Philodendron heterocraspedon is quite rare yet a beautiful plant having leaves of an oblong-elliptic shape. They possess bicolorous leaves having dark green colors with reddish undersides.
These tropical plants can be spotted in the rainforest. The stems of these tropical plants are hollow and thick. The roots are typically present in moist soil. Generally, it is very easy to look after this plant.
Philodendron heterocraspedon is an evergreen climbing vine. These plants give rise to white-colored flowers. However, the fruit produced by this tropical beauty is three-lobed and has a capsule shape containing numerous black seeds.
It makes a great addition to any office or home as it is an extremely aesthetically pleasing plant. To find out more about this plant and how to care for these tropical beauties, read this article.
Philodendron Heterocraspedon Classification
Family: Araceae
Genus: Philodendron
History
Philodendron heterocraspedon was found in Bajo calima (it is a village in the Buenaventura municipality, Colombia). This beautiful species was first identified in the early 1990s by Croat, T.B.
Features of the Philodendron Heterocraspedon
Structure
Because of its extremely aesthetically pleasing appearance, Philodendron heterocraspedon is one of the most sought-after species in the genus Philodendron.
These are climbing vines so they require some supporting structures to climb on. The leaves of these climbing plants are quite long and are attached to a hollow stem. It gives rise to white or pale green flowers.
Size
It is a climbing species that can reach up to 20 meters in height.
Leaves
The Philodendron heterocraspedon is an evergreen climbing vine having pleated and long leaves. The leaves are bicolorous, having a dark green and glossy upper side while having reddish undersides. The leaves can reach up to 50 cm in length and about 30 cm in width.
Flowers
Philodendron heterocraspedon produces flowers in February and July. Whereas, it gives fruit from February to March. The flowers are white to pale green and can reach 15 cm in diameter.
Toxicity
If ingested, this tropical beauty proves to be toxic to animals as well as humans. The sap of this plant might cause skin irritation. If you wish to keep this plant, make sure to keep it out of reach of toddlers and pets.
Dormancy
This plant becomes dormant in winter. Meaning that they stop growing in the winter seasons. However, they remain alive but in dull conditions in the winter period. As soon as the spring season arrives, these plants start to grow and begin to produce new leaves.
Philodendron Heterocraspedon Care
Philodendron heterocraspedon is an extremely attractive plant that is fortunately very easy to look after. These rare plants thrive well in an environment that is similar to their tropical home. These beautiful aroids do not need much maintenance and can be left on their own to grow.
Although this plant does not require to be frequently looked after, it is recommended to keep an eye on it. Indirect sunlight must be provided rather than direct to avoid leaves from burning. Provide sufficient amounts of water and light. It is essential to remove the leaves that are turning yellow or brown.
Quick Care Guide:
Water: Must be provided once a week.
Sunlight: Indirect but bright sunlight.
Soil: Moist and well-draining.
Temperature: Prefers 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Humidity: Approximately about 40 percent to 50 percent.
Fertilizer: Once a month in the growing season.
Repotting: After every 2 years.
Pruning: As much is required to remove the dead leaves.
Water Requirement
The Philodendron heterocraspedon flourishes well if kept in even moist environments. However, the soil must not be soggy or muddy as it will elevate the chances of rot.
Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes. To avoid such nuisance, make sure to choose a pot having proper drainage holes. If the leaves of your plant are turning brown or soft, it might be a sign that you are overwatering your plant.
However, if you are placing your plant in an area having low humidity, then mist your plant regularly to eliminate the risks of dehydration.
Sunlight Requirement
These tropical plants thrive well in indirect but bright sunlight. Although, these plants can also survive in low light dim conditions. However, it is best to place these plants in bright light for them to grow healthy and faster.
Make sure to always provide indirect sunlight rather than direct. Direct sunlight can lead to the burning of the leaves of your plant.
However, if your plant is getting pale day by day, then it might be a sign that it is not receiving sufficient sunlight. Give it a boost by placing it in an area having more access to bright sunlight.
