Philodendron

Family :            araceae
Number of species :                  500
Country of origin :  South America

 

Philo's are definitely amongst those which seem to enjoy the appartment's living room atmosphere. Almost all of them are growing fine, and the oldest ones have even reached a fair size, in comparison with samples from wild life.

 

 

Monstera deliciosa

A 5-year old monstera deliciosa occupies alone a whole corner of the room.

   

It was less than 1 meter high when I purchased it from a classical garden center. It now produces an average of 2 leaves per month during vegetative period. Air roots are systematically buried in the soil, to ensure optimal feeding of the plant.

To ensure the plant's stability (it must be something like 25 kg !), 3 thick wooden supports are fixed to the walls and prevent the main stems from collapsing.

Leaves are cleaned twice a year with a water and natural soap solution.

 

 

Philodendron scandens

   

This philodendron scandens took less than 2 years to cover entirely the bamboo support.

 

Philo's also do well in suspension. This vigorous philodendron trubii  grows long stems with silver and dark green leaves, which almost hide the plant's container.
A lot of cuttings were taken from this plant, which satisfies with a dark place of the living room. At its bottom, groundplants such as maranta leuconeura have found a quiet place to settle.

Philodendron trubii

   

 

 

Philodendron brasil, emerald king

   

Who said philo's hardly bloom in interior ?! These two philodendron brasil (left) and philodendron emerald king (bottom, right) produce up to 2 flowers every month.

 

 

Philodendron emerald king is the "veteran" of the collection. It appreciates direct sunlight and grows 2 large new leaves every month from april to september. Some parts of the main stems are dead, which enforces the upper part of the plant to feed from air roots only.

 

 

Philodendron brasil (below) was purchased in a 13cm container, and is now 1,8m high.

 

 

Other samples of philodendron, such as philodendron selloum (left), with light green leaves and smelly stems, phildendron bipinnatifidum (center) or other undetermined species (right, probably an hybrid of p. scandens).

 

Philodendron medusa has golden leaves and blood red stems.

 

Philodendron cobra (right) enjoys shaded light, as its dark green leaves let bet.  

 

These three are samples of philodendron brought back from tropical forest in Guadeloupe (oct. 03). They survived the journey and restarted growth in 2 months.

A heavy scindapsus aureus (so-called pothos) can't help growing, in spite of a relatively small container. A lot of cuttings were made from this plant, as one can imagine easily.

 

Rhoeo spathacea

   

Rhoeo spathacea (right) is not a philodendron, but requires more or less the same growing conditions. This sample grows in direct sunlight, in a very light soil mainly composed of peat moss. It requires frequent and abundant waterings.