Philodendron Sharoniae Care InfographicPhilodendron sharoniae is a true representation of the elephant ear plants. It produces very long and narrow funky-looking leaves that will take your house to a whole new level of cool, additionally, it is also very easy to look after.
Let us take a close look at how to raise this plant at home by yourself.
Contents
What Is Philodendron Sharoniae?
Philodendron sharoniae is a very nice-looking exotic plant with very long, narrow, and pointed leaves with a ridge pattern on them. They are best as indoor plants because of their low light tolerance. This means that if you live in a flat with little light, they will still thrive!
Philodendron Sharoniae Care
Care for Philodendron sharoniae plants by keeping in low light, watering regularly, and providing high temperatures and humidity levels. Find out more below.
– Water Requirements
Grow Philodendron sharoniae plant in slightly moist soil all the time and water whenever the top inch of the soil becomes dry. You can later this plant from both the top and the bottom.
Want to learn more? Jump down below.
– When To Water?
When even the top one inch of the soil becomes dry, know that it is time to water the Philodendron sharoniae plant as this one needs constantly damp soil at all times.
Insert a finger in the soil upto your knuckles, as this makes it about two to three inches long. If it comes out dry, then this means that the top three inches of your soil have become dry.
You can also insert a pencil in the soil to check out how dry it is.
A moisture meter is another fantastic tool to find out when to water the plant next, even if it tends to be a bit expensive.
– What Is the Right Method To Water It?
Water this plant either from the top or the bottom, whatever suits you best!
– Watering From the Top
Take a small amount of water and soak the soil with it. You can also dampen the soil by spraying on it. Wait for some time, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Then pour a generous amount of water on the soil again till it comes out of the drainage hole.
-Watering From the Bottom
Take the pot containing the said Philodendron and place it in a shallow bucket containing water. Only the bottom of the pot should be submerged inside the water, hence allowing the water to soak through the soil from the bottom.
When the top of the soil begins to glisten or becomes moist on the touch, this means that it has been watered properly, furthermore remove it from the bucket right away.
– Light Requirements
Keep Philodendron sharoniae indoors under either indirect sunlight or artificial grow lights.
– Growing Indoors in Natural Light
The Philodendron sharoniae plant can grow alright in low light conditions indoors. However, it is best if this plant receives bright sunlight in an indirect manner. The best way to provide indirect light to a plant is to place it in a room that is adequately lit by windows.
Don’t place this plant too near the windows or the direct sunlight will cause its leaves to turn yellow and sickly. This is especially true if the window in question is a southern-facing one as this window receives very intense sunlight during the afternoon hours.
The eastern and the western side windows are slightly tolerable as they receive direct mild sunlight only for a couple of hours each day. Remember that a plant that is kept in brighter light grows quickly and more healthily than those that are grown in low light.
– Growing Indoors in Artificial Light
It is also possible to grow the Philodendron sharoniae plant indoors using only artificial lights.
We suggest using a combination of both fluorescent and incandescent light to create the right intensity of light.
It is best to place the artificial lights at the top of the plant for maximum effect. If the lights are on one side of the plant only, then keep rotating the plant so that all sides get the same amount of light.
– Soil Requirements
Plant the Philodendron sharoniae plant in the soil through which water drains quickly without turning it into the mud. It should also be aerated enough to allow the roots to grow and breathe properly.
Take an ordinary potting mix meant for household plants and add perlite or orchid bark to it. These ingredients are perfect for loosening up the soil, nonetheless, you can also add coco coir to the potting mix.
– Temperature Requirements
Maintain 65 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit temperature during the day and at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit temperature at night. Don’t ever let the Philodendron sharoniae plant experience below 50 degrees Fahrenheit lest it should experience a cold shock and die.
– Fertilizing Requirements
Philodendron sharoniae needs to be fertilized regularly, especially during the growth period from spring till late summer.
– Features of Fertilizing the Philodendron
Fertilize this plant each month during the growth period using a good quality fertilizer with a reasonable N-P-K ratio. During the non-growing period from fall till next spring, decrease the frequency of fertilizing to once every two months.
