Philodendron, The World’s Easiest Houseplant?
I don’t know this for certain but I would be willing to bet that the first indoor plant that many of us own is a philodendron. It has a well-earned reputation for being a very easy plant to grow, but that doesn’t mean it should be taken for granted. Philodendron are actually a very prolific species with anywhere between 300 and 900 varieties depending upon whose classification system you follow. It is indigenous to the humid forests of the Americas but is found all over the world having been introduced by explorers to other continents over the past several centuries. There are documents that indicate that this plant was cultivated by European explorers as far back as the 17th century, so it is not a “new kid on the block.”
For many of us, the green-leafed trailing variety comes to mind, but philodendrons come in other colors including red and bronze. They also have a multitude of leaf shapes and sizes and in their native environment, some of them look more like shrubs than vines. In warmer climates, they climb into the tree canopy using aerial roots which also are the means by which they obtain water and nutrients. When sold as houseplants they sometimes are in pots with wood planks that allow the trailing varieties to pull themselves up toward the light. There are even philodendrons that flower and bear fruit, but this rarely, if ever, happens outside of their normal tropical habitat.
They have become popular houseplants because they can tolerate a variety of lighting conditions and seem to thrive on neglect. While they do prefer bright lights they do just fine in darker conditions that other plants can’t tolerate. They prefer soils that are kept moist, but some varieties will even grow in a glass of water and this is a popular and easy way to propagate the plant. They can tolerate the dry air of our homes and buildings, but do enjoy being misted and having the dust wiped from their leaves with a damp cloth. A little fertilizer once in a while would be nice, but they can do just fine without being fed.
There are philodendrons that grow in places up to 2,000 feet above sea level and most varieties are grown indoors can tolerate a wide range of temperatures as long as they remain above 55 to 60 degrees. You can also put them outside for the summer as long as you provide a shady location for them. They are also typically not bothered by insects or diseases and perhaps the only drawback is they can possibly be toxic to pets and young children. There is a great deal of conflicting information about just how toxic they might be, but it is a good idea to keep them away from cats and the kids.
There are several varieties of philodendron that you can purchase right here through Blooming Secrets. If you’ve never had a houseplant before this is the plant for you and even if you’ve grown a philodendron before, why not try a different variety?
