Hello friends! Today I will tell you about the mistakes I made when I first started growing philodendrons. I hope this article will help you avoid them.
QUICK ANSWER: Inadequate drainage and lack of ventilation are two of the main mistakes beginners make when growing philodendrons.
1. Inadequate Drainage💧
The first thing worth mentioning is insufficient drainage. The pot should have at least 4 drainage holes with a diameter of 0.3 inches or more. The more holes the better, as this will ensure not only the removal of excess water but also the aeration of the roots.
There should be a saucer under the pot to collect excess water. Between the saucer and the pot, there should be a half-inch gap. Always remove excess water from the saucer after watering.
The soil should be light and should not hold excess water. It is best if you use a potting mix for aroids.
2. Lack of Ventilation💨
The next thing to worry about is ventilation. Philodendrons have large leaves that evaporate a lot of water and it needs to be removed from the leaves. In nature, this happens thanks to the wind, so you need to recreate the natural conditions.
Install a fan near the plant and set the timer to turn on at least thrice daily for 30 minutes. The airflow should blow the plant and remove water from the leaves.
3. Rootbound🪴
Very often the plant you just bought is rootbound. This also happens when you do not want to transplant it into a larger pot and the roots intertwine into a ball. This leads to slower growth and yellowing of the leaves.
Transplant the philodendron every 1-2 years into a slightly larger container. When transplanting, you can cut off up to 10% of the roots.
4. Overwatering💦
Philodendrons are plants that love generous watering, but the soil should dry out almost completely between waterings. These are the conditions under which these plants grow in nature.
Stick your finger into the root ball, if it is slightly moist in the center and dry on the periphery, the watering time has come. Water the plant so that the entire soil is well-soaked. Then remove excess water from the saucer.
5. Lack of Light🌞
Philodendrons do not tolerate direct sunlight, but they still need light. For this reason, place the pot as close to a window as possible.
If the plant is in a room with east or west windows, it can be placed in front of the window. The glass will reflect some of the sunlight and this will be a good solar exposure.
If the window is south, place the philodendron on the side of the window so that direct sun does not touch the leaves. Avoid growing these plants in a room with northern windows.
6. Lack of Fertilizer🧪
Potting soil is usually quite nutritious, but after a while, it loses its properties. For this reason, philodendrons need to be fertilized once a month.
I use a liquid multi-purpose fertilizer to water my philodendrons. From March to November, I give them this fertilizer according to the instructions on the package. In winter, I don’t use any fertilizer.
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