Always water the plant copiously before applying fertilizer to the roots. This decreases the chance of your roots developing fertilizer burns. Another safe practice is to dilute the fertilizer to half its original strength for the Philodendron plants.
– Humidity Requirements
The sharoniae plant needs 60 to 70 percent humidity to grow at its full potential.
– How To Increase Humidity Around Plants?
Keep plants close together in a group. Take care that their individual air circulation isn’t compromised. Place a pebble-filled tray under the plant. The evaporating water from the tray will increase the humidity surrounding your plant. Very lightly mist the plants every third day on the leaves. Don’t drench it in water.
Propagation
Propagate Philodendron sharoniae using three to six inches long stem cuttings in a pot, you can propagate them using seeds in a tray. Learn the step-by-step method of both methods in the next section.
– Stem Cutting
- Take sharp gardening scissors and cut a piece of stem that is at least 3 to 6 inches long and contains multiple leaves.
- Leave only two or three leaves on the stem on one end. Remove the leaves on the other end of the stem to leave the nodes exposed. New roots will emerge from these roots.
- Keep this stem cutting on a piece of paper towel in a dry place for five to six days till it dries up. You can also apply rooting hormone to it when it dries but it is a totally optional stem.
- Now mix the right type of soil and sprinkle water over it to make it moist and soft. Don’t go overboard and turn it mushy or runny.
- Place the stem cutting in an upright position such that the side with the exposed nodes goes into the soil and the other side stays up outside.
- Place the pot in a bright room with high temperature and humidity. In three to four weeks, new shoots will emerge which is an indication that your propagation has been successful and the cuttings have taken roots.
- Propagating Philodendron sharoniae through stem cuttings is not only the easiest but also the recommended method of propagating this plant.
– Through Seeds
- Did you know that you can also propagate this plant via seeds? Sure, this method is more difficult with lower success rates but that’s no reason not to try it out.
- Always purchase the seeds through an authentic source. There are a lot of fakes out there that you might be duped into buying.
- Take a seedling tray and fill it with a nutrient medium. Lightly sprinkle water over it and then bury the seeds one by one into the tray. The seeds should be at a distance of at least one to two-inch from each other.
- Place this tray in a warm and humid area. Your bathroom just might be the aptest location for them in the house. Cover the tray with transparent plastic wrap for improving humidity.
– Growth Rate
Philodendron sharoniae is a fast-growing species that grows several branches during each growth period.
It also has a creeping habit and will continue to elongate unless given something to climb on.
Problems & Diseases
The problems this , pests such as aphids and mealybugs, and cold shock wplant often faces are bacterial leaf spot diseasehen temperatures fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
– Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot is probably the most common bacterial disease to affect the Philodendron plants. The most common reasons why this disease occurs is either when the plant comes in contact with another infected plant or soil or when it is being watered more than necessary.
– How To Identify Bacterial Leaf Spot?
- Small, moist spots that are yellow or brown in color appear on the leaves between veins.
- These spots increase in size, become irregular in shape and turn a rotten black.
- The edges of the affected leaves also turn crispy and brown.
– How To Treat Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot is a very contagious and dangerous disease. It is most difficult to treat and save the plant from. You can try saving your plant by using bactericidal sprays and products and also repotting it in fresh sterile soil and pot.
However, if your plant dies, then the most important thing is to discard the diseased plant, soil, and pot in the most efficient way possible. Don’t ever try to recycle these in any other way or this disease will spread to other plants and compost piles as well.
– Pests
Aphid and mealybugs are the bugs to look out for in this plant. Learn how to identify and treat them by carrying on reading below.
– Aphids
Aphids are pests common to indoor plants. They are tiny insects that suck the nutrient-rich sap of your plants and multiply rapidly in number. Within weeks, it can destroy your whole plant.
Aphids are very small and cannot often be seen with the naked eye. However, they nest under the leaves and sheath of your plant.
– How To Identify an Aphid Infestation?
- The first sign of an aphid attack will be yellow spots appearing on the leaves of the affected plant, especially on the lower sides.
