Philodendron Golden Goddess is an eye-catching plant that has bold leaves that make it the most stunning of all houseplants. Its leaves have a pretty lime-green color that makes it stand out from the rest.
Continue reading to learn how to care for Philodendron Golden Goddess the right way in this complete care guide.
Contents
What Is the Philodendron Golden Goddess?
Philodendron Golden Goddess is a rare hybrid plant originating from Thailand that is a climbing Philodendron with pale lime foliage.
It is also called Malay Gold and Lemon Lime Philodendron.
– Size and Growth
With constant care, the Philodendron Golden Goddess can reach a height of six feet or even taller. It is an ornamental plant and is not meant for consumption.
It is toxic to both humans and pets, so keep it away from both. It may cause mild to severe irritation in the throat.
– Leaves
Philodendron Golden Goddess leaves are a stunning golden yellow shade. The younger foliage is lime green whereas the mature leaves are a gorgeous yellow shade. Both contrasting colors give the plant an amazing appearance, and the leaves grow bigger as the plant grows upward.
Philodendron Golden Goddess variegated is another variety that you might notice in some garden centers. The lime foliage sometimes develops a darker shade of green. Spray the leaves with water if they are dusty and dirty.
– Roots
Apart from an established root system in the soil, the Golden Goddess Philodendron also has aerial roots. It climbs up other trees using aerial roots in search of more light. The aerial roots help it to cling to the tree branches.
Quick Overview
Here is a handy table of this plant’s requirements.
| Requirements | Philodendron Golden Goddess |
| Light | Thrives well under medium to bright indirect light |
| Water | Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out before watering |
| Soil | Needs sandy yet fertile soil |
| Humidity | Needs high humidity |
| Temperature | Temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Fertilizer | Apply a well-balanced liquid fertilizer regularly during the spring and summer |
Philodendron Golden Goddess Care
Philodendron Golden Goddess is a great beginner-type plant and is easier to care for compared to other Philodendrons.
Provide it with its optimal light, water, temperature, humidity and fertilizer needs for best growth results.
– Light Requirements
Philodendron Golden Goddess needs medium to bright indirect light to grow well. South-facing windows and balconies are great spots to keep these plants. It thrives in lots of indirect, dappled sunlight. If you wish to see glossy and healthy-looking leaves, provide the plant with the right amount of light.
In the wild, these plants get dappled sunlight throughout the day as they climb up on other larger trees. Some direct sunlight in the morning and evening is fine, but intense afternoon sun is a big no-no for this plant. The leaves will appear pale and will eventually burn when given harsh direct sunlight.
Do not keep the plant in very low light. The first sign of low light conditions is darker leaves with not much shine. In these conditions, the plant is also prone to problems related to overwatering. The leaves start to get soft and the plant gets leggy in improper light conditions.
– Water Requirements
Maintain a regular watering schedule to keep the Philodendron Golden Goddess healthy. It loves moist but not damp or soggy soil conditions. It is a fairly drought-tolerant plant and can manage comfortably without water for a few days. Adjust the schedule according to other factors in your home.
Like most aroid plants, Philodendron Golden Goddess is also quite sensitive to overwatering. Let the top few inches of the soil dry up before watering again. Use the finger knuckle test to see if your plant needs water or not. To do this, insert your finger in the soil until the second knuckle and if the soil sticks to your finger, hold back on watering and wait for a few days before checking again.
Water the plant in a way that within a few seconds of watering, it comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom. This will only happen when the soil mix is well-draining. Lack of drainage saturates the soil, leading to root rot.
– Soil Mix Requirements
Philodendron Golden Goddess needs sandy yet fertile soil to grow well. It loves moist soil conditions but cannot stand in soggy soil for too long. The soil should be such that as soon as you water the plant, within a few seconds, the water should drain out from the drainage holes below.
Use a well-draining and chunky soil mix to grow this plant. You can use commercially available mixes for tropical plants and mix some orchid bark chips and perlite to make it airy and chunky. Something that does not hold on to moisture for too long works well for its growth.
– Temperature Requirements
The Philodendron Golden Goddess grows well in temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It thrives in warm and humid environments. Avoid placing it in extremely high or low temperatures.
During the winter months, shift the plant indoors to a bright, warm spot. It cannot tolerate frost and freezing temperatures, so either cover your plant with horticultural fleece or move it indoors.
– Humidity
The Philodendron Golden Goddess prefers moderate to high humidity conditions around itself. Although the humidity levels inside homes are usually fine for the plant’s growth, take note that the higher the humidity, the better-looking leaves your plant will produce.
Try to maintain humidity levels above 50 percent by utilizing a humidifier or a humidity tray. Misting the leaves regularly also helps in keeping the humidity levels up. It might get too dry, especially in extreme summers and winters. In that case, increase the humidity levels by using the above-mentioned methods.
Prepare a humidity tray by filling a tray with pebbles and water. Keep your plant on top of the tray. As the water evaporates, your plant will get the required moisture from it.
– Fertilizer Requirements
The Philodendron Golden Goddess needs regular feeding during the spring and summer months. Fertilize using a well-balanced liquid fertilizer (1:1:1) and follow the instructions on the label. During the growing seasons of spring and summer, it is best to fertilize the plant once every month.
