Philodendron Validinervium Step-by-Step Care Guide

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The Philodendron Validinervium plant is a tropical beauty that can add color to any dull corner. Its beautiful lush foliage is what makes it a popular choice among houseplant owners.

The needs of the Philodendron Validinervium plant are of an average houseplant. It enjoys basking in bright, dappled sunlight and thrives in well-draining soils. It likes being watered once or twice a week and likes moderate moisture levels.

The Philodendron Validinervium plant hails from tropical and subtropical regions; therefore, it has a terrestrial habitat.

According to the Encyclopedia of Life, this species is a herb and is mostly distributed in Ecuador.

It belongs to the Araceae family of the Philodendrons, which is one of the largest flowering plant genera with over 489 species, most of which are still unknown.

The Philodendron Validinervium plant is widely grown as an indoor or ornamental plant due to its admirable looks.

Unfortunately, this exotic species is threatened by habitat loss.

 

 

Philodendron Validinervium Plant Care Guide

 

Soil

The Philodendron Validinervium thrives in soils that are loose, well-draining, and high in organic matter.

Potting your precious Validinervium into dense media may result in wilting or root-rot. You can use several soil types to grow this tropical plant.

I suggest you use sphagnum peat moss, which is light and drains well and so fits the Philodendron Validinervium plant’s needs perfectly. The other options include peat-vermiculite and peat-perlite. Both are satisfactory and produce good results.

The optimum pH range for the Philodendrons plants is 5.1 to 6.0 (slightly acidic). The soil acidity ensures adequate nutrient absorption and decreases the probability of infection.

A Philodendron Validinervium is most likely to grow happily when moisture-retaining elements such as sphagnum moss or coco coir are added into its soil mix. It would be best to avoid clay-like soils that hold excess water.

You can also put in some pine bark fines to show some extra love to your Philodendron Validinervium plant.

 

Watering

Most of the Philodendron plants are water-loving plants, including Validinervium. The Philodendron Validinervium enjoys being watered approximately twice a week.

However, excess water can also cause significant damage.

Therefore, you have to establish a fine balance between watering and drying-out the plant. This can be tricky initially. However, with practice and a few tips, you can keep your plant sufficiently watered at all times.

Keep a close eye on the Philodendron Validinervium plant’s soil. If the top 2 to 3 inches seem dry, add some water into the plant’s soil. However, if the soil looks moisturized, withhold the water till the top layer dries out.

Another way is to monitor the Validinervium plant’s leaves; if they seem sufficiently turgid and fresh, the plant most probably does not need water.

However, if the leaves look flaccid or wrinkly, you can add some water. However, I suggest you use the former method as it is more reliable.

The watering needs of the Philodendron Validinervium plant may change with the seasons. During the warmer months, water the plant twice a week. In the colder months, lower the frequency to about once every two weeks or when required.

I prefer and recommend using lukewarm and low-chlorine water.

 

Light

The Philodendron species often grow hugging trees or while being partially shaded by tree branches. Therefore, they can only survive under bright filtered light.

If the sunlight falling on the Philodendron Validinervium plant is too harsh, the leaves will most likely scorch.

The ideal sunlight setting for the Philodendron Validinervium plant is bright, dappled sunlight.

This fulfills the plant’s lighting requirements while not being too direct. Most households have such spots where there is filtered sunlight only. However, if you do not have such a setting, make one.

You can do this by tying a 20% to 40% shade cloth to a window.

Alternatively, you can place your Philodendron Validinervium plant next to a south-facing window.

However, if you do that, make sure that you put some sheet curtains between your plant and your south-facing window so that your plant won’t receive direct sunlight. 

If your Philodendron Validinervium plant is potted outside, please make sure it is growing in a partially shaded area, as harsh sun rays may cause wilting and dehydration. Similarly, avoid completely shaded areas.

 

Temperature

Naturally, the Philodendron Validinervium plant grows in mild to moderate temperatures. Therefore, even in artificial indoor settings, it is best to mimic the plant’s natural surroundings.

The Philodendron Validinervium plant grows best in temperatures ranging from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to77 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius to 25 Celsius).  The temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 Celsius) may shock the plant and cause leaf-shedding.

The summer temperatures are mostly ideal for the Philodendron Validinervium plant. However, the low winter temperatures may pose a problem for the Validinervium plant owners.

In the latter case, if outside, bring your Philodendron Validinervium plant inside the house.

If your Philodendron Validinervium plant is already inside and it is still too cold for the plant to grow, simply place the plant in a room with a heater that is placed at a considerable distance away from the plant.