- The leaves will then begin to dry and shrivel up. They also increase in discoloration.
- When the infestation persists, the leaves also begin to fall one by one.
– Mealybugs
Mealybugs are another type of insect that is quite common in this plant. Unlike aphids, they are larger in size and can be seen with the naked eye, however, you can see them lurking about with your own two eyes.
– How To Identify a Mealybug Infestation?
- Mealybugs suck sap from the plant. As a result, the Philodendron sharoniae leaves become weak and start turning yellow.
- This weakness also causes the plant to suffer from stunted growth.
- Mealybugs secrete a substance called honeydew on the surface of the leaves. You can feel this sticky substance on the leaves by touching them.
- Honeydew also traps fungal spores and hyphae which leads to a superimposed fungal infection on the already weakened plant.
– How To Treat Pests
Treat pests by getting rid of them manually and then employing natural or chemical measures.
– Wash the Plant Thoroughly
The most important thing is to wash the plant infested with pests with utmost care. Use an insecticidal soap for additional effect. This will remove most of the insects anyways.
Some bugs that are stuck tightly to the plant will need to be properly scrubbed off using a toothbrush or a cotton roll.
– Use Natural Remedies
Using 20 percent vinegar with water and then spraying it on the affected plant will get rid of these pests over time. Applying neem oil to the affected leaves as well as the colonies of pests will also kill mealybugs and aphids, apply the oil using a Q-tip or a cotton roll.
Another home remedy is washing the plant using bicarbonate mixed water. Use ordinary baking soda as the source of bicarbonate.
– Use Chemical Insecticides
Only resort to chemical insecticides when you feel as if natural remedies aren’t working effectively enough. Spray mild to moderate insecticides on the affected plant according to the manual’s instructions.
– Cold Shock
Below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, this plant undergoes what is called a cold or frost shock. The area of the leaves between the veins develops large blotches that are dark green or brown in color. If not moved to a warmer place promptly, these leaves will die and fall off.
– How To Prevent Cold Shock
- Maintain temperature above 65 degrees Fahrenheit around the Philodendron sharoniae plant all year round.
- Don’t keep them near windows that remain open at night or in cold, air-conditioned rooms.
- That is why we often say that a kitchen or bathroom is often the best place to keep these beauties!
FAQs
Learn the answers to some frequently asked questions regarding this plant in the upcoming section.
– Is There Any Difference Between Plants Grown in Ceramic Pots vs Plastic Pots?
Plants that are grown in ceramic pots experience their soil becoming dry quicker as compared to those grown in plastic pots. You will need to water these plants more often comparatively.
– When Should You Repot Philodendron Sharoniae?
When roots begin to come out of the edges of the pot and the drainage hole at the bottom, know that it is time to repot the plant. This happens when the plant outgrows its old pot and becomes root bound.
Note to wait till springtime to transport to a new pot as this is the time when the growth and survival potential of the plant is at its maximum.
Conclusion
Want a brief recap of everything we have learned so far? Then continue reading ahead.
- Water the Philodendron sharoniae plant when even the top once inch of the soil becomes dry. You can either or place the pot in a bucket or sink full of water.pour water from the top
- This plant is grown indoors under artificial lights or bright, indirect sunlight. Maintain high temperatures at all times. During the day, above 65 degrees Fahrenheit and at night, above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, this plant will undergo cold shock and begin to die. This is a heavy feeder and should be fertilized once a month from spring till fall. Even in winters, fertilize once every second month.
- Propagate this plant using stem cuttings that are at least 3 to 6 inches long with multiple stem nodes, allow them to callus and then plant in brand new soil. Your plant has very chances of survival if it contracts the bacterial leaf spot disease. Discard such a plant appropriately.
- Always be on the lookout for an aphid or mealybugs infestation. Try to treat first with natural remedies and then proceed to the use of chemical insecticides.
Using our complete guide given above, you will be able to grow Philodendron Sharoniae successfully at home. With only a little effort, this plant will grow exuberantly under low light and a regular watering and fertilizing schedule.
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