The Philodendron panduriforme plant is often confused with the Philodendron bipennifolium. This is because both plants produce fun arrowhead-shaped leaves.
The Philodendron panduriforme plant needs well-draining soil. You want bright but indirect sunlight and the soil should always be moist.
This plant originates from the Amazon basin. You can find it growing in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It’s considered a tropical plant and loves heat and high humidity.
The climbing vine Philodendron panduriforme is like caring for any other Philodendron plant. With time and effort, this plant can grow to incredible heights.
Even though the care is simple, you still need to know the basics. We’ve got everything you need to know about caring for this special Philodendron plant.
Table of Contents
Philodendron Panduriforme Plant Care
Soil
You need well-draining soil for a healthy Philodendron panduriforme. Well-draining soil is great at ensuring you don’t over-water or under-water your plant.
First, this type of soil has plenty of aeration. This means any excess water drains through to the bottom, instead of standing in the soil. You’ll still want a plant pot with drainage holes so the water doesn’t sit at the roots either.
Second, even though it has great aeration it’s still absorbent. It holds onto enough moisture to keep your plant hydrated for some time.
Both sphagnum peat-moss and perlite creates well-draining soil.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on an organic soil mix. You can make your own at home.
One of our favorite well-draining soil recipes include:
- decomposed bark
- perlite
- sphagnum peat-moss
The soil pH should be acidic. It should range from 5.1 to 6.0 pH.
Light
The Philodendron panduriforme plant can take low light. But low light isn’t going to create a lush and thriving plant. It’s only going to create a plant that’s surviving.
These Philodendron plants need bright but indirect sunlight to thrive. Direct sunlight scorches and burns the leaves.
To get indirect sunlight for your plant, place it in either an east or north-facing window. This way your Philodendron panduriforme is getting plenty of sunlight during the day. Without sun rays blaring right on your leaves.
Watering
A Philodendron panduriforme needs moist soil at all times during the warmer months.
You do have to be careful of over-watering the plant. Otherwise, it can stunt the growth. Or worse, it can develop root rot.
Root rot happens when oxygen can’t reach the roots. So, they start to rot away. Drenched soil doesn’t allow oxygen to get through the soil.
To test if your plant needs water, stick your finger into the soil about knuckle deep. If it’s dry throughout, water it. If it’s still moist, wait and check again in a day.
During winter, you won’t need to water it as often. You want the soil to dry all the way out before watering.
Temperature
The Philodendron panduriforme needs temperatures between 60F (16C) and 75F (24C).
Both colder and warmer temperatures can cause several complications for this plant. The biggest complication is stunted growth.
Humidity
The Philodendron panduriforme is one of those plants that doesn’t need humidity. It can survive in a dry environment.
But it’s not going to thrive as well without at least a little moisture in the air. So, you’ll have to create your own humidity.
One method is the pebble tray method. With this method, you only need some water, a tray, and some pebbles.
You fill the tray to the top with pebbles. Then fill the tray with water until it’s right under the pebbles. Place your Philodendron on the pebbles.
As the water evaporates, it creates moisture in the air. Since your plant is sitting on the pebbles, that moisture goes right for your plant.
Another method is to spritz the leaves of your plant now and then. Like with the pebble tray method, the water evaporates. This creates plenty of humidity in the air.
You can also use a humidifier. These wonderful machines create humidity and give you some control over the situation.
Fertilizer
According to the University of Connecticut, Philodendron plants are heavy feeders. The Philodendron panduriforme plant is no exception.
You need a fertilizer with a high amount of nitrogen. This ensures that the plant is lush and the leaves are large. Use an all-purpose fertilizer at half-strength.
Fertilize your Philodendron panduriforme plant weekly during the growing season or warmer months. During the colder months, only fertilize your plant about once a month.
Always add fertilizer while the soil is moist. Otherwise, you can cause root burn.
Propagation
The main propagation method for the Philodendron panduriforme plant is through stem cuttings. You can also propagate this plant using the air layering method.
We’ll make both of these methods simple. Keep reading to find out the steps.
Growth
The Philodendron panduriforme plant can grow up to six feet tall If given the space. The leaves can grow to be between 10 inches to 15 inches in length.
Potting
You need to re-pot your Philodendron panduriforme when the roots are compact. Or when the roots start to grow out of the drainage holes of the plant pot.
