Philodendron Grazielae is a fantastic houseplant that combines rich green foliage with a slower growth rate. With its leathery, heart-shaped leaves and very adaptable nature, it will easily give your home or office the exotic vibe you didn’t know you needed.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about growing Philodendron Grazielae indoors. And with our expert advice, you can be sure that it will enjoy being your home almost as much as it enjoys growing in a tropical rainforest.
Contents
What Is a Philodendron Grazielae?
Philodendron Grazielae is an evergreen, epiphytic plant native to the tropical forests of Brazil and Peru. It is a low-maintenance houseplant perfect as a indoor home decor.
This versatile philodendron can be grown as a climber but also a trailing vine and will look stunning in a hanging basket.
Philodendron Grazielae Care
This slow-growing philodendron is an excellent choice for beginner gardeners. Philodendron Grazielae is not too pretentious about its growing requirements and needs regular watering, bright indirect light, and well-draining soils to stay healthy.
Let’s discuss everything about growing and caring for your Philodendron Grazielae:
– Water
Philodendron Grazielae likes to have its soil moist but not soaked. Its thick, leathery leaves and epiphytic roots will protect the plant from wilting if you forget to water it for a couple of days.
However, to keep your philodendron healthy, it’s best if you have a good watering routine in place. On average, you will need to water it once every five to seven days throughout spring and summer and once every seven to ten days during the colder months.
Always allow the top inch of the soil to dry out before watering your Philodendron Grazielae. This plant enjoys a moist substrate but can be very sensitive to root rot if the soil stays constantly wet. When the top inch feels dry to the touch, use the soak and drain method to give your plant a good flush.
– Light
Philodendron Grazielae should be kept in bright indirect light. In its natural habitat, this epiphytic species will use its aerial roots to climb trees, and it’s used with receiving diffused, dappled sunlight coming down through the forest canopy. To keep the plant healthy and encourage lush, rapid growth, we need to give it the same amount of light it’s used to receiving in the wild.
We recommend keeping your Philodendron Grazielae in a room with eastern or western exposure, preferably at least three feet (90 centimeters) away from the window. Rooms that are facing south receive too much intense sun, while north-facing rooms are too dark.
The leaves of Philodendron Grazielae can burn very easily if exposed to intense, direct sunlight. They are thick enough to tolerate a couple of hours of direct sun but only in the morning when sunlight is milder. Otherwise, it’s best to keep the plant in a room that receives bright natural light but is sheltered from the intense midday and late afternoon sun.
– Soil
Philodendron Grazielae needs a potting mix that is well-draining, porous, aerated, and moisture-retentive. The soil should remain slightly moist in between waterings but should provide enough drainage so that the roots are not sitting in water. This plant can be sensitive to having wet feet, which will result in wilting and root rot.
The soil mix we recommend using for your Philodendron Grazielae consists of two parts potting soil, one part perlite, and one part orchid bark. You can also add some coco chips, pumice, and a bit of horticultural charcoal, to help improve drainage.
If you’re looking for a soilless mix, you can grow your Philodendron Grazielae in 100 percent sphagnum moss, LECA, or equal parts peat moss and vermiculite.
– Temperature
Philodendron Grazielae is a tropical plant that grows best in a temperature range of 64 to 80 F (18 to 27 C). It will be comfortable growing in most homes but can be sensitive to extreme temperatures.
If the thermometer soars above 86 F (30 C), all philodendron species will struggle to grow, especially if the air is very dry. Similarly, temperatures below 59 F (15) will also harm the plant.
You can grow Philodendron Grazielae outdoors if you live in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12. To keep it safe from any direct sun, we recommend picking a part of your garden that’s sheltered by trees or large shrubs.
You can also keep your philodendron in hanging baskets on your patio. Remember that Philodendron Grazielae is not frost tolerant, so if temperatures in your area drop below 59 F (15 C) during the night, you will need to bring the plant back inside.
– Humidity
Philodendron Grazielae loves moisture but can grow just as happily in the average home humidity. Keeping your home’s humidity level by at least 40 percent will suffice for this plant’s needs.
