Philodendron

This is a popular group of plants that are grown for their ornamental foliage. They are mostly climbing plants that can be grown in homes, greenhouses, and in the far South, outside. Under good conditions, they will bear pretty "flowers" that resemble Calla Lilies. They are found wild in tropical America and the West Indies. These plants have long aerial roots and come in many shapes and sizes. Most of the plants have rich green leaves but some may be coppery-red underneath or have veins that are red. Some leaves are red when they are young but eventually turn green. Some kinds have heart-shaped leaves, others have long and narrow leaves, some are arrow-shaped, oblong, ovate or deeply lobed. Their size varies from 3 inches to 3 feet in length. The inflorescences (flowers) have spathes that come in different shades of purple, pink, red, or greenish-white. The central columns that bear the tiny flowers (spadices) can either be yellow, cream or white. Below are a few descriptions of some Philodendrons, there are more below in the varieties section. P. squamiferum is a twisting vine with five-lobed, glossy, bright green leaves. The leaf stalks have a thick, fuzzy covering of long red and green hairs. P. hastatum is a popular climber that has large, arrow-shaped, glossy leaves. If a piece of rough bark or a stick covered with moss is placed against it, the roots from the stem will cling to the support and absorb moisture from it. Its variety hastatum variegatum is similar, except the foliage is variegated with white. P. gloriosum is a climbing plant with heart-shaped, dark green leaves. They have reddish borders and their veins are ivory.

POTTING - Outdoors: In mild, frost-free climates, Philodendrons can be grown outside in shady spots. They'll flourish in rich, moist soil that contains a good supply of organic matter.
As Houseplants or Greenhouse plants:These make great houseplants. They thrive in temperatures between 60 and 72 degrees and they require less light than most plants. It is best to grow them in pots of soil, but some, such as, P. oxycardium, will live for a long time in water to which a few pieces of charcoal have been added. The leaves should be cleaned with soapy water or an insecticide once in a while to remove dust and to control insects. Plants that have a good supply of roots will benefit from applications of a dilute liquid fertilizer every week or two. During the summer, they may be buried up to their rims in sand or ashes in a shady place outside or on a porch. When these plants are grown in a greenhouse, they prosper in a humid, tropical atmosphere. The minimum night temperature should be 60 degrees and the minimum day temperature should be 5-10 degrees higher. A damp atmosphere can be maintained by frequently wetting the floor and benches in the greenhouse and by spraying the foliage several times a day in the summer. During the winter months, less humidity is required, but the air must not become too dry. From mid-February to mid-November they need to be shaded from direct sun. Whether they're grown in a home or greenhouse, they need well-drained pots that aren't too large for the plants. They do best when their roots are slightly cramped, but not too tightly packed that they form a tight ball of roots. Their soil should be a mixture consisting of equal parts of turfy loam, sand and peat moss, with some chopped charcoal and broken crocks or brick added. Potting should be done in late winter or spring. Fill the pots one quarter of the way with crocks, which should then be covered with turf or coarse leaves to prevent the drainage from becoming clogged. Place enough soil in the pot so that when the plant is set in position, the tops of the roots are 1-2 inches below the rim of the pot. Place more soil around the ball and pack it moderately firm, leaving enough space at the top for watering. Newly potted plants need to be carefully watered. Allow the soil to become almost dry before watering. Follow this procedure until the roots have grown into the new soil, after which the soil can be kept more evenly moist. It's especially beneficial to newly planted Philodendrons to spray their leaves two or three times a day. When they're grown in a greenhouse bed, a hole should be dug 18-24 inches deep. Put 6 inches of broken brick or coarse cinders in the bottom and cover that with turfy loam or rough leaves. Then fill with the soil mixture as described above. Firm it and allow it to settle. A few days later, take the plant out of its pot and remove the old crocks and loose soil from its roots and set it in the prepared bed. Pat the soil fairly firm and water it well. Most kinds of Philodendrons need supports to cling to. Pieces of rough bark or stakes wrapped with a thick layer of sphagnum moss will serve well.

Propagation

Pieces of stem that contain at least two joints can be inserted as cuttings in pots of sandy peat or in a mixture of sand and peat moss in a greenhouse propagating bench in the spring or summer. The pots should be placed in a propagating case with a bottom heat of 70-75 degrees or they can be kept under a bell jar or in a terrarium in a warm room. They need to be shaded from direct sun during their rooting period. When roots have formed, they can be potted in 3-inch pots and next, in 5-inch pots. When they have filled these pots up with roots they can be planted in larger pots or in beds of soil. Another way to root cuttings (especially the cuttings of the trailing kinds) is to place their lower parts in a container filled with water and a few pieces of charcoal and keep them in 65- to 72-degree temperatures. They should root within 4-8 weeks. Philodendrons can easily be increased by air layering. Philodendron seeds will quickly sprout if they're sown in sphagnum moss or in a mixture of peat moss and sand or in some similar rooting medium as soon as they are ripe. They should not be allowed to dry after they are removed from the fleshy covering that surrounds them. They'll germinate readily if they are kept moist in a 75- to 80-degree temperature. When they're large enough to handle easily, they should be potted in small pots filled with coarse, porous soil.