This article is for all of the philodendron lovers who want to add less popular plants to their collection.
It is relatively easy to take care of like most members of the Araceae family (Monsteras, Anthuriums, Epiprenums), and has no special requirements except for its love for humidity as is expected from a tropical plant.
Read on for more tips and tricks to keep your Philodrendrom Crassinervium problem-free and thriving.
Table of Contents
Philodendron Crassinervium Care
For optimal Philodendron Crassinervium care, use well-draining peat-based soil, place in bright indirect light, water when the top soil is dry, maintain temperatures between 70-80°F, and keep humidity around 60%.
Soil
Philodendron Crassinervium prefers peat-based well-draining soil.
I recommend you mix your own and use one part peat, one part orchid bark, and one part perlite for maximum aeration and good drainage.
The orchid bark also gives something for the roots on the Philodendron Crassinervium to hang on to since it is a trailing plant, much like orchids wrap their roots around the bark in their pots.
If your mix is too dense you can add some charcoal or coarse sand, if you find it too sparse consider adding just a little bit of growers mix.
Light
Philodendron Crassinervium loves bright indirect light.
This means the best position for it in your home will be somewhere where the ambient light is ample but no direct sunlight reaches its leaves.
Like most other Philodendrons it will get sunburned if left in the sun for too long and will get sad and pale if it doesn’t get enough light.
An east-facing window will be appropriate, but a south one would be good also if you place the plant far away from the window.
Watering
Philodendron Crassinervium has similar water requirements to other tropical plants that find themselves indoors. Its fat middle vein enables it to go a little longer without water.
Always make sure the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil mix are dry before watering, don’t be too eager with the watering can.
When you do water do it thoroughly and from below, making sure the bark and the roots soak up enough water to make it to the next watering.
I like to dunk my Philodendron pots into the water for half an hour to an hour, I touch the top of the soil, and if it is slightly moist it’s good enough.
This will amount to watering every one to two weeks depending on the environment your plant is living in and the season. During the winter when the plant is not in full growth water even less.
These plants are salt-tolerant so you won’t have to worry about distilling water unless you have extremely hard water or you notice mineral deposits on the leaves and they are not aesthetically pleasing.
Temperature
This is a tropical plant so it comes as no surprise Philodendron Crassinervium are not winter hardy and will not tolerate temperatures lower than 60 degrees F.
The sweet spot is between 70 and 80 degrees by day and 65 to 70 by night, but they are very adaptable and usually do well in regular indoor temperatures.
Just make sure not to leave it in a hot place during the summer and to move it away from windows and doors during the winter, as you might notice yellowing and dropping of leaves as it gets temperature shock due to drafts or sudden temperature changes.
Humidity
Philodendron Crassinervium likes high humidity. Around 60% will be optimal and if you can afford it you will experience the most growth and a perky happy plant.
There are several ways you can raise the humidity around your plant if your regular indoor humidity is not enough.
Firstly and most cheaply you could provide your Philodendron Crassinervium with a humidity mat. This is a shallow wide container that is deep enough to have a layer of pebbles with water on the bottom and you can put your plant pot on top of it.
This way the water slowly evaporates and elevates the humidity in the immediate vicinity of the plant while the roots are not in contact with the water so you won’t have to worry about root rot.
Other ways you could achieve higher humidity are getting a humidifier which is the most reliable way, or with frequent fine misting which is okay, but no the best option as the water particles are still quite big and you could get fungal issues and other diseases because of that.
You can also bunch more plants together as this will raise the humidity around the plants a tiny bit, but make sure you still have good air circulation between them.
Fertilizer
Philodendron Crassinervium doesn’t require a lot of fertilizing.
Just like other philodendrons, you can opt for a liquid fertilizer for green plants dilute it to half strength and add it after watering once or twice a month.
Tone this down during the winter season to once every two months.
I emphasize ”add after watering” as pouring fertilizer directly onto dry roots could cause root burn and damage the roots.
If you are like me and you prefer organic fertilizer, root burn will not be an issue and you can use your own compost, fish meal, or vermiculite to feed your philodendron Crassinervium.
Propagation
You can propagate your Philodendron Crassinervium just like your other philodendrons. I prefer to do it by water so I will be outlining the process below.
Choose a healthy stem and leaves to propagate, this will give your new plant the best possible chances for success.
Cut away a stem with at least a couple of leaves and one node. Bonus points if you manage to include an aerial root or two.
Put this cutting in water. Place it in a warm and bright spot and wait for the roots to peek out.
Once you can see a good couple of inches of roots, you could transplant it into a pot right away or, since it is a rare plant, have a bit of patience and let the plant adapt to the soil slowly by adding a spoon of soil to the water every couple of days.
This will help your new plant get used to the dark, dense, and oxygen-poor environment of soil in comparison to water, and will avoid any shock you could cause the plant by transplanting it right away.