Please avoid direct contact of the Validinervium plant with the heater.

I also recommend keeping the Philodendron Validinervium plant away from direct drafts of wind from fans and air conditioners.

 

Humidity

When it comes to humidity, the Philodendron Validinervium plant is not too fussy. It tolerates a wide variety of humidity levels and grows reasonably in almost all moisture levels.

However, if you give your plant some extra love in the form of high humidity, you are most likely to be rewarded with larger lush leaves.

The Philodendron Validinervium plant grows relatively faster and produces larger leaves when the humidity levels are above 40%. This level is good for the plant and is also deemed appropriate for the house inhabitants.

If you wish to maintain the perfect humidity level for your Philodendron Validinervium plant, you can do so in many ways. One way is to use a humidifier for establishing the ideal moisture level.

For measuring the humidity levels, you can use a hygrometer.

If you want to do things the natural way, simply put all your houseplants together and allow them to share and distribute moisture amongst themselves. 

 

Fertilizer

All living beings require feed to grow and thrive. The better the quality of the feed is, the healthier the results are. Similarly, the Philodendron Validinervium plant requires high-quality fertilizer to grow into a fit plant.

I suggest you feed your Philodendron Validinervium plant about once every 1 to 1.5 months. This feeding routine can be followed in the summer, spring, and early fall. However, in the late fall and winter seasons, the plant mostly becomes dormant. Therefore, feeding it is not necessary.

You can use a liquid fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer. It is best to pour or sprinkle the feed about 2 to 3 inches away from the plant’s stem over moisturized soil.

If you are indecisive about the type of feed to use, I recommend you buy fertilizer explicitly manufactured for Philodendron plants.

At the end of the summers, you can give your plant’s roots a thorough wash to prevent soil buildup. Excess nutrients can cause toxicity and leaf-spotting.

 

Repotting

Most of the Philodendron plants have slow to moderate growth rates. Therefore, repotting them too often is not essential.

However, if your Philodendron Validinervium plant is growing much slower than usual, not growing at all, or drying out quickly, it is time to repot it.

Choosing an enormous container does not work well for the Philodendron Validinervium plants. Instead, pick a pot that is only a few inches larger than its previous one. This will prevent root-bounding and simultaneously give the plant’s root sufficient space to develop and thrive.

Ensure that the plant’s new container is big enough and has good drainage and ventilation. I advise you to opt for a plastic nursery container with drainage holes at the bottom.

This will prevent water accumulation and can be easily hidden in a fancy decorative pot.

Please repot your Philodendron Validinervium plant during the growing seasons of summer and spring, preferably.

 

Pruning

As mentioned earlier, the Philodendron plants are not much of a hassle. They do not need frequent pruning, as most species’ leaves grow slowly and regularly.

However, you may want to cut off a vine or two for purposes such as aesthetics, disease-control, or simply because there is only limited space available for the plant.

If you do not like old or yellow leaves on your Philodendron Validinervium plant, carefully remove the leaves with the pruning shears.

Some owners may like their Philodendron Validinervium plant small or growing within a confined space. In such a case, grab a pair of pruning shears and carefully chop off a few vines. Please make sure that you do not damage any healthy, fine-looking foliage.

Another necessary reason is to minimize the spread of disease. If a leaf or vine looks abnormal to you, it is best to cut it off. This will limit the spread of infection and will most likely remove the fungal or bacterial infection altogether.

Please make sure all your gardening tools/plant equipment is clean and sterilized.

 

Propagation

Fortunately, the Philodendron Validinervium plant requires little hard work and is not the most challenging species to propagate. You can either use the seeds or stem cuttings method.

You will need a healthy Philodendron Validinervium plant, a knife, prepared soil mix, water, and a container. Please make sure the gardening equipment you use is sterilized and wear protective clothing if needed.

 

Seed propagation

For the seeds method, take few seeds from the Philodendron Validinervium plant. Next, follow the guide below:

• Clean and dry the Validinervium seeds.
• Place these seeds on top of the prepared container with the soil mixture.
• Now, place the pot in the appropriate conditions mentioned above.
• Water it and add fertilizer whenever necessary.

