Philodendron Gabby: A Comprehensive Guide

Philodendron Gabby is a beautiful and rare plant with the perfect contrast of green, white, and cream leaves that make it different from other plants.  The plant is also known as cream splash.

Its splashes of white and cream on green leaves make it eye-catching.  Due to its variegated unique leaves, the growers of the plants get ready to buy them at any cost or even to propagate them. Because it is a great addition to the beauty of the home. 

Philodendron Gabby Classification

Botanical name: Philodendron hederaceum Gabby

Genus: Philodendron

Family: Araceae

Native: Caribbean and Mexico islands

Growth Habit of Philodendron Gabby Plant

Philodendron Gabby is different from other Philodendrons in growing habits. It is an herbaceous vine and grows in trailing or climbing patterns.

The leaves are in heart shape with curled and slender ends. The plant grows decorative foliage with variegated patterns of green, white, and cream colors.

Toxicity

Philodendron Gabby is toxic to pets as well as human beings. In the case of eating the foliage, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and a burning sensation.

The leaves and stems of the plant contain calcium oxalate which is a toxic element. So, place the plant out of the reach of kids and pets.

 

Philodendron Gabby Care

Quick Care Guide

Watering: When 40% of the topsoil is dry

Temperature: 20 to 27°C

Sunlight: 8 to 10 hours of indirect light

Humidity: 50 to 60%

Soil type: Well-draining

Repotting: Once in 2 to 3 years

Fertilization: Once a month, Balanced fertilizer

Pruning: Once in 1 to 2 years

Let’s have a look at how to care for this decorative and ornamental plant.

Sunlight and Location Requirements

In tropical areas, Philodendron Gabby grows under the shade of trees. It needs indirect sunlight for 8 to 10 hours each day. Plus, low light is not advisable for it to grow properly.

Tips for Adequate Sunlight

• Put the plant where it can get moderate indirect sunlight, like close to a window.
• Protect it from direct sunlight otherwise, the leaves will lose the variegation and also burn.
• The best place for the plant can be 6 feet far from the south-facing window to save it from direct sunlight.
• Don’t keep them in low-light places because it will impact the growth of the plant.
• If significant light is not possible like in winters, you can move them under artificial light and provide them with enough light as they require.
• You can also use grow lights like an LED lamp or fluorescent for 8 to 10 hours per day.

Watering Requirements

The plant needs regular watering in the growing season. Always make sure that 40% of the topsoil is dry between watering. Remember that Gabby Philodendron can tolerate underwatering to some extent but not overwatering because it damages the roots. So, be careful while watering it.

Tips for Appropriate Watering

• Keep the topsoil dry between watering.
• During the growing season, water every week. While in the winter season, keep the gap to two weeks or more.
• It is better to use filtered or rainwater having no salt contents.
• Before watering the plant, keep the water overnight at room temperature. It will protect the plant from cold stress.

How to Restore Plant if it is Overwatered?

If the plant is overwatered, it increases the chance of root rot and the leaves start turning yellow and as a result, it can suffer withering and drooping. In this situation, follow these tips given below:

• Make the pot free of excess water as the soil will dry, the rotting condition will also decrease.
• Before watering again, check the soil moisture and signs of plant improvement.
• If the situation persists, take out the plant and check the root.
• Prune away dark, limp, and mushy parts of the plant.
• Apply antifungal powder upon it and plant it into a new potting mix.

How to Restore Plant if it is Underwater?

It is easy to treat underwatered plants by deep watering. You can also keep the pot in the water container and let it absorb water. When you see the topsoil is moist, remove your plant from the water container and place it in its original location.

Temperature Requirements

Philodendron Gabby is a tropical plant so it remains healthy in warm temperatures over the year. It needs 20 to 27°C to grow rich variegation and healthy leaves. If you keep them at a low temperature, the moisture will increase and as a result, it will badly affect the growth of the plant.

Tips for Adequate Temperature

• The plant maintains its good condition in warm temperatures and high moisture. So, it is better to place it close to bathroom or kitchen areas with appropriate indirect sunlight.
• Don’t put them in less sunlight. You can arrange artificial light to provide it with enough light.
• Don’t place them in rooms where air conditioners or heaters are used. Otherwise, the foliage will become dry.
• During the winter season, place them under grow light to prevent them from cold.
• A greenhouse is the best option for nurturing the plant in good conditions.

