The Philodendron Neon makes for one of the best plants to keep atop bookshelves as it looks great trailing and falling down the shelves.
It can grow in any space that receives bright light making it one of the easiest to care for plants.
The Neon Philodendron name comes from the beautiful neon-colored leaves that give the plant a uniquely vibrant look. Follow our comprehensive care guide to know all about this beauty.
Contents
What Is Philodendron Neon?
Philodendron Neon or Philodendron Hederaceum ‘Lemon Lime’ is a beautiful, tropical Philodendron variety with heart-shaped leaves. Belonging to the Araceae family, it is native to the tropical jungles of South America.
Its common names are the Neon Philodendron Cordatum, Philodendron Lemon Lime and Philodendron Hederaceum.
Neon Philodendron Care
– Water Requirements
The Neon plant prefers moist soil most times for best growth but it does not enjoy soggy or water-logged soil conditions. Since it is susceptible to overwatering, note that it faces root rot if you let it sit in soggy soil for too long.
In order to see this gorgeous plant thrive in your house always check the soil before watering the plant. Each time, check the soil by inserting a finger in to the second knuckle.
Water the plant only if it feels dry and non-sticky, otherwise check again after a day or two. The reason is that this technique will help deal with both underwatering and overwatering-related problems.
Remember to give your Neon Leaf Philodendron a good drench each time while watering and leave the soil to dry out a bit in between waterings. In winters, let the soil dry out completely in between waterings to prevent rot due to overwatering.
– Light Requirements
Philodendron Lemon Lime thrives in bright indirect light away from direct sunlight. It is very important to remember that this plant cannot tolerate scorching sunlight, especially in the afternoon.
Therefore, remember that the morning and evening sunlight are fine for it but avoid placing it in a spot that receives afternoon sun.
In comparison with other Philodendrons, this one has slightly lower lighting needs but needs a good amount of bright, dappled light to grow well. You will notice a brighter neon shade on the leaves under bright light.
Avoid placing the plant in low-light conditions as it makes the plant leggy and stretched out. Leggy stems with fewer leaves make the plant look unattractive. Prune off the leggy stems and move the plant to a brighter location to encourage more growth.
A north or east-facing window is a good spot. However, remember to avoid keeping it near south or west-facing windows as the sunlight is quite intense in the afternoon.
– Soil Requirements
As for the soil requirement of this plant, it is ideal to use a rich and fast-draining soil mix to grow your Philodendron.
Prepare your soil mix by mixing three parts of potting soil with one part perlite. Add organic compost to make it rich in nutrients. You can also use 100 percent peat moss to grow the plant.
While growing the plant, make sure your soil and container have enough drainage to avoid the roots from sitting in wet soil for longer periods. Lack of drainage can cause major problems later on such as root rot, paleness in foliage, and pests like mealybugs.
If you are a beginner, instead of using plastic and ceramic pots, stick to clay or terracotta pots for growing all your plants. Clay pots absorb moisture from the soil which helps prevent overwatering-related problems.
– Temperature Requirements
This tropical Philodendron needs temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to grow well and thrive.
If you are a beginner, you must remember that it is important for you to grow your plant in a container so that it is easier to move it indoors if the temperatures outdoors get extremely cold or even very warm.
If the temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit outdoors in winters, bring the plant indoors to a bright, warm spot. Similarly, when the temperatures increase and go beyond 80 degrees Fahrenheit, regulate the temperatures around the plant to prevent the shock from heat.
– Humidity Requirements
The Neon plant has high humidity needs like most other tropical plants. Regular humidity levels in most homes work well but increasing the humidity around the plants can dramatically improve your plant’s growth. Note that you should try to maintain the humidity levels above 50 percent for its best growth.
Additionally, it is key to mist the plant regularly in the summer months if the air is too dry in your area.
The heart-shaped leaves will benefit from regular misting and it will also help keep the leaves clean. Keep humidifiers or humidity trays around the plant to maintain high humidity levels.
Make sure that with high humidity, there is good air movement around the plant. Lack of airflow can increase the chances of the plant getting rot and fungal infections.
– Fertilizer Requirements
Feed the plant with a liquid, well-balanced fertilizer from spring to fall. Regular feeding once a month will keep your plant healthy. The plant will continue to survive without fertilizer however, if you want larger leaves, feed it with a good quality fertilizer during the active growth period.
Make sure you are using a water-soluble fertilizer for your plant to prevent mineral accumulation in the soil. For the best way to use fertilizers for the growth of your plant, you may follow the instructions of the fertilizer label and use half the recommended dose mentioned on the label.
Don’t fertilize the plant in the months of winter as it becomes dormant and does not grow much. Remember that if you overfertilize or fertilize the plant in winters, there will be salt build-up in the soil further causing root burn, hence it is very important to wait until spring before resuming with regular fertilization.
– Pruning
This tropical vining plant needs to be pruned regularly during the active growing seasons of spring and summer.
If you want to keep the plant compact, it is better to prune it every year, or whenever the plant gets leggy. Use clean, sterilized cutting tools to trim the plant. You can use the pruned cuttings to propagate the plant.
The Lemon Lime Philodendron is one of the fastest-growing, vining Philodendrons. It needs to be pruned and trimmed regularly for denser growth and if you want to limit its size.
Propagating the Philodendron Neon
The ideal time for pruning, repotting and propagation is spring when the plant comes out of the dormancy stage and starts to show new growth. The easiest way to propagate the Neon plant is from stem cuttings.
Look for healthy and mature stems and make sure that each cutting you take has two to three nodes and is four to six inches long. Use a clean pair of scissors to make the cuts. From the cutting, remove the bottom leaves leaving the top one or two leaves.
