The Philodendron owes its reputation as a typical bachelor plant to its undemanding nature. However, you should familiarize yourself a little more with the central aspects of your care. The answers to important questions about the tree friend show you how to do it right.
How do you properly care for a philodendron?
When caring for a philodendron, regular watering with a slightly moist root ball, fertilization every 2 weeks from April to October, pruning if necessary in spring and a bright location at room temperature even in winter should be taken into account.
How to water a philodendron?
The goal of the perfect water balance is that the root ball is always slightly moist inside. In contrast, the earth's surface should dry out in the meantime to prevent harmful waterlogging. Use a finger test to check whether the substrate is dry to a depth of around 1 cm. Only then let the soft water run until the coaster fills up. Once a week, the tree lover enjoys a gentle spray of lime-free water.
Does the tree friend want to be fertilized?
Nutrient requirements exist all year round, with the fertilizer application intervals depending on the current season. How to do it right:
- From April to October, add a liquid complete fertilizer (€18.00 on Amazon) to the irrigation water every 2 weeks
- Administer a slow-release fertilizer in April and July
- Fertilize every 6 weeks from November to March
So that the nutrient s alts contained in the fertilizer are optimally absorbed, please water with clear water before and after fertilizing. The magnificent leaves should be wiped off from time to time with algae juice. This not only preserves the rich green color, but also delivers valuable nutrients directly to the leaf tissue.
My Philodendron is growing over my head – can I cut it?
It is primarily the climbing Philodendron species that quickly grow too large in the room. Since your tree friend tolerates pruning well, you can cut it back to the desired size. The best time for this measure is during the transition phase from winter to spring.
When making any pruning measures, please remember that the milky sap in Baumfreund is poisonous. Therefore, wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing to prevent skin irritation.
The aerial roots are spared from pruning if possible. The long strands not only serve as adhesive organs. At the same time, they make a contribution to the water and nutrient supply. An aerial root should only be removed when it has died and can no longer fulfill its two functions.
How should a philodendron overwinter?
Year-round cultivation under normal room temperatures is very appealing to your tree friend. Since it shiveres at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, it can stay on the bright windowsill in the heated living room even in winter. From November to March, water less and only fertilize every 6 weeks.
Tip
Philodendrons have the fascinating ability to increase their temperature. To ensure that their flowers exude an intense smell, some species, such as Philodendron bipinnatifidum, heat the still closed flowers up to 38 degrees Celsius. The aim of this campaign is to attract the relevant pollinator insects that cannot resist the smell of carrion.