Humidity Requirements

This plant needs an adequate humidity level so that the leaves can survive in good condition. The normal humidity level for the plant is 50% to 60%.  This level keeps the plant slightly moist which is enough for its growth.

However, if you grow it in your home, you should ensure its humidity level. If there is an excessive-high humidity level, the roots will cause rotten. On the other hand, low humidity will cause wilting, curling, and drooping foliage.

Tips for Adequate Humanity

• Plant your Philodendron Gabby with other tropical houseplants so the humidity level can boost up naturally.
• During the growing season, mist your plant often in the early morning.
• If you are placing the plant inside the home, you can use a room humidifier. It will increase the moisture level.
• Put Gabby on a pebble tray full of water and place it close to the bathroom or kitchen area.

Soil Requirements

Well-draining soil is best for Philodendron Gabby. The soil must have organic matters having the ability of aeration. Take a compost mix of perlite, vermiculite, or coco coir that can easily drain the water and air and pass them to other parts. You can either use a commercial potting mix or prepare a porous, organic, and light potting mix.

Recipe for Homemade Potting Mix

• Take one part of succulent or cactus mix with coco coir, farm manure, and perlite.
• If you want to make the solution in large amounts but light, you can use bark, dried leaves, and coconut husk. A light soil mix is best that allows the air to circulate in the container.
• Now add sphagnum moss to the solution. It will make the soil alkaline.

Fertilization Requirements

Although this plant doesn’t need much fertilizer. however, mild but regular fertilizing makes the leaves healthy and more variegated.

In the growing season, feed it with a balanced fertilizer after one month. The fertilizer should be well diluted. It provides all essential micronutrients and protects the root from burning.

However, if you repotted the plant, it doesn’t need any fertilizer for a few months. Let it absorb all the nutrients from the fresh soil.

Repotting Requirements

Philodendron Gabby plant needs repotting once a year or two years. It can tolerate root-bound conditions. So, don’t make haste to shift it to a large pot.

You should wait until the roots start growing out of the potholes or get entangled. However, if you want to make its growth better, shift it to fresh soil once a year. The fresh soil is rich in nutrients essential for growth. It is better to transplant it in early spring so that its roots can fill the new pot.

Make sure that the new pot is not bigger than the size of the root ball. It can be a maximum of two inches bigger. Additionally, choose the pots that are made of porous material having a few drainage holes so that the excess water can be drained easily. During the repotting procedure, you can take a cutting from the plant for propagation.

How to repot Philodendron Gabby

Below are the steps you can follow while repotting this plant:

• Water your plant one night before when you intend to repot.
• Hold the stem from the bottom firmly and slide out the plant carefully.
• Put some pebbles in a fresh pot then fill it with potting mix.
• Keep the plant in potting mix.
• Add some more potting mix to fill the pot. Leave some space at the top.
• Now, water the plant deeply so that the roots can merge with the soil quickly.

Pruning Requirements

This is a trailing plant so, despite pruning, it still stays bushy.  It needs less maintenance because the old leaves drop naturally.

Pruning makes it small and bushier so, you can also keep its vines long without pruning. However, if you want to prune your plant, trim the leggy and bare stems near the nodes. Then remove all old and withered leaves to make the plant clean and beautiful looking.

Philodendron Gabby Propagation

Propagation is the best way to have several variegated plants at home. This is a hybrid plant that is produced from stem culture. So, propagation is only possible by stem cuttings. If the mother plant is healthy and large enough, you can take 3 to 5 cuttings simultaneously and let all the roots grow in a single container.

How to Propagate

Below are some guidelines for the propagation of the Philodendron Gabby plant:

Cut the Stem

• Give water to the plant a few days before propagation.
• Take the stem having some leaves attached to it.
• The stem must be woodier and more rigid than the new one at the top because it is very delicate as compared to the woodier stem.
• Use pruning shears or a sharp knife and cut vertically or horizontally between the two nodes.
• Cut below the node and leave a little stem.

Prepare the cuttings

• Remove the bottom leaves of the stem and leave the top few leaves.
• Put the stem aside for 12 to 24 hours and let it thicken the cut.

