Do we all not love small-sized, beautiful plants which help us stay connected to nature and contribute to our room’s calm vibe? Well, this exquisite Philodendron does that perfectly. Let’s welcome a very adorable and elegant plant from the Philodendron genus, Philodendron Deja vu.
This houseplant, which is native to warm tropical areas, is the perfect addition to room decor. Do you know what’s the best part? It doesn’t mind even if it is your very first plant adoption. How? Deja Vu can be taken care of very easily without much hassle.
Philodendron Deja Vu Classification
Family: Araceae
Genus: Philodendron
Specie: Deja vu
Genus Philodendron:
The genus, Philodendron, is pretty vast comprising of vine-like 500 species, each of which has a unique appearance. This genus is entirely made up of epiphytes- a term used to describe plants that live on other plants.
These stout-stemmed epiphytes have a wide range of leaf types depending on the species. The foliage is mainly shades of green and the leaf veins alternate between red or white. Some species can also produce berry fruit which is mostly orange in color.
Features of the Philodendron Deja Vu Plant
Size:
These beautiful houseplants’ growth rate is of average level. They cannot be classified as fast-growth plants and neither slow-growth. However, the roots grow at such a pace that they do not demand repotting before 2-3 years.
If Philo Deja vu is provided with suitable growing conditions, they can grow up to an impressive height of 4 feet. Keep in mind, that this is the case only when the environment is top-notch. Usually, mature deja vu reaches a height of 24 inches.
This is why this philo is suitable enough to be kept indoors as decoration pieces, or even outdoors on shaded lawn. many Philodendron Deja Vu’s can be kept together to make a green, aesthetic spot in your house.
Leaves/stem:
This perennial plant is a non-flowering plant. However, it is still a very gorgeous and elegant plant despite having no flowers. The unique feature which they have is the serrated leaves which impress anyone who lays his eyes on this Philo.
The foliage has a deep green shade and the glossy leaves eventually develop jagged edges as it grows. There are many stems in each plant each of which is flexible and fragile.
This evergreen Philo is herbaceous and never fails to add homely vibes into a room. Do you want to know how? The old leaves keep on getting replaced with the new ones. This means there is never a time where this plant is leafless making it a perfect houseplant.
Disease/pests:
Philodendron is not completely safe from the possibility of being sick. Are not yellow leaves our major concern when it comes to planting? Well, it turns out that Philodendron Deja vu is also not safe from this. This little shrub’s leaves sometimes turn yellow and then eventually brown. Why? This condition is called leaf spot and the solution to this is removing the affected leaves by cutting them.
Toxicity:
When it comes to toxicity, you have to be extra careful around this Philodendron. Although this plant is extremely attractive, the leaves have high levels of calcium oxalate. Plants with this chemical have miniature crystals in their juices. Hence, if this plant is chewed or ingested, it can have a drastic effect on your health.
If there is contact with calcium oxalate there is a high chance of skin irritation and swelling. Do you ever want to take such a big risk and act irresponsibly around this plant? The answer is quite obvious.
Although the plant seems very beautiful, it can even take the life of your pets. If we focus on the threat to humans, it can burn the respiratory tract and cause swelling. No matter what, be careful around this Philodendron.
If there are children in the house, it is highly advised to keep this Phil at a considerable distance. In short, it should be out of reach for your pets and kids.
Dormancy:
Philodendron Deja vu does not grow during winters, rather it sustains its growth during that period. Hence, winter is known as the sleeping or resting period for this Phil. During this period, it demands even less care and no investment has to be done on fertilizers too.
Care of Philodendron Deja Vu
Each plant demands a specific environment in which it thrives healthy. When they are provided with suitable conditions as per demand, there is no hindrance to their growth.
Similarly, Philodendron Deja vu also has particular needs. However, the good news is that there is very little effort required to make this plant smile. Who would not like a low-maintenance gorgeous plant that does not throw tantrums on receiving low attention?
Have a glance at an easy guide of how to take care of Philo Deja Vu:
Water levels: average level
Light: indirect light/ shade
Humidity: high levels
Fertilizer: only during summers and not winters
Water requirements
Well, the good news is that Philodendron Deja Vu is not very demanding in terms of water requirements. Although, it is native to tropical areas still surprisingly doesn’t love water. You do not have to worry if this Philo is getting dehydrated.