When you re-pot this plant, you want to get a plant pot that’s only a bit bigger than the original pot. Two to three inches bigger is a good rule of thumb. If there’s too much space, the roots can get stressed out. A stressed out plant is susceptible to all kinds of plant diseases.
You want to re-pot your Philodendron during the warmer months.
Philodendron Panduriforme Propagation Steps
We’re going to walk you through the two ways to propagate the Philodendron panduriforme.
The first method is through stem cuttings. And the second method involves air layering.
Using Stem Cuttings
- First, you need to get a Philodendron panduriforme stem cutting. Your stem cutting needs to be three to four inches in length. Make sure to cut right below a leaf node and that two leaves are attached. To cut, you need a pair of sterilized pruning shears. You can sterilize the shears with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- Now it’s time to cure your stem cutting. This means allowing it to callous on the cut end. A calloused end helps promote rooting. To cure, leave the stem cutting out for a week in a warm environment.
- While you’re waiting, go ahead and get your plant pot ready. Make sure the plant pot has drainage holes at the bottom so excess water can drain. Fill the plant pot with your homemade well-draining soil.
- Once a week is over, you can plant your Philodendron panduriforme stem cutting. You can use your finger to make a nice snug hole for the stem cutting. Make sure it’s a few inches deep but not too deep. This is an epiphyte plant so it doesn’t like to sit too far into the soil. Pack the soil around the stem cutting tight.
- Sometimes the soil isn’t enough to hold the stem cutting upright. You can stick a straw into the soil. Tie a string around both the straw and stem cutting. Once it starts growing taller, you can remove the straw.
- Now you’re going to care for your stem cutting and watch it turn into a new plant. Make sure you keep the soil always moist when it’s warm out. It needs bright but indirect sunlight. Always use well-draining soil.
Using Air Layering
- You have to wound your Philodendron panduriforme plant for this process. You need a sterilized pair of pruning shears to do this. Like we stated earlier, isopropyl alcohol works well for sterilization. Once you sterilize your pruning shears, it’s time to make the wound. The wound needs to be about at least two inches in length and two inches deep.
- Take a toothpick and push it through the top of the wound you made. Then push the bottom of the toothpick through the bottom of the wound. This keeps the wound open and easy to get to.
- You need moist sphagnum peat-moss. It has to be moist so it sticks to the wound. Fill the wound with the peat-moss. Rub the peat-moss all around the wound and stem.
- If you’re worried about the peat-moss staying stuck, you can tie a rope around the wound to hold it in place.
- Once you’re done with the peat-moss, wrap plastic wrap around the wound you created. Sometimes the plastic wrap won’t stay. You can use a little bit of duct tape to fix this problem.
- Now you can get your plant pot ready. Make sure it has drainage holes. Fill it with well-draining soil.
- It takes about three weeks to see roots growing from the wound. Once the roots are at least three inches in length, you can remove the wound. When you remove it, cut a few inches above the wound and a few inches below. Make sure you use a pair of sterilized pruning shears to do this.
- Now that you have your wound separated from the original plant, you can remove the plastic wrap. Be careful during this process so you don’t damage the roots.
- It’s time to plant your new plant. Make sure the roots are under the soil. But don’t plant the roots too deep.
- All that’s left is to care for the Philodendron and watch it change into a new plant. Make sure it’s getting bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil moist.
Other Varieties of Philodendrons
There are tons of Philodendron species to choose from. You don’t have to settle for the Philodendron panduriforme plant if you don’t like it.
The Philodendron bipennifolium and the Philodendron panduriforme are often confused with each other. This is because they have similar fiddle-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves.
This Philodendron plant produces variegated leaves. They can pop up in several colors, making them unique. You never know what you’re going to get.
Philodendron xanadu
We love this plant because of the leaves. They’re in the shape of skinny and long fingers.
Tree Philodendron
The tree Philodendron is a pretty cool plant. It’s an actual tree with Philodendron qualities. And you can even grow it inside as long as you give it enough room.
Common Problems with the Philodendron Panduriforme
Pest infestations don’t happen often with the Philodendron panduriforme plants. This is the beauty of most Philodendron plants. But that doesn’t mean that an infestation isn’t possible.
Thrips are one common plant pest that loves houseplants. You’ll know you have an infestation of thrips when you see little threads all over your plant. These threads are the actual bugs.
You can also shake your plant. The thrips will try to fly away but they have very weak wings. So, they only hover for a few minutes before they drop back to your plant.
They feed on the sap from your plant. They use their sharp mouths to pierce through your plant. Then they suck up the sap like they’re sucking from a straw.
