Philodendron is a perennial evergreen creeper from the Aroid family. It lives in the rainforests of Latin America, Mexico and Australia. The name translates as "loving trees." This is due to the fact that plants with a flexible stem in a dense tropical forest only through the trunks of tall trees can break through to bright light. Many types of philodendron are grown in botanical gardens or special greenhouses, but some of them are adapted to indoor conditions. Caring for them is much simpler, even a flower grower with little experience will cope with it.
Plant description
The genus of philodendron is very diverse. Plants can be very different from each other. There are epiphytic, semi-epiphytic and terrestrial forms, as well as flexible lianas and shrubs. The rhizome of the plant is superficial and highly branched. In addition to the roots at the base of the stem, air roots form in each internode. They are used to attach to the support and power. Thanks to the finest hairs, the roots can sprout and attach to the trunk.
The stalk of the philodendron is long, but rather thin. It grows from a few centimeters to 2-3 m. The lower part of the shoot is gradually lignified and covered with a brown peeling bark. The wood becomes so dense that the support is no longer needed.
Foliage has a great decorative effect. It grows again on long stalks. The length of the leaf plate can reach 2 m. The leaves have an oval, arrow-shaped, dissected or palmate shape. During the life cycle, the shape of the leaves, even in one plant, changes several times. In addition to the usual petiole foliage, philodendron grows cataphillas - scaly leaves that serve as a protection for vegetative buds. As the leaves fall on the trunk, recesses remain at the point of attachment of the petioles.
During flowering, 1-11 inflorescences in the form of an ear can bloom on one plant. They are located alone or in a group. The ear on a short, dense peduncle has a light green, cream or pinkish color. It grows to 25 cm in length. In its upper part, reproductive male flowers grow. After a short period of sterile flowers, female flowers grow at the very base. Around the inflorescence is a cover of cream or reddish color.
The philodendron is pollinated with special bread bugs and grapes. The flowering of male flowers does not coincide with the activity of female flowers; therefore, for pollination, several inflorescences that bloom at different times are necessary. The cob first grows directly and is slightly hidden by the coverlet, then it bends and the coverlet is removed. After successful pollination, it returns to a vertical position and is completely covered by a coverlet. Fruits in the form of juicy rounded berries can ripen up to a year. All this time, the ear is tightly hidden under the coverlet. Ripe fruits are white, greenish or yellow. Each contains very small, dense seeds.
Species diversity
The diverse genus of philodendron has more than 400 plant species. Let's consider some of them.
Philodendron warty. A very popular decorative variety with creeping soft shoots. Velvety petiole leaves grow 15-20 cm long and about 10 cm wide. The heart-shaped leaf plate with hard setae is painted dark green with a bronze-brown pattern along the veins. The inflorescence is hidden under a yellowish bedspread 6-7 cm long.
Philodendron blushing. Thin fragile shoots grow to a length of 180 cm. As lignified, they turn into a strong vertical trunk. Elongated leaves with a pointed edge grow up to 30 cm in length and up to 25 cm in width. The surface of the leaf is shiny, bright green. The flip side has a reddish tint.
Climbing philodendron. A flexible vine with thin stems is often grown as an ampel plant. It is covered with large heart-shaped leaves up to 15 cm long and up to 10 cm wide.
Philodendron atom. A more capricious plant with an erect, short stem. It grows decorative five-fingered leaves with wavy edges. Bright green shiny leaflets reach a length of 30 cm.
Philodendron is ivy. A creeping plant grows shoots up to 6 m long. They are covered with regular heart-shaped leaves with a leathery or shiny surface up to 30 cm in length. The foliage is colored dark green. During flowering, reddish cobs are shrouded in a greenish veil. Fruits - light green rounded berries.
Philodendron Sello (bicinosus). Gradually lignified stems up to 3 m high are covered with triangular or elongated-heart-shaped leaves on long petioles. The leaf plate is deeply dissected and takes on a double-pinched shape. Its length reaches 90 cm. The surface color is green or gray-green.
Philodendron is guitar-like. The water-loving vine up to 2 m long. The flexible stalk needs a reliable support. The dark green shiny foliage at an early age resembles elongated hearts, but gradually narrows in the middle and becomes more like a guitar.
Philodendron lobed. This type of creeper has a thicker, albeit flexible, stem. On it petiolate emerald leaves of ovoid form grow. As the plant grows, the foliage becomes dissected first by 3, and later by 5 shares. The length of the leaves is 30-40 cm.