But if you can increase the humidity in your home to around 60 percent, your Philodendron Grazielae will grow much better. Philodendrons are tropical plants that are used to growing in moist conditions. Higher humidity levels will encourage rapid growth and larger leaves and will also protect the plants from pest infestations.
To give your Philodendron Grazielae a humidity boost, we recommend placing the pot on top of a pebble tray half-filled with water. If your plant is growing in a hanging basket, you can keep it in a room that gets more moisture, such as a kitchen or a bathroom with a window. You can also mist your philodendron, but please keep in mind that misting alone is not enough to raise humidity.
– Fertilizer
Philodendron Grazielae is a light feeder and doesn’t need too much fertilizer. Once a month, from early spring until early summer, you can give this plant a balanced fertilizer solution, with a 10-10-10 nutrient ratio, diluted to half the strength. Your philodendron won’t need any additional fertilizers in winter when it enters a short period of dormancy.
You should note that the main factor that triggers plant growth is light, not fertilizers. If your Philodendron Grazielae is kept in a very low light, you can give it all the plant food in the world, and it still won’t grow any faster.
In fact, you may risk damaging the roots through fertilizer burn and making the plant vulnerable to pests and diseases. So if your Philodendron Grazielae is not putting out any new growth, try giving it a bit more light before you give it any fertilizers.
– Pruning and Maintenance
Philodendron Grazielae has a slow to medium growth rate and doesn’t require much pruning. If the vines are becoming too long, you can trim them back and use them for propagation.
Pruning will also encourage a bushier shape. Remember to sterilize your scissors or pruning shears with rubbing alcohol before trimming your plants.
– Repotting
Philodendron Grazielae needs to be repotted once every two or three years. Like all epiphytic species, it doesn’t enjoy growing in containers that are too large and benefits from being a bit pot-bound.
If you see the roots coming out through the drainage hole, you can move the plant to a container that’s one size larger. The best time to repot Philodendron Grazielae is in spring or summer, during its active growing season.
If your Philodendron Grazielae has been repotted recently, we recommend that you don’t give it any fertilizers for the next three months. This way, you will prevent issues such as fertilizer burn, as well as fertilizer salts building up in the soil.
When repotting Philodendron Grazielae, you can add a bamboo trellis or a moss pole to the container. Giving the plant something to climb on will produce larger leaves. After all, this philodendron is a climber, and giving it some support will create a growing environment closer to its natural habitat.
You can also allow your philodendron to trail or hang, although this will result in gradually smaller leaves as the plant grows.
Propagation
Philodendron Grazielae is easy to propagate using stem cuttings or air layering. Both these methods work best in spring or summer and should be used on a plant that’s at least six inches (15 centimeters) long.
If you cut back the plant to less than a third of its size, the cuttings will take root, but the remaining plant may go into shock. Try not to propagate your philodendron in winter, when its slower growth rate means that the cuttings will take a very long time to root.
Let’s take a closer look at each propagation method:
– Stem Cutting
- Pick a long vine with glossy, healthy leaves and find the growth nodes on the stem. They should look like small lumps located at the point where the leaf petiole meets the stem. Often, they will also have aerial roots.
- Use a sharp, sterilized blade and cut the stem half an inch above and below the growth node. If you have a very long vine, you can take several cuttings and plant them together after they have rooted. This method will make the new plant look bushier.
- Fill a plastic container with a mix of equal parts perlite and peat moss, and use a spray pump to moisten the mixture.
- Place your philodendron cuttings in the potting mix, and keep the container in a warm, bright room, away from direct sunlight.
- You can also propagate your stem cuttings in water. Simply remember to change the water once every five or seven days to prevent algae and bacteria growth.
- Your philodendron cuttings will start to grow roots after about two weeks. Cuttings that have well-developed aerial roots or are taken from an older plant can root in as little as one week.
- For cuttings propagated in water, wait until the roots are at least two inches (five centimeters) long before transplanting them to a well-draining potting mix. Cuttings propagated in the soil can be kept in the same container for the next six months.
– Air Layering
- This propagation method is not as fast as using stem cuttings, but it’s worth trying it out if you have a mature plant with well-developed aerial roots.