– Water Propagation
You can place this cutting in a jar of water for water propagation. Make sure the nodes are dipped in the water and you change the water every three to four days to prevent the cutting from rotting. Once the roots are about an inch long after a few weeks, you can shift the cuttings to soil.
If you are someone who likes to watch the progress of root growth, try water propagation. Just remember to have water changes every few days. Otherwise, you will see algae growing and the cutting will rot.
– Soil Propagation
For soil propagation, plant the cutting in fresh soil mix inserting the nodes in the soil. Place the planted cutting in a bright, shaded spot away from direct sunlight.
Keep the soil evenly moist at all times. The roots take three to four weeks to grow. Once the cuttings have stabilized, you can shift them to a brighter spot.
While propagating the plant, we would recommend taking more than a single cutting so that even if a cutting fails to grow roots, you can grow others. The success rate is quite high in this plant’s propagation but to minimize the risks, take a couple of cuttings for propagation.
Problems
The Neon plant is a low-maintenance plant with little care needs. But it can face certain problems such as pests, diseases, and some problems in leaves. Let us take a look at some of them.
– Yellow Leaves
Yellowing of the foliage is often a result of either too much light or too much water in the soil. Natural yellowing happens when the older leaves naturally turn yellow and fall off but if you notice a sudden change in the color, then check the location and your watering schedule.
Shift the plant to a bright, shaded spot away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight causes leaf burns and paleness in the leaves. If you suspect root rot, replace the soil mix and repot the plant in fresh potting mix.
– Browning of Foliage
Browning of leaves is commonly caused due to underwatering, hence note that if the plant is thirsty, the leaves would start to wilt and turn brown from the edges. Wilting is the initial sign of underwatering or overfertilization.
The leaves perk up as soon as you water the plant. To prevent this problem, check the plant regularly and water it when the top few inches of the soil dry out. Remove the brown leaves as they would not turn back green.
Keep a check on the fertilization schedule and avoid overfertilizing if you want to protect the plant roots. Use liquid fertilizers to prevent this problem and if you suspect root burn, replace the soil mix.
– Root Rot
Neon Philodendron droopy leaves are the sign that you are overwatering the plant. Root rot is a very common problem faced by the Philodendrons. The leaves get yellow and droopy.
If you suspect rot, change the soil mix and replant the pot in a fresh well-drained potting mix. Also, keep a check on your watering schedule and water the plant only when it feels dry to the touch.
– Leaf Spot and Mold
These fungal diseases are a result of overwatering. They cause discoloration in the foliage and the fungus grows in humid and wet conditions.
Avoid overwatering the plant to prevent the problem. Use fungicides on the affected parts if needed. Also, avoid overhead watering as sitting water on the foliage is problematic and causes the fungus to grow more.
– Mealybugs
Pests such as mealybugs can cause problems such as yellowing, curling and brown spots on the leaves. These sap-sucking insects target the stems and leaves of the plant and can cause long-term damage if ignored for long periods.
Apply neem oil regularly to prevent and control the growth of these pests. You can also use alcohol-dipped cotton swabs to dust off mild infestations. Use insecticidal soap solutions in more severe infestations.
– Spider Mites
Spider mites are commonly found in hot and dry weather conditions. If the air is too dry in your region, improve the humidity levels around the plant by keeping a humidifier or humidity tray.
Isolate the infected plant and use an insecticidal soap solution to control the spread. Alcohol solution and neem oil spray also work well in controlling these unwanted pests. Introduce beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybugs in your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
– Neon Philodendron vs Neon Pothos, What Is the Difference?
Do not confuse your Neon Philo for a Neon Pothos. Both might look quite similar in terms of the foliage color but Pothos does not have the heart-shaped leaves like the Philodendron.
– Is the Neon Leaf Philodendron Toxic?
Similar to its Philodendron counterparts, this one too is not pet and human safe. Keep it away from kids and pets as the calcium oxalate crystals in it can cause irritation and swelling which could become a serious issue for some upon ingestion.
– What Is the Right Technique for Watering a Philodendron?
Water your plant thoroughly each time such that the excess water drains out of the bottom drainage holes. Keep watering until the water comes out of the drainage holes. Watering this way makes sure that the entire root system gets enough water.
– How Do You Repot the Neon Philodendron?
For repotting the plant, remove it from the pot and check the roots. Prune the dead roots and gently place the plant in a fresh soil mix prepared in a bigger pot.
Choose a container that is just one size, about two inches larger than the previous one. Let the plant sit in a shaded spot until it fully acclimatizes to the new soil environment.
– When Should I Repot my Neon Philodendrons?
Remember to Repot the neon Philodendrons every two to three years when the roots outgrow the pot, however, it is key to note that the best season for repotting this plant is during springtime. The plant grows well when it is slightly root-bound but shifting to a bigger pot at the right time helps the plant in growing larger and glossier leaves.
Conclusion
Now that we have learned everything about it, let us sum up the most important points you need to remember before growing it.
- Philodendron Lime is a trailing plant with neon, heart-shaped leaves native to South America.
- Suited for bright, dappled light, keep the plant in a warm and humid spot for best growth results.
- Along with warm and humid conditions around the plant, maintain good air circulation to prevent leaf rot and fungus growth.
- Feed the plant monthly using a liquid, well-balanced fertilizer from spring to fall for larger and glossier leaves.
- Treat problems such as pests and diseases like sooty mold as soon as you spot them using alcohol and insecticidal soap solution and neem oil.
We hope that our care guide has aided you know all about the care needs of this plant and you will soon get one of these for yourself!
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