How to Care for Philodendron

Philodendron covers an enormous range of plants, from trailing heart leaf types that tumble off a shelf to huge upright varieties with deeply cut leaves the size of a dinner plate. What they share is glossy foliage, fast growth and a very relaxed attitude to being looked after, which makes them one of the best genera for a first houseplant.

There are around five hundred species and they come from the tropical Americas, mostly from the rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Central America, with some reaching the Caribbean. The name means tree loving, and that is exactly what most of them do. They climb tree trunks using aerial roots, working their way up from the shaded forest floor towards brighter light. Understanding that habit tells you what a Philodendron wants indoors: gentle filtered light, warmth, and something to climb if it is a vining type.

How Much Light Does Philodendron Need?

Philodendron likes bright, indirect light, and most types tolerate medium light without complaint. A position near an east-facing window, or a metre or two from a south or west facing one, works well.

Avoid direct midday sun, which will scorch and bleach the leaves. In light that is too low, a vining Philodendron becomes leggy, with long bare stems and small leaves spaced far apart, and variegated types lose their pattern. If your plant is stretching towards the window, that is a clear sign to move it somewhere brighter.

How Often Should You Water Philodendron?

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of compost feels dry. That usually means once a week in spring and summer, and every ten to fourteen days in autumn and winter.

Always check with your finger rather than watering on a fixed day, since the plant drinks far more when it is actively growing. Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, then let the pot drain completely. Philodendron roots need air as well as water, so soggy compost quickly leads to root rot. A light, chunky mix with bark or perlite makes it much harder to get wrong.

What Humidity Does Philodendron Need?

Philodendron prefers humidity of 50% to 60%, which most homes are close to already.

It comes from humid tropical rainforest, so more moisture in the air does produce bigger, glossier leaves and faster growth. It is not fussy though, and it handles ordinary household air far better than plants like Calathea. If the air gets very dry in winter you may see brown crispy edges, in which case group your plants together, use a tray of damp pebbles or run a small humidifier nearby.

What Temperature Does Philodendron Need?

Philodendron grows best between 18°C and 27°C, and it appreciates a stable temperature rather than sudden swings.

The lowest temperature it can withstand is around 13°C. Below that growth stops, the leaves can develop dark patches, and prolonged cold combined with damp compost causes root rot. Keep it away from draughty doors, cold windows and unheated rooms over winter, and bring it indoors well before autumn nights turn cold if it has spent the summer outside.

How Do You Propagate Philodendron?

Vining Philodendrons are among the easiest plants in the world to propagate, and cuttings root reliably in water or compost.

Look along the stem for a node, the small bump where a leaf meets the stem and where aerial roots often emerge. Using clean sharp scissors, cut about 1 cm below a node, taking a piece with one or two leaves attached. Remove the lowest leaf so the node is bare.

Stand the cutting in a jar of water with the node submerged and the leaves above the surface, somewhere warm and brightly lit, changing the water once a week. Roots usually appear within two to three weeks. Once they are around 5 cm long, pot the cutting into free draining compost and keep it a little moister than usual while it establishes. You can put several cuttings in one pot for a fuller plant. Upright, non climbing types such as the bird's nest forms are propagated by division instead, separating the crowns at repotting time.

Why Are My Philodendron Leaves Turning Yellow?

Overwatering is the most likely cause. Soft yellow leaves low down on the plant, combined with compost that is still wet several days after watering, mean the roots are short of air. Let the top few centimetres dry out fully before watering again, and check the pot drains properly.

Work through the other possibilities if that does not fit. Yellowing with dry, shrunken compost and drooping stems means the plant has been left too long without water, so give it a good soak. Pale yellowing right across new growth during spring and summer points to a lack of nutrients, so feed monthly with a balanced liquid houseplant feed. Yellow leaves that also look bleached or have dry brown patches suggest too much direct sun. And a single old leaf at the base yellowing and dropping while the rest of the plant grows well is simply natural ageing.

A few simple habits keep a Philodendron thriving. Give climbing types a moss pole, because a supported plant produces noticeably larger leaves. Pinch out the growing tips of trailing types to encourage bushier growth instead of long bare stems. Repot every two years in spring. And wipe the leaves with a damp cloth occasionally so dust does not block the light.

Shop Philodendron at House of Kojo

Fancy an easy, fast-growing plant that fills a space quickly? Browse our Philodendrons at House of Kojo, from trailing heart leaf classics to bold upright statement plants. Every one is hand-picked, carefully packed and sent with simple care instructions.