- Start by locating the growth node on the stem.
- Take some sphagnum moss and soak it for a few minutes, then squeeze out the excess water.
- Pack the moss around the growth node and use a bit of plastic wrap to keep it in place. Leave a gap at the top and bottom of the moss pack to provide air circulation and allow you to keep the moss damp.
- Care for your philodendron as usual, and check the sphagnum moss regularly to make sure it doesn’t completely dry out. Use a spray pump to keep it constantly damp.
- After a month or so, you will start to see the roots come out from the bottom of the moss wrap. Remove the moss, then use a sterilized blade to cut the stem half an inch below the growth node.
- Plant your new philodendron in a well-draining potting mix, and keep it in a humid room until it becomes established.
You can also use Philodendron Grazielae seeds for propagation. However, this method will take a long time and skill to work. The seeds can be challenging to find, and they need to be used fresh to germinate. Also, the seedlings require very strict growing conditions and may take at least a year before they develop into full-fledged plants.
Given the fact that stem cutting and air layering are such simple methods, we much rather recommend using them instead if you wish to propagate your Philodendron Grazielae.
Problems
Philodendron Grazielae is a sturdy plant that very rarely suffers from pests and diseases. As long as you avoid overwatering, cold temperatures, and direct sun, the plant should stay healthy for many years. Here are a few problems to keep an eye out for, just in case.
– Yellowing Leaves
If the leaves on your Philodendron Grazielae are turning yellow, that’s a sign that you’re giving the plant too much water. This species enjoys growing in moist soils, but if the substrate is wet all the time, the roots will begin to rot.
Always test the soil with your finger and make sure that it feels dry to a depth of one inch before giving the plant more water. If the soil is very wet, take the plant out of the pot, remove as much of the soil as you can, then repot it in a well-draining potting mix.
– Brown, Dried Leaves
The leaves of your Philodendron Grazielae will develop crispy edges and dry, brown spots if the plant is receiving too much sun. Although it can tolerate a couple of hours of direct sun early in the morning, this philodendron can suffer burn marks when it’s exposed to intense sunlight. Try moving it further away from the window.
– Scale
Scale insects are usually found along the leaf veins of your Philodendron Grazielae and can cause wilting and foliage discoloration. To get rid of them, soak a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol, and rub the infested areas until the scale is removed. Then, use a solution of four parts water and one part alcohol to spray the leaves once a week for a month.
FAQ
– Is Grazielae Philodendron Rare?
Yes, they are. You need to look for online shops and exotic plant growers.
Philodendron Grazielae’s main feature is its showy foliage; that is why it is popular and hard to come by. Philodendron Grazielae leaves are heart-shaped, with a squat, almost chubby look and a short pointy tip. They come in a vivid shade of darker green, with a glossy shine and leathery texture.
– Is Philodendron Grazielae a Fast Grower?
Yes, but it doesn’t grow as fast as other heart-leaf philodendrons. This makes the Philodendron Grazielae a great choice if you’re looking for indoor plants that won’t take over your home. Over the years, it can grow to about three feet (90 centimeters) in length, especially if you give it lots of humidity and bright indirect light.
– Is Philodendron Grazielae Toxic?
Yes. The leaves and stems of Philodendron Grazielae contain calcium oxalate crystals. If ingested in large amounts, they can cause nausea, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
They can also cause rashes or painful irritations if you have sensitive skin. Keep this plant away from cats and dogs, as well as small children.
Conclusion
Let’s go over what you’ve learned in our Philodendron Grazielae care guide:
- Philodendron Grazielae is a tropical plant with evergreen, heart-shaped leaves.
- It has a slow growth rate but can reach more than three feet in size after several years.
- This low-maintenance plant grows best in bright indirect light, well-draining soils and needs to be kept moist but not soaked.
- The easiest way to propagate your Philodendron Grazielae is through stem cuttings and air layering.
- This plant contains toxic calcium oxalate crystals, so make sure to keep it away from cats and dogs.
If you’re looking for a philodendron that takes time to grow and doesn’t require much fussing over, we recommend adding Philodendron Grazielae to your collection.
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