 

Propagation through stem cuttings

• Firstly, cut off a 2 to 3 inches long piece from the Validinervium plant’s stem with the help of a knife or blade.
• If you wish to propagate the stem cutting in water, fill up an appropriate container with water approximately an inch below the rim.
• To eliminate any chlorine in the water, leave the container overnight before putting the stem cutting in it.
• Place the stem cutting in the container. Please make sure that at least one or two nodes are submerged in the water. Preferably, two or three leaves should be above the water surface.
• Next, move the container into a humid, bright room, and leave the cuttings to grow.
• Please change the water every two to three days.
• When you notice new roots growing, move the plant into a bigger pot.
• If you wish to propagate the cutting in soil, put the cutting in a suitable soil mix and maintain optimum growing conditions.
• Water and feed the baby Validinervium plant whenever necessary.
• When it grows more roots, shift it to a bigger pot, so it develops fully.
• The roots typically grow within 2 to 3 weeks. After 2 to 4 months, the plant usually matures enough to be shifted to a larger soil pot. Now, treat it like a regular, mature Philodendron Validinervium plant.

 

Blooms

The Philodendron Validinervium plant is primarily grown for its pretty foliage. No blooms have been observed on the Philodendron Validinervium plant.
 

Growth

The young Philodendrons are usually 6 inches tall; however, many variations exist. Without trimming, the Philodendron Validinervium plant may grow up to 10 inches long.

For the best growth results, ensure that you provide the Philodendron Validinervium plant with its ideal growing conditions.
 

Common Problems for Philodendron Validinervium

Generally, the Philodendron Validinervium plants do not cause a lot of problems for their owners. However, they may fall prey to a few pests and diseases from time to time.
 

Yellow Leaves

The leaves of a Philodendron Validinervium plant may turn yellow and drop due to a wide variety of reasons. However, the most common cause is overwatering.

Overwatering the Philodendron Validinervium plant leads to increased leaf-turgidity, which eventually causes yellowing of the plant’s leaves. Fortunately, this problem is reversible, and the solution is pretty simple. Withhold water till the plant’s soil’s top few inches are slightly dry.
 

Wilting

Another common problem for Philodendron plants, including Validinervium, is wilting. Just as for yellow leaves, the causes of wilting are also numerous.

However, the primary cause is under-watering. Maintaining a fine balance between the two extremes of overwatering and under-watering is necessary for the plant’s healthy growth.

The fix to this problem, water the plant only when its soil’s top 2 to 3 inches are dry.
 

Soft or Black Stems

The softening or blackening of stems can pose a severe threat to the Philodendron Validinervium plant’s overall health and structure. If the fault is not corrected soon enough, it can lead to the plant’s death.

The major cause for soft or black stems is the root-rot or general rotting of the plant. Both conditions can occur due to overwatering, root-bounding, or fungal infections.

To prevent or treat this problem, please water the plant only when required, use decent sized pots, and mist your Philodendron Validinervium plant with fungicide spray often.
 

Pests

Unfortunately, pests are a common problem for almost all plants.

To check whether your Philodendron Validinervium plant is infested by pests, look at the underside of the plant’s leaves or leaf axils for any webbing. If you see any, your Validinervium plant is infested by spider mites.

To get rid of them, spray the plant thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to kill the bugs. Furthermore, monitor the humidity level.

If your Philodendron Validinervium plant’s soil is excessively wet, it is likely to be infected by fungus gnats. You should avoid over-watering to prevent fungal infection and other such pests.

 

Tips for Growing

• Water your plant when its top layer is slightly dry.
• Keep the Philodendron Validinervium plant in bright, dappled sunlight.
• Use low-chlorine room-temperature water.
• Do not leave the plant in direct sun rays for extended periods.
• Use well-aerated pots with good drainage.
• Move it to a more appropriate place if the plant’s leaves are drying out or yellowing.

 

Frequently Asked Questions for Philodendron Validinervium

 

How do I keep my Philodendron Validinervium plant healthy?

Keep your Philodendron Validinervium plant in a bright room with filtered sunlight. Only water the plant when necessary and grow it in a pot that has good drainage. Keep the humidity levels to moderate levels and feed it once to twice a month.
 

How long does a Philodendron Validinervium plant live for?

The Philodendron Validinervium plant lives for approximately 2 to 3 years. However, it may live for longer when given the right care.
 

Why are my Philodendron Validinervium plant’s leaves yellowing?

The Philodendron Validinervium plant’s leaves may begin to yellow if you overwater it. Please water the plant only when its top layer is slightly dry.
 

Is Philodendron Validinervium plant toxic?

The Philodendron plants are highly toxic; therefore, they must be kept away from toddlers, children, and pets.

Conclusion

The Philodendron Validinervium is an excellent plant that all Philodendron lovers should add to their houseplants collection. It is not fussy, easy on the eyes, and has a reasonably manageable care-guide.

However, it is a toxic plant and must not be ingested. Therefore, admire this beauty from afar and keep it away from your toddlers and pets.