Use Potting Mix

If you grow the cutting directly in the potting mix, the rooting will take a long time so:

• Before planting, take the rooting hormone and apply it to the end of cuttings. It will boost up the rooting process.
• To prepare the potting, take a homemade or commercial organic mix that must be well-draining.
• Take a pot of small size and after filling it with potting mix, water it thoroughly. Remember to keep some space at the top while filling the potting mix.
• Put the cutting into the potting mix at the center. Now, cover it with clear plastic to retain moisture. Make some holes in the plastic and allow aeration.
• Now, put the pot in a warm place having around 70°F temperature and indirect light.
• After two weeks, observe the new roots. When the roots reach 1 to 2 inches, it means they can grow further.

Use Hydroponics

This is another way of propagation to grow the cutting in water without a potting mix.

• Get a glass or small jar for water propagation.
• For water propagation, it is better to use distilled water rather than tap water.
• Insert the cutting into the glass and put it in a warm place.
• Change the water after 5 to 7 days.
• Within two weeks, there will be new roots.
• When the roots become 1 inch long, it is time to transplant the stem into the potting medium.

Philodendron Gabby Common Problems and Solutions

Gabby Philodendron can get affected by common problems such as diseases, pests, or other issues. Keep reading the article to know these problems and their solutions so that you can protect your beloved plant in every possible way.

Horticultural Diseases

This plant commonly suffers from different diseases such as root rot, fungal infections, and rust spots.

Solutions and Preventions

• If the root rot becomes severe, throw away the plant.
• If the decay is mild, decrease watering and let the plant improve.
• You can trim the decayed root and shift the plant to the fresh potting mix.
• Apply fungicide containing flutriafol to the potting mix. It is low-toxic and removes the rust fungus and rot conditions.
• Protect leaves from getting wet and avoid overhead watering.
• Make a watering schedule and follow it accordingly.

Pest Infestation

Pests are enemies of this plant to sac the juice and damage the leaves. Common pests that get attracted to this plant are aphids, thrips, scale, and mealybugs.

Solutions and Preventions

• You can control infestations by washing your plant with soap solution and lukewarm water.
• If there are tiny pests, spray your plant with water using a hose.
• Apply neem oil on the leaves and stem to kill pests.
• You can also use insecticides such as pyrethrin or insecticidal soaps. These are low-toxic that help to prevent pests but are not harmful to the plant.
• Utilizing a commercial potting mix will control aphid infestations.

Browning or Crispy Leaves

Browning or crispy leaves are the sign of sunburn or underwatered plants. In these conditions, the leaves also lose their variegation.

Solutions

• Water plant properly and keep the soil moist so that the roots can be regrown.
• Overwater the plant until it recovers. You can also place the pot in a container and filled it with water. The plant will soak the humidity naturally and recover.
• After recovery of the plant, follow its daily maintenance.

Yellowing Leaves

Yellowing leaves indicate low moisture levels. This is due to arid conditions, lack of humidity in the air, and too much heat from the sun. Other causes of yellowing leaves are underwatering and as a result, the soil remains dry most of the time.

Solutions

• Water plants regularly especially during the growing season to keep the soil moist.
• In the summer season, mist the plant often so that the foliage may not dry.
• If the plant is placed in the room, you can use a room humidifier to fulfill the need for humidity.

Loss of Variegation

Sometimes, Philodendron Gabby loses its variegation. It can be due to an inappropriate propagation method. Other causes include seasonality, poor growing conditions, low lighting, or other factors. In this condition, the leaves turn cream and due to limited chlorophyll production, the plant becomes unhealthy.

Solutions

Once leaves lose their variegation, they can’t revert. However, by providing proper care, you can prevent them from such issues.

Curled up or Droopy Leaves

Cold stress when temperature drops in winter and low humidity levels can cause curled-up and droopy leaves. But the major cause of this issue is overwatering.

Solutions

• If your plant suffers from such conditions, place it inside the home or even room and prevent it from cold stress by providing artificial grow light.

Additional Tips For Better Growing

Below are some tips you can follow to make sure your plant is growing well.

• If you observe that the growth of your plant is slow, place some coffee beans in the potting to revive the plant.
• Sometimes indirect light burns plant foliage. Place the plant 2 meters or 6 feet far from the natural light source.
• If you are going to provide artificial light to the plant, use lights with low to medium intensity.
• Provide appropriate light for 8 to 10 hours to prevent the leaves and stems from legging.
• The variegated pattern can be different in every propagated plant. Don’t be disappointed quickly and be hopeful.

Summary

Philodendron Gabby is a rare tropical plant having variegated leaves that make it precious. However, the plant needs proper attention regarding its growth because environmental factors have a great impact on this delicate plant.