If you’re looking for a fantastic, colorful twist on an ordinary houseplant, it’s time to consider the philodendron brasil. This stunning, sweetheart plant is incredibly easy to grow and especially suited for indoor environments.
It’s a fast grower, and relatively easily propagated which means you can grow plenty of philodendron all-around your home. Here is everything you need to know to propagate, grow and care for philodendron brasil.
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Philodendron Brasil | Growing and Care Guide
What is the Philodendron Brasil?
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The philodendron hederaceum, or Brasil, is a fast-growing, trailing plant native to the Caribbean region. It’s easily identified by it’s gorgeous, heart-shaped leaves, each uniquely patterned and ranging in colour from green to yellow.
With long trailing vines, it’s a superb choice for hanging baskets or taller standing pots. This quirky cultivar only grows about 6” in a hanging basket and 8” in a larger pot.
Although, beware that the brasil plant is quite the climber, so don’t get a fright when your stems start trailing upwards.
Other names the philodendron brasil is known as include:
- Variegated Heartleaf Philodendron
- Sweetheart Plant
- Heart Leaf Plant
How Do You Grow Philodendron Brasil
The brasil plant is incredibly adaptable and well-suited for indoor living. As long as you’re giving it the right soil condition, a moderate level of light and humidity, it’ll be perfectly happy in any room of your home.
Philodendron Brasil Propagation
Propagation is straight-forward with the most effective method is through a cutting in water. Plus, rooting will only take a few days. Here is what you need to do:
Step 1 – Take a clean, sterilized pair of scissors or pruning shears, and remove a stem cutting at least 1 to 2 inches before the node.
Step 2 - Fill a glass with water, remove lower leaves from the cutting and place the cutting directly into the water glass. You’ll want to switch out the water every few days to make sure your cutting gets plenty of nutrients.
Step 3 – After a few days, your cutting will begin to start sprouting fibrous roots, wait a few days and then transplant into a well-draining, potting soil mix.
Be sure to keep your soil well-watered in the first few days after transplanting. When it comes to the potting soil mix, ½ potting mix and ½ peat moss or ¾ potting and ¼ perlite make an ideal mix for this plant.
Growing Conditions for Philodendron Hederaceum
After transplanting your cutting, you’ll want to choose the right spot, giving it the right level of light, temperature and humidity.
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Light
Brasil plants don’t tolerate full sun throughout the day, so pick a spot with lots of indirect sunlight. Whilst they are adaptable to low-light conditions, a north-facing spot, with plenty of bright indirect light is ideal.
Temperature
The brasil plant is perfectly happy indoors and will adapt well as long as you moderately regulate your room temperature. Take care not to let the temperature drop below 55°F as this will cause your leaves to wilt.
Humidity
The brasil plant loves a moderate amount of humidity, especially in scorching, dry seasons. You can maintain humidity level with regular misting or occasionally leaving your brasil plant in the bath while you’re showering.
Philodendron Brasil Care Guide
Even though this cultivar is largely low-maintenance, you’ll want to follow certain care tips and tricks to make sure your brasil plant continues growing happily in your home.
Here are a few things you should know:
How Often Should You Water Your Brasil Plant?
It enjoys moist soil, but as with most indoor plants, over-watering can pose problems. On average, you should be watering your brasil plant at least once a week.
Allow the topsoil to dry out in-between watering.
When Should You Fertilize Your Philodendron Brasil?
The philodendron brasil loves a little bit of a plant food boost now and then. You can feed them as much as once or twice a month during the spring and summer months.
You can cut back almost entirely during the winter months.
Other Care Tips
Another essential factor that will help to keep your philodendron brasil happy and healthy is pruning. It’ll help you to keep plant shape and promote bushy growth.
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You can feel free to cut back quite vigorously during summer. If you want to keep your leaves clean and shiny, take care to clean individual leaves now and then with a damp cloth.
Some experts might even suggest using a small amount of mayonnaise to help give your leaves some shine.
Common Philodendron Problems
As with most indoor plants, you won’t have a large variety of issues regarding pests and the like. Should a problem arise, it’ll likely be due to over-watering or incorrect care.
Here are the answers to common questions are issues your philodendron brasil might have:
Why are my Philodendron leaves discoloring?
Your Philodendron’s leaves may discolor to a pale yellow, brown or even black at some point. This is often a direct result of over-watering.
Should you notice discolored leaves, be sure to remove them and check the moisture of your soil. If it’s overly moist, cut back on watering once every two weeks.
Why are my Philodendron leaves curling?
Curling leaves are usually a sign of underwatering but can also be due to too cold temperature or a lack of humidity. Keep checking to ensure that your soil stays moist and try your best to regulate the relative temperature in the room.
Why are Hederaceum leaves drooping?
Droopy and drab leaves are also a typical result of underwatering. A great way to fix this problem is to let your philodendron plants sit and soak in a tub or sink for about ten minutes.
Final Growing Tips for A Full & Happy Philodendron Brasil
You won’t need to fuss much over your philodendron brasil, but it’s always good to keep an eye on it and pre-empt any issues. Take care to:
- Remove any dead or damaged leaves as and when you see. Dead leaves don’t always fall off naturally.
- If it’s looking sparse and leggy, give it a good prune and don’t be afraid to cut back a significant amount.
- Keep your Philodendron well fed with water-soluble plant food regularly.
- If you’re feeling like your philodendron growth is lagging or slow, don’t be afraid to mix some coffee grounds into the soil.
Looking to grow more Philodendron varieties in your home? Be sure to check our growing guides for Moonlight Philodendron, Philodendron Pink Princess and Heartleaf Philodendron.
Philodendrons really do make fantastic household plants, and with its remarkable leaves and vigorous, trailing stems, it’s easy to see why the cultivar is such a popular choice.
Always be sure to regulate your watering and humidity levels and don’t be afraid to cut a bit back if you need to. Otherwise, you should have an absolutely dazzling and happily growing Philodendron brasil in your home.