How to Grow and Care for Philodendron Florida Green

Philodendron Florida Green, also known as Philodendron squamiferum x pedatum, is a lush, vining tropical plant that has an interesting history as well as some uncommon cousins. This hybrid plant is a product of a cross between two species of Philodendron: Philodendron squamiferum and Philodendron pedatum. It possesses the deeply lobed leaves of the former and the reddish petioles, or leaf stems, of the latter. This hybrid plant is relatively uncommon.

It is thought that botanist Robert McColley came up with the philodendron Florida Green in Florida in the 1950s. McColley also made two other hybrids from these species. The philodendron Florida Beauty has a mix of light and dark green leaves, and the very rare philodendron Florida Ghost has leaves that start out very light green but get darker as time goes on.

How To Care For A Philodendron Florida Green

Even though philodendron Florida Green is a pretty rare plant, it’s pretty easy to grow as long as you give it the right conditions and care. It will grow faster if there is a lot of bright, indirect light and moisture. As the vine grows taller, use a sphagnum moss pole or trellis to hold it up.

1. Light

Give your Florida Green philodendron a lot of bright light that comes from the side. The best window is one that faces east, but avoids direct sunlight because it can burn the leaves and hurt the plant. You may diffuse the brighter light coming in through windows facing south or west by hanging transparent curtains.

2. Soil

Plant your philodendron Florida Green in a potting mix that is rich, loose, and allows for quick drainage while still retaining moisture. For example, you may use two-thirds peat moss and one-third perlite, with a few handfuls of orchid bark added for aeration.

3. Water

Keep your philodendron Florida Green’s soil moist, but not wet. When the top inch or so of soil starts to dry out, give it a lot of water and then let it drain well. Check the plant’s drip tray and cache pot to make sure it doesn’t sit in water.

4. How Hot And Wet It Is

Ideal conditions include a temperature range of 65 to 85 degrees and a humidity level of more than 60 percent. You can create a more humid microclimate by putting it in the same space as other plants that thrive in damp conditions, or you can run a humidifier to provide moisture to the air surrounding your plants. Even if the plant is still young when you bring it inside your house, you should make preparations to provide it some sort of support, such as a moss pole or a trellis, so that it can grow more quickly in an environment with the right amount of humidity.

5. Fertilizer

During the growing season in the spring and summer, give your philodendron Florida Green one feeding of a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer that has been diluted to half its normal strength once per month. When fall arrives, you should stop fertilizing and wait until late winter the next year to begin anew.

6. Pruning

Cut away any dead or damaged leaves to keep your plant looking healthy and to help it grow new leaves. If you don’t have room for a long, climbing philodendron Florida Green, you can keep it from getting too big by cutting back its leaves. It’s best to do this when the plants are growing. Save cuttings so you can make new plants from them.

Getting Philodendron Florida Green To Grow Again

Since philodendron Florida Green can be hard to find and sometimes expensive, it’s a good idea to grow more of your plant if the mother plant is mature and healthy. You can make more plants by putting stem cuttings in water or soil to make roots. Here’s how to spread the Florida Green philodendron.

To Multiply In Water:

1. Get your mature plant, a clear glass or jar, a clean, sharp knife, or pruners that have been cleaned and sanitized.

2. Look at the mother plant and find a healthy stem. Just below a leaf node, make a cut that is at least six inches long. Take off all of the cutting’s leaves except for the top two.

3. Put the cutting in the jar and add enough water to cover the leaf nodes. Put the jar where it will get bright, indirect light and be warm. If you need more water, add it, and if the water starts to look cloudy, change it.

4. After a few weeks, small white roots should start to grow from the nodes. When the roots are about an inch long, you can plant the cutting in a pot and take care of it as usual.

To Propagate In Soil:

1. You’ll need a mature philodendron Florida Green, a small plant pot with drainage holes, potting mix, sterilized pruners, a clear plastic bag, and, if you want, rooting hormone powder.

2. Choose a stem from the mother plant and cut a six-inch stem just below a leaf node. Take off the leaves at the bottom.

3. Put soil in your pot and give it a lot of water to make it moist. Make a hole a few inches deep in the soil with your finger.

4. If you are using rooting hormone powder, dip the cut end of the cutting in it. Plant the cutting in the pot, making sure that the stem’s nodes are below the level of the soil.

5. Put the cutting in a warm place with a lot of bright, indirect light. Tent the cutting with the plastic bag, making sure the bag doesn’t touch the leaves. This will help keep the moisture in and make a humid area.

6. Make sure the soil is moist all over. After one to two months, you should see new leaves growing, which means the cutting has taken hold. You can also gently pull on the stem. If the plant stays put, roots have grown and you can care for it as usual.

Putting Philodendron Florida Green In Pots And Repotting It

You should repot your plant every two to three years to replace the soil that has been used up, but philodendron Florida Green doesn’t need to be replanted unless its roots are too close together. Check to see if roots are growing out of the planter’s bottom drainage hole. The fact that water runs off the soil instead of being absorbed is another sign that your plant’s roots are too close together. The best results will come from repotting in the spring.

Common Plant Pests And Diseases

Philodendron Florida Green can be hurt by a few common houseplant pests. Keep an eye out for insects like mealybugs, scale, spider mites, and white fly. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to get rid of pests.

Problems That Usually Happen With Philodendron Florida Green

Philodendron Florida Green is easy to grow if you give it the right conditions and some basic care, but you may run into some problems. Here are some things to look out for and how to deal with them.

1. The Leaves Are Going Yellow

Philodendron Florida Green can get too little or too much light, both of which can cause the leaves to turn yellow. If the leaves turn yellow quickly, root rot might be to blame. You can find out if this is the case by smelling the soil and gently digging to see if the roots are black or soft.

2. Leaves That Fall

Both not giving enough water and giving too much water can cause leaves to droop. Check how wet the soil is and change how often you water based on that.

3. How To Brown

If the edges of your plant’s leaves are yellow around the brown spots, this could mean that the soil is too dry. Move the plant away from any air vents and put it with other plants that like humidity, or run a humidifier in the room to make the air more humid. The use of very cold water to water houseplants can also cause the edges to turn brown. It’s best to use water that is warm or at room temperature.

FAQ’S

How Are Philodendron Florida Green And Philodendron Pedatum Different?

The Philodendron Florida Green is a cross between two different types of Philodendron, P. pedatum and P. squamiferum. When two different species breed, they make a hybrid with leaves that look like those of P. pedatum and rough, red stems like those of P. squamiferum.