Philodendron Erubescens Care InfographicPhilodendron erubescens are highly valued plants with attractive and colored leaves. In this article, we are going to share with you some less-known techniques to care for and propagate these plants.
With our guide, you can grow the most gorgeous philodendron plants to brighten up any space. Therefore, wait no more and dive right into the article.
Contents
What Is a Philodendron Erubescens?
Philodendron erubescens is an exotic plant known for its beautiful red-streaked leaves. It is tropical and is native to South America and Costa Rica. The plant is highly valued by hobbyists and gardeners across the world and is popularly referred to as the blushing philodendron.
Philodendron Erubescens Care
Philodendron Erubescens do not require constant monitoring and care, to thrive and grow. All you need to do is focus on a few key elements and you will have lush and attractive foliage. To get the most out of the plant and fill your spaces with beautiful hues, here is what you will need to take care of
– Light Requirements
Philodendrons seldom fare well in direct sunlight. These plants love the shade and do fairly well in cool and indirect sunlight, although the harsh sun rays can turn the leaves yellow and wilt the plant. When indoors, place the plant near an east-facing window permitting the morning light to fall on the plant gently.
– Water Requirements
Philodendron erubescens can tolerate drought to some extent.
At the same time, they absolutely cannot tolerate soggily and overwatered soil which can cause root rot and yellowing of leaves.
Water your philodendron only when the top is dry to touch. Press your finger gently into the soil to about half an inch to check moisture levels. Nonetheless, water it only if your finger comes out completely dry.
– Soil Requirements
Grow the philodendron in nutrient-rich loamy soil. Mix in fine sand with the soil to make it light. It is extremely important to keep the philodendron erubescens soil fast-draining and airy. Heavy soils will not only restrict the spread of roots it can even lead to the death of the plant.
– Ideal Temperature and Humidity Condition
Philodendron erubescens is a tropical plant and thus loves moisture and warmth. They seldom like cold, frost, and chilly winds. The plant sustains itself well between 55 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Moisture levels need to be moderate to high, ideally 50 percent and above. So if you sense dryness in the environment, ensure you mist the plant often.
– Fertilizer
The plant isn’t a heavy feeder. Thus, use a regular houseplant fertilizer once every month to keep the plant alive and kicking.
– Schedule Repotting
Philodendron erubescens are active climbers and need more frequent repotting. Younger plants especially require repotting every spring, just before the growing season begins.
As the plant grows in length and width, the long climbing vines make it difficult to repot. In such a scenario, where repotting is a difficult task, scrape the topsoil and replace it with fresh soil.
– Pruning
Generally speaking, these plants do not require much pruning. Philodendron erubescens actively grow into long vines. Note that the thick foliage can often look unruly, as this is one of the main reasons why pruning is necessary for this plant.
The ideal time to prune the plant will be in the spring and early summer months. Prune the leggy thin vines and remove dead yellow leaves to keep the plant looking fresh and healthy.
– Tackling Diseases and Pests
Identify and tackle pests as early as possible before they attack the entire foliage. Commonly spotted pests of philodendron are spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and whitefly which suck the sap from the plant stems.
– Keep Your Leaves Dust Free
This easy-care tip is important for the health and longevity of the plant. It has a host of advantages and many gardeners often overlook this. Regularly wipe off any dust settled on the broad leaves with a soft and damp cloth.
Keeping your leaves dust-free gives the plant a clean and glossy look. It prevents pests from infecting and multiplying in the plant foliage, additionally, it also helps the plant take in a good amount of sunlight for the natural process of photosynthesis to happen.
Propagation
You can easily propagate the philodendron using stem cuttings, seeds, division, and air layering. Here is how you can go about it.
– Stem Cuttings
Propagating philodendron erubescens through stem cuttings is quick, easy, and bears a high success rate. Follow these steps to see positive results.
- Choose the ideal time of the year when the weather is slightly warm to propagate the plant. The right season is spring or early summer.
- Pick healthy stems that have at least two or three leaf nodes and cut three to seven inches of them with a sterile pruning shear.
- You can choose to root this stem cutting in water or soil. Place this in a warm place with indirect light.
- Wait for twenty days for the roots to develop and in a month you will find the shoots developing as well.
– Seeds
Growing a new blushing philodendron from seed does take a longer time in comparison to stem cuttings. You can still achieve a high rate of success if you use good-quality seeds. Procure seeds from a store and plant them in the following way:
- Philodendron seeds do not need any soaking before sowing.
- Place the seeds directly in the soil at a depth of half an inch.
- Cover them lightly and spray water to keep the soil just moist.
- In around eight weeks the seeds will begin to germinate.
- The ideal temperature for germination needs to be between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Repot them after sixteen weeks when the roots have established themselves in the soil.
