 1.5-2 weeks before the appearance of the sprouts, the seeds are aired daily, moistened with a spray bottle.
5. With the advent of the third leaf, the container is no longer closed.
6. Strong seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place after 2.5-3 months.

Typical mistakes novice growers

The main cause of errors in the care of a room vine is the non-observance of agricultural technology. Choosing a specific type of plant, you need to consult with the seller, find information on the Internet. To understand why the philodendron wilted, you need to monitor changes during care. Any discomfort of the liana is reflected on its leaves.

Diseases and pests of philodendron

Competent and responsible care of the plant avoids many problems. So, bacterial spotting develops due to heat and waterlogging. You can determine it by watery spots on the sheets. Red border appears in the lower part of the plant in the form of brown-red bordering of leaf plates.

Damaged areas must be removed, the sections disinfected, the plant treated with a fungicidal preparation. In the case of an extensive lesion of the disease, the philodendron is destroyed.

Among the pests of indoor vines are:

• scabbard;
• thrips;
• spider mite.

Philodendron is an indoor flower, therefore, it can be infected by pests from other plants growing nearby. To combat them, chemical preparations are used - insecticides and acaricides.

Popular varieties

In Russia, the following flower varieties are most popular.

Philodendron cello

Philodendron blushing

A bright accent with careful care will create an elegant reddening philodendron at home.

Graceful, fragile shoots reach a height of 1.8 m. The trunk of an adult plant is covered with bark. The leaves are bicolor, green on the outside and reddening on the back. The rounded leaf plate has a spear-shaped end, growing up to 30 cm in length and 25 cm wide. The petiole is red at the base.

Philodendron blushing

Climbing Philodendron

A flexible vine growing up to 2 m in length. The leaves are shiny, shaped like a heart. They are not large, the length and width are 15 cm and 8 cm, respectively. Young foliage is cast in bronze, ripe dark green. For the ability to climb poles, this species is also called ivy. It can be used as an ampel plant in hanging flower pots.

Philodendron Guitar

It grows up to 6 m in a tropical forest, and no more than 2 m in a city house. The guitar-like philodendron, like many of its relatives, is of particular interest for its variability. Young leaves, initially heart-shaped, become like a guitar with age, grow up to 30 cm in length.

Philodendron Guitar

Philodendron is unpretentious in leaving, its unusual beauty earned well-deserved interest of plant growers. The most popular varieties can be grown even in small apartments. Lianas Sello (Zello), Xandu tricolor, Imperial - spectacular plants that are firmly established in the homes of exotic lovers.

Watch the video: Philodendron Bipinnatifidum Potting and Care. Philodendron Selloum (April 2024).