Once you completely replaced the water with soil and the roots are completely covered, you can pot this plant into a pot with pre-moistened soil. Don’t pack tightly, handle the roots gently, and leave in a bright and warm spot.
This is pretty much it as far as propagation is concerned. It is always best to take cuttings and propagate at the beginning of the growing season which is late spring or the beginning of summer.
This will give your new plant a whole season to get used to its new soil and put down secure and strong roots before winter.
Growth
The philodendron Crassinervium is a relatively slow grower. It is by nature an epipetrite and will trail along the floor and trees and rocks, so offering it a moss pole to climb up will be optimal.
In its natural habitat, they can become huge and reach up to 4 meters in height with the leaves being a meter or more in length.
In cultivation and indoors they are usually a maximum of 18 inches big.
Potting
Always provide your Philodendron Crassinervium with a pot that has enough drainage holes.
This cannot be emphasized enough. You can repot your Philodendron depending on how fast it grows but it is usually every two years.
Check the bottom of the pot to see if any roots are peeking out of the bottom, this is a sign you should be repotting your Philodendron Crassinervium. Pre-moisten the soil you are about to repot it into and be mindful not to damage any roots.
Toxicity
All parts of your Philodendron Crassinervium contain calcium oxalate crystals which will irritate the mouth and esophagus if ingested or after prolonged contact. Keep it away from pets.
How to keep your Philodendron Crassinervium problem-free?
- Provide your Philodendron Crassinervium with a well-draining soil mixture and a pot with enough drainage holes
- Do not get ”watering happy” and water your Philodendron Crassinervium less rather than more, check with your finger that the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil is dry.
- Keep it in bright indirect light
- Give it higher than standard humidity
- Do regular neem oil treatments to deter pests and diseases
Common issues with the Philodendron Crassinervium
Erwinia blight
This is the most common disease in Philodendrons. It is a bacteria that thrives in hot and humid environments.
Be mindful of the signs if you are cultivating your plants in a greenhouse or a hot humid season is about to start.
When you have an Erwinia infestation you will smell a fishy smell, notice irregularly shaped black spots on the leaves that develop into petioles, and the leaves just collapse.
The new growth is affected too and it will grow in smaller and damaged and will eventually rot also. Blight can kill a plant in just a couple of days.
Minimize watering, put the plant in a well-ventilated colder space, cut away the damaged growth, and adapt your fertilizing routine as too little or too much fertilizer can be the cause of infection.
Thrips
Thrips are commonly found on Philodendrons and will slowly cause leaf yellowing and kill a plant if given enough time. They are not easy to get rid of all will require multiple treatments.
They are small black bugs with a thing and long appearance and they have wings so they can fly from plant to plant and infect other plants frequently.
They will gather along the main and suck the sap from the plant to feed.
Give your plant a thorough insecticidal soap treatment every week and follow up with a neem oil spray, then observe the plant and repeat the treatments until they are completely gone for more than 4 weeks.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are small white round cotton ball-like bugs that feed on the sap of your plants.
They are slow in movement and will not do too much damage as they are big enough to be spotted early.
Physically remove them with Q-tips dipped in alcohol or spray them away with a strong shower, then do an insecticidal soap treatment and finish with a neem oil treatment.
Repeat this process every week if necessary until the bugs are gone.
Frequently asked questions about the Philodendron Crassinervium
I am noticing tiny spiderwebs on my Philodendron but I can’t find any spiders, what should I do?
Spiderwebs on houseplants can be caused by bugs much smaller than a regular house spider.
Check under the leaves and around the stems for small white spider-like bugs which are called spider mites. You can get rid of them with insecticidal soap and regular neem oil treatments.
My Philodendron Crassinervum’s leaves are yellowing. What should I do?
Check the plant for root rot. If you have been watering regularly this could be the issue. The roots should be healthy-looking and white to beige, with no dark brown or black parts. If you do notice root rot, wash the plant, cut the damaged roots away and transplant your Philodendron Crassinervum into a better draining sterile soil mix. Cut back on the watering for a while.
Why is my Philodendron Crassinervum is looking pale?
Too little light might be the issue here. Put it in a brighter spot in your home and wait for new foliage to appear. If the new foliage is brighter and healthier this means you have found a better place for it and it was lacking light before.
Conclusion
The Philodendron Crassinervum is a beautiful Philodendron species that will catch the eye of any plant connoisseur. It is a rare Philodendron and doesn’t look much like its family members but has all the similar needs and the other ones.
Bright light, not too much water, higher humidity, a good draining soil, and some fertilization every now and then, and your Philodendron Crassinervum will be a happy camper.
If you do have the honor of owning one of these please share the picture with us in our Facebook group. Seeing them indoors is a rare treat.