– Division
Mature philodendrons can be used to propagate by the process of division. Here is how you go about it.
- Choose a healthy and mature section of the mother plant. Gently remove it from the pot, clearing as much soil from the base to see the root system.
- With the help of a sterile garden shear, snip a portion of the plant keeping intact a section of the developed roots in both.
- The cutout section needs to have at least two shoots.
- Transplant the cutout section into an appropriate container. Repot the mother plant into the soil as well.
- Leave both sets of plants in the warm indirect sun to help them establish and develop healthy roots.
– Air Layering
Air layering works well when the blushing philodendron is mature with thick stems. Follow these steps to easily propagate a new plant using this method.
- Cut at an angle halfway through a mature stem.
- Gently insert a piece of plastic into the angular cut and wrap it with a layer of moss. Cover this with plastic wrap and fasten it with a string. Leave this undisturbed.
- Wait for two weeks to find tender tiny roots developing in the moss. Healthy roots will begin to show in another week’s time.
- Once these strong roots have developed, remove the plastic wrap and place the rooted moss directly into the soil.
Common Problems
Growing philodendron erubescens comes with its own set of problems and challenges. However, they can be easily fixed. Here is a quick peek into it.
– Philodendron Leaves Turning Yellow
If you find your philodendron leaves turning yellow with a wilted appearance, you can be assured that it is due to an incorrect watering routine. Overwatering, as well as underwatering, can cause plant stress resulting in yellow and wilted leaves. Thus, check the soil moisture levels before you water the plant.
– Brown and Droopy Leaves
If you find your plant leaves turning brown with a droopy appearance, it can be due to low humidity, cold temperatures, or too much heat. Philodendron erubescens are tropical plants that need a warm and humid environment. In other situations, the plant is stressed resulting in brown and lifeless leaves.
– Rotting Smell
Overwatering of the plant can also result in root rot. With excess water at the base of the plant, fungal and bacterial infestations make their way easily, furthermore, this not only turns the leaves yellow but also makes them emit a rotting smell.
You can still save the plant from this condition by catching it early. Gently dig the plant out of the soil and check the roots for black mushy patches. Cut away the infected root sections leaving behind the white healthy portions. Replant it in fresh soil thereafter.
– Insect Infestation
The vigorous and active philodendrons can be infested with pests such as spider mites, aphids, and fungus gnats. These insects suck the sap off the stems making the plant weak. Watch out for these insects and catch them early.
Isolate infested plants to prevent their spread in your garden. Use a soapy organic insecticide to easily remove the pests before they cause immense damage to the plant.
– Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial infestation in the form of black lesions can make leaves droop. It also makes the plant emit a foul odor. To prevent this water the philodendron plant overhead instead of directly watering at the base of the soil. Dispose of any fallen leaves that may rot and cause further infestation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
– What Do The Philodendron Erubescens Features Include?
We have listed out its distinct and notable features for you below.
- The plant bears long and narrow green leaves with streaks of red.
- You will find colored undersides that are a visual delight when the leaves cascade towards the ground.
- They are aggressive climbers and reportedly have even touched a height of sixty feet in their native environment. Of course, you need not worry, for as a household plant they remain within twelve feet in height.
- The plant is fairly easy to grow.
- Lush spear-shaped foliage is a great addition to any garden space.
These features surely make the philodendron erubescens a favorite plant for gardeners across the world.
– What are Some of The Philodendron Erubescens Varieties?
The exotic philodendron erubescens has distinct varieties, each unique in its way. Where the climbing type is very well suited for indoor rooms and cabins, the non-climbers can adorn and brighten up spaces with their colorful foliage.
Here are more details on philodendron erubescens varieties. Which variety is your favorite from among these?
- Red Emerald philodendron: This is one of the most exotic varieties of philodendrons and it catches the eye with its wine-red leaves that can cascade over the pot.
- Burgundy Philodendron: The leaves of this variety have red streaks on dark green leaves. The undersides of the leaf as well as the stem bear a dark burgundy shade, which gives the plant an overall attractive look.
- Pink Princess: This is a variety that is characterized by bright pink splotches all across the leaf.
Conclusion
You have now read all about growing the exotic plant philodendron erubescens. Let us quickly recap all that has been discussed in this article.
- Water the plant only when the topsoil is dry. The plant is to be placed in partial shade or indirect sunlight.
- Maintain temperatures between 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal growth. Keep the plant in moderate to high humid conditions and away from cold drafts.
- You can propagate the plant through stem cuttings, seeds, division and air layering.
- Common problems of the plant include root rot, yellowing of leaves, bacterial and pest infestation.
- Tackle most of these problems by understanding care requirements and catching any infestation early.
Having read our detailed guide you can now grow your blushing philodendrons easily in garden spaces. Wait no longer and adorn your home with these exotic and attractive plants.
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