Using a mild houseplant fertilizer every month helps keep the plant healthy and happy. Avoid overfertilizing your plant because it can lead to problems such as root burn due to salt accumulation. Salt build-up makes the soil unhealthy for future cultivation too.
Repotting
Repot your Philodendron Golden Goddess every two to three years when it has outgrown the existing pot. The roots start coming out of the drainage holes at the bottom when the roots have completely taken over the pot.
Pruning is not necessary for this plant. Pinch off new growth regularly to promote branching and to give the plant a fuller and bushier look. Lack of pinching and pruning can make the plant look leggy and lean.
Propagation
Propagate Philodendron Golden Goddess by stem cuttings either in water or in soil. You might face difficulty while propagating this plant in water but it is manageable. Rot, especially at the bottom, is the most common problem in the case of cuttings grown in water, but other than that, this plant is super easy to propagate.
– How To Propagate Philodendron Golden Goddess
To take a cutting, look at the leaf lines and locate the node, which is a point on the stem from which new leaves and roots emerge. Cut below the node, removing the bottom leaves and leaving the top one to two leaves. Propagate the cutting in either water or soil. Remember to cut using a clean, sharp pair of scissors.
If you have put the cuttings in water, let the roots develop first before moving them to the soil. The roots may take 10 to 20 days to grow, and after about a month, you can plant the cutting in the soil mix. Prepare a rich soil mix composed of regular potting soil, perlite, orchid bark chips and lots of organic matter.
Fill three-fourths of the pot with the soil mix and make a hole in the center to place your cutting. Place the cutting in the center and firm the soil around its roots by putting in more soil. Water the plant thoroughly and put it in a bright, shaded spot.
Problems
Philodendron Golden Goddess is an easy-to-maintain plant, but it might still face some issues with pests and diseases. Let us take a look at some of these problems in this section.
– Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot causes water-soaked leaf spots, especially on the older leaves. They start out red and turn black over time.
Your best bet is to prevent and control at the first sign of these symptoms. Remove the infected leaves and stems and destroy them.
Remember to not water the leaves while watering the plant. Instead, water the soil and aim for the roots.
– Leaf Tip Curl
When your plant develops leaf tip curl, the leaves turn brown and curl upwards. The roots die off eventually. Using very rich soil or over-fertilizing are the main causes of this disease.
If you notice the symptoms on the foliage, remove the plant from the pot and check its roots. Cut off the dead roots and apply a copper-based fungicide.
– Root Rot
Root rot is a pretty common problem in almost all Philodendrons. Overwatering is the main cause of root rot. To prevent and control the problem, allow the soil to dry and remove the dead and black roots, if any. Stop fertilizing for a month and replace the soil with fresh, well-draining soil.
– Red Spider Mites
The cobwebs hanging around the plant are a sign of spider mites. If you spot these webs, spray them with water or wipe them off with a wet cloth.
If the plant gets severely infected, you can use other treatments. Mix one part alcohol with three parts of water and apply it to the affected plant parts. You can also create a soap and water solution and spray it on the affected parts.
Other Useful Information
Is the Golden Goddess Philodendron Rare?
The Golden Goddess Philodendron is not absolutely rare, but it is not as commonly available as, for example, a Philodendron Brasil.
How Do You Take Care of a Golden Goddess Philodendron?
The Golden Goddess Philodendron thrives in warm, bright and humid conditions. Keep it in a bright location that receives indirect light. Water the plant to keep the soil evenly moist and allow the soil to dry out in between the waterings.
Keep the temperatures moderate and during winter, shift the plant indoors to a warm spot. Fertilize the plant regularly, about once a month in the active growing period of spring to summer, and avoid it in winters.
Does the Philodendron Golden Goddess Climb?
Yes, the Philodendron Golden Goddess is a climbing plant that grows as a vine in the forests, where it clings on to other tree branches.
While growing it indoors, provide it with a support system in the form of a trellis or moss pole. As the plant grows and matures, this will help the plant grow bigger leaves.
Conclusion
The Philodendron Golden Goddess is a unique and beautiful plant to add a dash of color to your existing plant collection. We have summarized all the points you need to keep in mind before growing this beauty.
- Philodendron Golden Goddess is a climbing plant that is popular for its bold, yellow-lime foliage.
- It needs bright, filtered light to grow bigger and glossier leaves.
- It thrives in bright but filtered sunlight with little to no exposure to direct sunlight.
- Water the plant regularly during the growing periods of spring and summer, ensuring that it does not remain soggy for too long.
- It does not like to sit in soggy soil for too long. Use a chunky soil mix with a good amount of bark chips and perlite in it.
- Ideal temperatures for the plant’s growth are between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Maintain the humidity levels above 50 percent by keeping humidifiers or humidity trays around the plant.
- Fertilize the plant once a month from spring to summer to keep the plant healthy.
- It is easy to propagate it using stem cuttings either in water or soil.
- It might face some problems such as red spider mites, bacterial leaf spot and leaf tip curl. Treat them in the early stages to avoid problems later.
Visible from across the room, the Philodendron Golden Goddess plant is a must-have for all the plant collectors out there. Now that you know all about it, get your hands on one of these beauties!
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