Philodendron scandens 'Brasil'
Hanger
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The Philodendron is a versatile houseplant, which, due to its easy care, is also very suitable as an office plant. Whichever variety you choose, with large leaves that can be green, red, bright yellow, or variegated; whether it's a climber, a hanger, or a low-grower: with a Philodendron, you bring the jungle indoors.
Origin
The Philodendron originally comes from the densely grown tropical rainforests of Central and South America, where they grow in the shade of trees. To get enough light, many Philodendrons climb upwards. They have aerial roots that wrap around trees, slowly growing towards the light. The aerial roots seem to embrace the tree, and thus the name Philodendron was derived: in Greek, 'philo' means 'loving,' and 'dendron' means 'tree.'
Care of the Philodendron
Location
The ideal location for a Philodendron is a bright spot, without direct sunlight. Therefore, do not place the plant in front of a south-facing window. Generally, the plant prefers to be 3 to 4 meters away from a window facing north, east, or west, with a light intensity between 750 and 1000 Lux, which can be measured using a lux meter. When choosing the location, also ensure that the Philodendron is not in the path of traffic, as frequent touching can damage the leaves.
Watering
The Philodendron does not require much water and is sensitive to excess water. The number of watering sessions and the amount of water the plant needs depend on various factors such as humidity and season. In spring and summer, the soil of a Philodendron should remain slightly moist, and in winter, the soil should feel dry for about a week. If the Philodendron has yellow or brown leaves, it indicates that the water supply is not proper. Brown leaves suggest that the Philodendron is probably getting too little water, while too much water results in yellow leaves.
Spraying and temperature
Due to its original habitat, the Philodendron is very fond of a high humidity level. In too dry air, brown edges or spots may appear on the leaves of the Philodendron, or the leaves may curl up to prevent as much water evaporation as possible. Therefore, we advise you to spray the plant regularly. This is especially true for climbing varieties with aerial roots: ideally, spray these plants at least once a week. In addition to increasing humidity, spraying also helps prevent pests. Ensure that the temperature during the day does not drop below 15°C and at night no lower than 12°C. With all this, the plant will thrive, and you will enjoy the Philodendron for many years.
Pruning
When the Philodendron has unsightly leaves and/or old stems, you can cut these off at the end of the leaf stalk. Additionally, you can keep the Philodendron in shape by trimming the overly long shoots at the leaf axil. For climbing types with a moss pole, you can guide the shoots back to the moss pole. The plant will also attach itself to the moss pole with its aerial roots.
Feeding
During the spring and summer season, the Philodendron needs extra nutrients. Be careful not to give too often and/or too much plant food as it can be harmful to the plant. Check the packaging of the plant food for the recommended amount and number of feeding sessions. In autumn and winter, the Philodendron does not need extra feeding.
Types of Philodendron
The Philodendron belongs to the Araceae family, which consists of over 500 species. Some Philodendrons remain low their entire life, while other variants are eager and very good climbers. There are even types that never touch the ground. These germinate high in the tree and stay there for their entire life.
These popular Philodendron types (and more) are available in our range:
Philodendron scandens
A strong and easy houseplant that grows well in low light. A spot in (partial) shade is therefore the best choice for this plant. The beautiful heart-shaped leaves that are dark green in colour make the Philodendron scandens very decorative. The plant is available as a climbing plant with a moss pole and as a hanger. A very popular cultivar of this species is the Philodendron scandens ‘Brasil’, known for its light green-yellow stripes in the leaves.
Philodendron ‘Imperial Green’
A fast-growing Philodendron ‘Imperial Green’ is a beautiful impressive houseplant with elongated shiny leaves that grow close together. The plant needs little water but should not dry out.
Philodendron ‘Imperial Red’
The red sibling of the Philodendron ‘Imperial Green’ has dark red leaves that later change to dark green. If the plant is happy, it can roll out a new leaf every month and get a bit taller. Since the short stems rarely branch, the Philodendron ‘Imperial Red’ remains nicely compact.
Philodendron ‘White Wave’ (also known as Philodendron ‘Birkin’)
Perhaps the most striking variant in the Philodendron family. This Philodendron is a slow-growing non-climbing plant that becomes more beautiful over the years. Initially, the plant has uniformly green leaves, but as it ages, the leaves develop white stripes. The older the plant, the broader and whiter the stripes. A very fine contrast with the dark green leaves.
Philodendron ‘Xanadu’
A compact large-leafed houseplant that looks best when it has room to spread. The plant has deeply incised leaves on long stems. If the plant gets too much water, a drop can form at the tip of the leaves. To prevent the leaves from leaning too much towards the light, it is good to rotate the plant regularly. This keeps it nicely upright.
Philodendron selloum (also known as Philodendron bipinnatifidum)
Has deeply incised leaves that are much larger than those of its relative, the Philodendron ‘Xanadu’. The selloum can grow up to 10 meters high but is often sold as a relatively low plant. The leaves can reach 1.5 meters, with the leaf stalk being about the same length. This Philodendron variant quickly takes up a lot of space but is popular precisely because of its large leaves. Rotate the plant regularly to prevent the leaves from leaning too much towards the light. This keeps it nicely shaped.
View our entire Philodendron range