It likes being watered only when there is a dire need. It believes in the idea that anything overboard is not good for health. So be careful and do not hydrate this plant more than needed otherwise you might murder this Phil.
Now the question is that how do you get to know that you have to water this houseplant. Well, it is easy to understand. After watering once, wait till the first 3 inches of soil get dry. You can check this by inserting your half finger in the soil. If it comes out dry, you have your answer. Otherwise, wait for a while and then water it.
Also, make sure the pot is well-draining and does not hold onto water for long hours. If you are wondering what happens if you over-water so let’s clear this. The roots have a hard time breathing in such a situation and that affects the plant’s health. It destroys the plants’ freshness and can also cause leaves to turn yellow. Eventually, the plant might die. Hence, be careful and only water to a certain limit.
Light requirements
There is good news for indoor plant owners. Philodendron Deja vu is very much suitable for indoor settings due to its low sunlight demands. It prefers resting under indirect sunlight where the bright rays do not fall on the leaves. It certainly is not a fan of being sun-kissed. Therefore, make sure that this fragile Phil is not directly exposed to bright sun rays.
By nature, this plant is adapted to grow in low light levels and under the partial shade of taller trees. If exposure occurs, this Phil will not be able to tolerate the light. Leaves may lose their texture and deep green shade. In short, this plant is a bit light sensitive so their relocation must be done according to that.
Soil requirements
Philodendron Deja Vu’s growth is healthy and stable when the soil is a bit acidic. Try to maintain the soil’s Ph level around 6.0 roughly. It can vary between 6.1-6.5 PH. An important tip is to add few drops of vinegar to the soil if you see that PH falls below 6.0. confused about how to check PH level? Simple, use a PH scale. Most importantly, the soil should be moist and fertile.
There should be absolutely no compromise in terms of soil quality. Low quality equals fewer minerals and poor nutrients will hinder the plant’s growth. Invest in high-quality soil that is also very well-draining. Want another tip? Add sand in the potting mixture to improve drainage. For this Phil, it is often recommended to use a cactus potting mix. You can easily find that in any nearby nursery.
Temperature and humidity requirements
Like humans, this plant also cannot survive in an extremely cold or hot climate. Philodendron Deja vu is adapted to thrive well in room temperatures and cannot live in extreme weather conditions. Since they are tropical plants, slightly warm temperatures suit them the most.
If it gets too hot, the roots and stem dry out eventually causing the plant to collapse. If it gets too cold, the leaves start to lose their green shade and turn brown or yellow. Hence, you should have a plan ready about how to relocate this plant with weather changes.
Well, when it comes to humidity, isn’t their preference obvious since they are tropical plants? Yes, they love living in a high humidity region. Even if there is not enough natural humidity, you can increase it in various ways. For eg, group several Phils or use the pebble tray method. The difference is not drastic, but something is better than nothing.
Fertilizer requirements
Provide your Philo Deja Vu with high-quality, nutrient-rich fertilizer for excellent results in growth. Water-soluble fertilizers work best with these plants since they release nutrients instantly to the roots. For retaining the plant’s freshness, do not try to skip timely fertilizations otherwise the plant will suffer. However, there is no need to fertilize during winters since during that time growth stops as mentioned above.
Repotting requirements
There is not much to worry about in this aspect. Just observe your plant now and then. If you notice that the roots are popping out of the pot and demanding more space, that is when you should re-pot. Ideally, this doesn’t happen often. The need arises usually every 2 years so the only time to time investment has to be done on fertilizers.
Philodendron Deja Vu Propagation
Stem-cutting is far most the easiest propagation method that you can adopt. The method for it is as followed:
- Cut a part of a stem from above a healthy growing leaf
- This cutting should be placed in another pot with rich soil, or a jar with water
- Wait for 15-20 days for new roots to develop
If you propagated in a jar, shift the cutting to a pot with moist soil after roots start to appear.
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Summary
The Philodendron Deja vu is an ever-green, non-flowering beautiful houseplant. It adds beauty and adds to freshness to any room it is kept in. Native to Brazil and Mexico, these tropical shrubs are well-suited to warm regions where the climate is not harsh.
However, the water requirements are surprisingly not high. That’s an excellent advantage since you do not have to worry about this plant even if you take a weekend vacation. As already stated, it is very much beginner-friendly as it doesn’t require much attention. So, if you are planning to start adopting plants, Déjà vu should be our firm choice.
