Philodendron 'Brasil' | Philodendron hederaceum
Philodendron hederaceum, a trailing vine native to North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, has long been one of the worlds most popular houseplants. In the wild, Philodendron love to climb up trees, and they receive indirect, dappled sunlight due to the foliage canopy protecting them. This plants leaves are heart shaped, giving it the nickname “sweetheart vine” or “heartleaf” philodendron. Because it can tolerate lower light and a bit of neglect, philodendron are great plants for offices, homes and dorm rooms, and are an excellent choice for a new plant owner.
Average Size
(Including Nursery Pot)
Unrooted Cutting: 2-3 Nodes per Fresh Cutting (Wrapped in moist sphagnum moss for shipping)
4" Nursery Pot: 5" H x 5" W
6" Nursery Pot: 10" H x 10" W
Care Guide
Light
The trailing Philodendron will thrive in medium to bright indirect light. Philodendrons do well in lower light conditions, but medium to bright exposures will encourage faster and healthier growth. Variegated varieties such as Brasil will require a medium to bright indirect light source to support their variegation. Direct sunlight should be avoided with all varieties, as it can burn the foliage.
Water and Soil
Philodendron will do well in a standard potting mix amended with perlite and peat moss. A well draining mixture is essential, and this can be achieved with the addition of perlite, bark or lava rock. Philodendron do not want to dry out completely, nor will they tolerate their soil being soggy. This plant will prefer to be watered once the top few inches of soil have dried out.
Temperature and Humidity
Philodendron hederaceum does best in indoor climates between 60 and 75 degrees farenheit. Temperatures below 50 degrees should be avoided, as the cold can damage this plants foliage. Philodendron do well in average indoor humidity, but as with most tropical plants, they will certainly appreciate higher humidity.
What Else?
Trailing philodendron can be easily propagated in water. Just trim a cutting from the end of a vine, making sure there are at least a few nodes present. Place the trimmed end of the cutting in water, ensuring that at least one node is submerged, which is where the root will emerge from. Once roots have developed, the plant can be re-potted with the original plant to make it fuller, or potted separately to create an entirely new plant.
If left unpruned, the trailing philodendron may develop an appearance which some find overgrown and scraggly. Many growers choose to prune their plant occasionally, creating a denser and bushier houseplant. The Guinness Book of World Records
Trailing Philodendrons may have been the first houseplant widely available for sale in US markets. Sources show that Woolworths introduced the heartleaf philodendrons into their stores in the 1930’s, selling this plant for 5 cents a piece!
It should be noted that Philodendron is a natural climber. A Philodendron which is allowed to climb will produce larger leaves, while a Philodendron which is allowed to trail will produce leaves which are smaller in size.
Our Happy & Healthy Guarantee
Frond & Folia guarantees that the plant you receive will arrive in happy and healthy condition, and we take extreme care in packaging and shipping to ensure this. We are proud to report that over 99% of our orders to date have been delivered in happy and healthy condition. If you have concerns about shipping during cold weather, please reference our Winter Shipping Insurance.