Am I Taking Good Care Of My Heartleaf Philodendron?

Did you placed your heartleaf philodendron somewhere in moderate to bright light?

Did you planted your heartleaf philodendron in a well-drained soil?

Did you provide a warm and humid environment for your heartleaf philodendron?

Are you making sure that the soil is kept consistently and evenly moist, but it's never soggy?

Do you feed your plant regularly during the growing season, and not at all during dormancy?

Do you repot your heartleaf philodendron when it starts outgrowing the pot?

Do you keep your heartleaf philodendron plant free of pests and diseases?

Heartleaf philodendron prefers indirect sunlight, but it will do well in almost any lighting condition. Even areas of low light can be fine, though the leaves will spread more and the colors won’t be as vibrant or glossy.

Any quality potting soil will do as long as it is well-draining. You can also mix Perlite, sterilized garden loam, or coarse sand with half the amount of peat moss for your soil.

Average room temperatures (65-75°F) are best for these plants. Heartleaf philodendron will not tolerate temperatures below 60°F. It is tolerant of dry air but likes humidity. Try to maintain 40% relative humidity or higher.

In the summertime, keep the soil moist but not soggy. In the wintertime, allow the top half-inch of soil to dry between waterings. You can spray the leaves with water and wipe them down with a cloth to remove dust.

Feed this plant monthly from spring through fall with a balanced liquid or water-soluble fertilizer, diluted by half. Don't feed in winter, when growth is slower.

If your plant is outgrowing its pot, it may be time to move to a slightly larger one (no more than two inches larger than the original). Make sure to water it thoroughly the day before you mean to repot it. This reduces stress and makes the transition easier. Though this philodendron usually doesn’t require much pruning, now is a good time to prune any stunted growths, trim to desired lengths, and check the root ball for rot.

Good job! You are taking good care of your heartleaf philodendron.

There are very few problems associated with heartleaf philodendrons. The well-draining soil will prevent root rot and mold, and adequate home conditions will keep aphids, mealy bugs, scale, and spider mites at bay.