English

Philodendron Vines

Philodendron is the common name used for a group of species that are quite similar; included among the vining philodendrons are Scindapsus pictus, Philodendron hederaceum ‘Brasil,’ Philodendron hederaceum, and Philodendron hederaceum micans. Vining philodendrons look very much like pothos and require the same care.

Survival strategy

Philodendron vines can maintain a pleasing look with minimal light (around 50 foot-candles), but that’s all they’ll be doing—holding on for dear life. You can try keeping the soil barely and evenly moist with regular soil aeration to prevent stale pockets of moisture from festering.

Growth strategy

From 100 to 300 foot-candles, you’ll get some vine growth. Above 300 up to about 800 foot-candles, variegation will be more pronounced. However, when philodendrons are exposed to direct sun for more than an hour or two, darker leaves may fade, giving them a bleached look. It is therefore best to shield the plant with a white sheer curtain if the sun shines directly into your window for several hours on a clear day.

Soil management

Assuming adequate light, keep the soil evenly moist for strong growth. When the soil is almost completely dry, you’ll notice that the leaves become floppy and dull. This should be immediately remedied by some soil aeration to loosen up the dry pockets, followed by bringing the soil to saturation. Leaves should become perky again in a day or two. You can use a liquid fertilizer as directed when you notice vines putting out new leaves.

Subjective life span

After a year or two, if your plant has been adjusting well, you might end up with some bare spots near the soil, as the outer parts of the vine remain lush. Just as with pothos, you can take cuttings, root them, and transplant them back into the main pot or start several smaller planters. Philodendrons are excellent long-term house plants.

Philodendron Versus Pothos

1 Growing tip

On a pothos (left), the new leaf and its stem are roughly the same color as the rest of the plant, and the growing tip is the leaf itself. The growing tip of a philodendron (right) has a reddish color, and its main vine extends while the previous leaf continues to unfurl.

2 Left sheath

The pothos sheath (left) is always attached to the petiole (the stalk that connects the leaf to the main vine) while a philodendron’s sheath (right) hangs loose and may eventually fall off.

3 Aerial root nub and vine

Pothos (left) usually has one bigger, woody root nub with other smaller ones, and the node can be prickly! The vine has a grooved, rougher surface. The philodendron root nubs (right) are smaller and not quite as spiky. The vine is smoother on a philodendron.

Varieties of Vining Philodendrons