Soil Requirement
The Philodendron heterocraspedon prefers to grow in well-draining soil. If your potting mix is too dense or heavy, it might lead the roots to rot.
You can even prepare a potting mix for your plant by combining equal amounts of vermiculite, peat moss, and perlite. A layer of compost covering the bottom of your plant will aid to preserve sufficient moisture to keep the roots cool.
Temperature Requirement
Similar to other plants, the Philodendron heterocraspedon also does not tolerate temperature fluctuations. They prefer to grow in temperatures between 70° F to 90° F.
These plants flourish in high humidity and temperatures. However, if the temperature drops down to 60° F or below then the leaves of your plant will start to turn brown and break.
Humidity Requirement
As mentioned earlier, Philodendron heterocraspedon flourishes in environments having high levels of humidity. It is advised to provide more humidity during the winter season especially when the homes are heated and the air becomes drier.
Low humidity might result in your plant having brown and brittle leaves. If you notice these signs, then try to increase the humidity near your plant as soon as possible.
If you dwell in an area having low levels of humidity, you can increase the humidity by placing your plant on a pebble tray. Moreover, you can also provide humidity by running a humidifier around your plant.
Fertilizer Requirement
This climbing vine grows fast and requires great amounts of fertilizer to thrive. It is advised to use a balanced fertilizer once every 2 weeks during the growing period. However, during the winter season, it is best to reduce giving fertilizer to once every 3 weeks.
Although this plant requires a good amount of fertilizer, keep in mind that over-fertilizing can cause leaf burn in plants. Therefore, it is advised to provide sufficient fertilizer rather than providing it way more than necessary.
Repotting Requirement
These plants can grow at a very fast pace. Being a fast-growing climbing vine, it is your responsibility to keep an eye on your plant’s roots and to re-pot your plant whenever you feel the need.
The roots are very delicate, always make sure to handle them very gently to eliminate the risks of damaging them. If you wish to re-pot your Philodendron, then follow the instructions given below.
- Gently remove your Philodendron from the previous pot. Make sure to wear gloves before starting the re-potting
- Loosen the roots and remove any excess dirt from them very carefully.
- Remove any dead or damaged roots, using sharp scissors or knives.
- In a new pot, add a new potting mix (well-draining soil combined with good amounts of fertilizer).
- Carefully place your Philodendron in the new pot and water it thoroughly.
Pruning Requirement
This plant makes a great addition to any home or office due to its beautiful structures. However, if you want your plants to always look fresh, then make certain to prune them periodically.
Fortunately, it is quite easy to prune it. Just take any sharp scissors or knives to remove any yellow or brown leaves. Moreover, you can also trim the vines if they are becoming too long for you to manage. We recommend you prune your plant from time to time so that your plants will remain healthy and stay fresh for a long time.
The ideal time for pruning Philodendron heterocraspedon is during the spring or fall seasons. Although if you observe any leaves that are turning brown or yellow, don’t think twice and prune them off.
Growth Zones
The ideal zones for the Philodendron heterocraspedon species to thrive are 12 and 13.
Philodendron Heterocraspedon Propagation
Philodendron heterocraspedon can be easily propagated by stem cuttings. Besides stem cuttings, they can also be propagated through water propagation.
To perform propagation through the water, carefully read the below-given instructions.
- Cut a 4 to 6 inches long stem directly from the main plant.
- The cuttings must have 2 or more healthy leaves on them.
- Separate the bottom leaf from the cutting and gently put the cuttings in water.
- Keep changing the water after a few days to keep it clean and fresh.
- After some time, you can observe new roots emerging out of the cuttings.
- Once the roots become more than 1 inch long, you can place the cutting into the soil.
Final Thoughts
Generally, the Philodendron heterocraspedon species is a beautiful climbing vine that is very easy to look after. These evergreen plants can withstand various conditions. They do not require much maintenance. However, these aroids do require a steady structure to support their growth.
Almost like every other Philodendron species, bright yet indirect sunlight is necessary for these plants. And under the ideal humidity, temperature, sufficient water, light, and fertilizers these aroids grow up to have quite an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