Philodendron Evans. A bright, spectacular plant is famous for beautiful leaves 60-80 cm long and 40-50 cm wide. Smooth shiny leaves of a triangular or heart-shaped shape have wavy edges. Young foliage is brownish green with bright green veins. As they age, the leaves turn green.
Philodendron radiant. The fast-growing vine is unpretentious. It is 1.5-3 m in length. On stems, hard, dissected leaves grow up to 20 cm long.
Philodendron is graceful. A large, powerful plant with a single flexible shoot grows broadly oval foliage 45-70 cm long. Leaf blades are deeply dissected and painted dark green. The ear is wrapped in a creamy green veil with a pink border.
Philodendron Xanadu. Lignified liana with large elongated leaves of bright green color. The length of the leaf plate reaches 40 cm. Soft leaves eventually acquire a feathery shape.
Philodendron Skandens. A plant with curly, flexible shoots develops well in the shade and partial shade. It is covered with green heart-shaped leaves with a glossy sheen. The length of the leaf is 9-16 cm.
Propagation and planting of philodendron
Since under indoor conditions, philodendrons bloom extremely rarely, and for planting seeds, several plants are also needed, house flowers propagate vegetatively. To do this, use stem or apical cuttings. The shoots are pruned regularly to slow the stem's lush growth. The resulting cuttings with 2-3 internodes are laid horizontally on sandy peat soil or buried at an angle of 30 ° -45 °. The container is covered with a film and kept at a temperature of + 25 ° C and above. If the internodes already had aerial roots, then rooting will be much faster. Usually the process takes 7-30 days.
Varieties with a vertical, rapidly lignified stem are propagated by horizontal layering. To do this, the bark on the side shoot is damaged and wrapped with sphagnum. Moss is regularly moistened. After 2-3 weeks, when the roots appear, the process can be cut off and planted in a separate pot. It is also possible to propagate philodendron using leaf cuttings with a heel and a kidney.
Planting and transplanting of plants is carried out at least once every 3 years. Do it in February-March. A sufficiently compact pot is selected for planting, since the liana feels better in a tight container. Land for planting should be loose and breathable, because some plants live on trees. Heavy soil is contraindicated for them. The acidity of the substrate must be neutral or slightly acidic.
The soil mixture can be composed of garden soil, pieces of pine bark, lowland peat, sand or perlite. The philodendron also grows well on sand, leaf and turf land. So that the roots do not suffer from rot, it is recommended to add a little moss and charcoal to the ground. Immediately after planting, the flower is placed in a shaded place and watering is reduced. After 2 weeks, he adapts.
Home Care
Philodendron will need to pay a little attention. Moreover, he is relatively unpretentious and can even survive the short-term vacation of the owners. When deciding to plant this plant, it is necessary to study not only the rules of care, but also to allocate a place for the vine. Over time, the philodendron occupies a large space.
Lighting. The inhabitant of the rainforest most often grows in partial shade, but tends to the sun. It is better to put it closer to the east or west window. Bright diffused light will do. Leaves need protection from direct sunlight. In a too dark room, they lose their bright color.
Temperature. The optimum air temperature for the philodendron is + 17 ... + 24 ° C. It does not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts. In winter, a slight, smooth cooling is allowed, but not lower than + 13 ° C. In summer heat, the room is often aired, and the crown is regularly sprayed.
Humidity. Plants develop better with high humidity. They are sprayed daily from a spray bottle. You should also moisten the support and place pallets with water and wet expanded clay near the pot. Some decorative varieties are so sensitive to dry air that they can only grow in greenhouses. All species need regular bathing, as dust makes air exchange difficult.
Watering. Water philodendron often and plentifully. To do this, use well-purified, warm water. Excess fluid immediately after watering is removed from the pan. The soil should not be swamped, but should always be slightly moist. At low temperatures, watering is reduced.
Fertilizer. From May to September, 2-4 times a month, top dressing is carried out with a highly diluted organic composition. Use 30-50% of the usual dose. The rest of the year, philodendron is fed 1-2 times a month with a mineral complex. Young plants in fertile soil are fed much less frequently. Variegated forms cannot be fertilized with compositions with a high nitrogen content.
Diseases and pests. If you follow the rules of care, philodendron does not suffer from plant diseases. When the soil is flooded, root rot can develop. Sometimes scabies, spider mites or thrips may appear on leaves and shoots. Get rid of them by spraying with insecticides.
