Description
Philodendron –
There are any where from 500 to 1000 or more species in the arum family, in this genus. They are often epiphytic, evergreen shrubs, root climbers, or small trees from variable habitats, usually in rainforest, in Florida, Mexico, the West Indies, and Central and tropical South America. They are grown for their leathery, glossy leaves, which may be simple, pinnatifid, or pinnatisect, ovate to oblong, heart, arrow, or broadly spear shaped, and toothed or smooth edged. They are held alternately, or in tufts or rosettes. Seed raised species often have a distinct juvenile stage, with leaves quite unlike those of mature plants. Inflorescences, consisting of tiny, petalless flowers borne on spadices and enclosed by spathes, are produced intermittently. Grow as a house plant in a hanging basket or up a stake. All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested, contact with sap may irritate skin.
Indoors, grow in soilless potting mix in bright filtered or indirect light. In the growing season, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every month. In summer, mist twice daily. Water sparingly in winter. Support climbing stems with a moss pole.
Prone to Dasheen mosaic virus, red edge, mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, root rots, fungal leaf spots, and bacterial leaf spots.
P. scandens – Heart Leaf – Sweetheart Plant – This fast growing climber from Mexico, the West Indies, and Southeastern Brazil reaches 10-20′ feet high. From either sparsely or moderately branching stems it carries glossy, deep green leaves, sometimes red purple beneath, are up to 12″ long on mature plants,4-6″ long on juveniles, they are rounded, heart shaped at the bases, and reflexed, with abruptly pointed, slender pointed tips. It bears green spathes, 6-8″ long, white inside, sometimes red tinted at the bases. Good houseplant.
Zones 14-15