Aphids also love indoor plants. These plant pests are tiny little bugs. They’re hard to see unless you’re looking for them.
Like most plant pests, aphids steal the sap from your plant. So, they’re stealing the nutrition and hydration that your plant needs to thrive.
You might find yourself with a mealybug infestation. If you see a cotton substance all over your plant, you have a mealybug infestation. The cotton substance covers their bodies to protect them.
Mealybugs are also known to suck the sap from your plant. They hide under the leaves of your plant.
The best way to treat any plant infestation is with neem oil. It’s an all-natural oil that doesn’t harm your plant, unlike pesticides. All you have to do to prepare is to dilute the oil in a spray bottle.
Then you can spray your plant down with the neem oil. This heavy oil will suffocate the plant pests. Within minutes they’re dead. You can wipe them off and clean the plant with soap. You want to repeat this process in a few days.
If all else fails, then you might want to turn to pesticides. This should always be a last resort because pesticides are full of chemicals.
Tips for an Unhappy Philodendron Panduriforme
Though the Philodendron panduriforme is easy, you might come across some issues.
We have a list of the most basic Philodendron plant problems. And we’re going to teach you how to keep your plant happy.
Your Philodendron Panduriforme Plant has Brown Leaves
When a Philodendron panduriforme has brown leaves it’s being over-watered. Or there’s salt buildup.
First, check the soil to see how moist (or saturated) it is. You should be able to stick your hand in the soil and feel it. If it’s saturated, you’ve over-watered it.
When that’s the case, you want to switch out to new fresh soil. Make sure this soil is only moist and not saturated when you water it.
You’re going to have to be very careful from now on when you water your plant. Always check the soil first. You can do this by sticking your finger into the soil up to your big knuckle. You want to only water when the soil is dry all the way to your fingertip.
If over-watering isn’t the issue, then you might have salt buildup in the soil from fertilizer. Salt buildup can burn the plant’s roots.
You’ll need to start flushing the soil out so the salt doesn’t buildup. To flush out your soil, turn on the faucet. Don’t have the water going at full speed. Allow the water to run through all the soil. This will flush excess salt out of the soil.
Your Philodendron Panduriforme Plant’s Leaves are Wilting
Wilting leaves on a Philodendron panduriforme plant is often a sign of under-watering.
Hydration is one of the most important elements for a plant to thrive. It needs hydration to grow and even to go through photosynthesis.
To be sure this is the issue, check the soil. Stick your hand into the soil and feel to the bottom. If the soil is dry, it needs to be water as soon as possible.
It might help to keep to a watering schedule if you have trouble remembering to water your plant. You’ll still want to check the soil to make sure it’s dry before you water.
Your Philodendron Panduriforme Plant has Watery Lesions
A Philodendron panduriforme with watery lesions is a symptom of Edwin’s Blight. This is from over-watering. The over-watering causes bacteria to take over.
Water-soaked lesions aren’t the only sign of Edwin’s Blight. It often causes blackened leaves, wilted leaves, or even dead leaves.
You want to treat this disease right away. Otherwise, it will kill your plant.
The first step to treating Edwin’s Blight is to remove all infected leaves. This prevents the infection from spreading to the rest of the plant.
Next, you need to use fungicide on your plant. You want a copper-based fungicide. This is the best type of fungicide to fight Edwin’s Blight.
Before you use the fungicide, test a small area of your plant. Some plants have an adverse reaction to fungicides.
Always follow the directions on the fungicide label. It will explain everything you need to do.
Philodendron Panduriforme FAQ
Is the Philodendron panduriforme toxic?
Yes, the Philodendron panduriforme plant is toxic. Philodendron leaves are covered in calcium oxalate crystals. The crystals are toxic to both pets and people. It causes swelling of the throat and worse. Be careful handling the plant too because it can cause skin irritation.
What does it mean when the Philodendron panduriforme is classified as an “aroid”?
An aroid is a Philodendron plant. Aroid plants have a combo of a spathe and spadix. This combination is called “inflorescence”. When an aroid plant reproduces, it creates both female and male flowers.
Why are the leaves of my Philodendron panduriforme covered in water spots?
Water spots are a sign that you’re using hard water when you water your Philodendron. You want to avoid hard water and use soft water instead.
Conclusion
The Philodendron panduriforme plant is a funky plant to care for. It’s also pretty easy to care for, making it the perfect houseplant for a newbie.