Easy to Care Philodendron. You want to start gardening but are afraid that you may be a bad owner for your houseplants? Don’t worry, you can start your journey to gardening from Philodendrons. Why Philodendrons? Because the plants native to the Caribbean, Colombia and Venezuela do not really need green thumbs to thrive—in other words, Philodendrons are easy to care for!
The member of the Araceae (Arum) family was first described in 1644. But the name, Philodendron, was given much later—in 1829. The name ‘Philodendron’ was derived from Greek, “Philo” which means ‘love’ or ‘affection’ and “Dendron” which means 'tree.’ In free translation, Philodendron means “tree hugger” because, in the wild, Philodendron is a real climber that loves to ‘embrace’ trees.
Philodendrons have many known species and most of them are really easy to care for! But, if you are still debating what types of Philodendron you should choose as your houseplants, here are some useful references (make sure that you put these references in your shopping cart and check them out!)
Heartleaf Philodendron
This type of Philodendron is known as one of the most low-maintenance houseplants. It has heart-shaped leaves which look awesome anywhere—indoors or outdoors. The most exciting part is, you can have lots of choices from this type of Philodendron because there are many beautiful varieties available—some of the most popular picks are Philodendron ‘Brasil,’ Philodendron ‘Micans,’ and Philodendron ‘Lemon Lime.’
Xanadu Philodendron
Do you want an exotic look in your living room? Try this type of Philodendron. Xanadu Philodendron has dramatic split foliage which can grow with minimal care only. Put this plant near your windows and it can easily thrive—because low and indirect sunlight is the best condition needed for this plant. However, you need to keep it at a safe spot from your pets as it contains calcium oxalate crystals—and eating it may cause symptoms like mouth irritation and vomiting.
Blushing Philodendron
It is called Blushing Philodendron because its leaves are variegated with black or dark green with pink. This plant is commonly known as Philodendron Erubescens or the Pink Princess. Similar to other easy to care Philodendrons, this Blushing Philodendron also needs exposure to indirect light only. This is because you need to keep the color balance in its leaves.
Red Congo Philodendron
This type of Philodendron is also known as Rojo Congo. It has sturdy stems that can hold themselves up without any support—thus, this plant is considered as ‘self-heading’ plant. Red Congo Philodendron is not vining in nature and can grow quite large. You need to trim it regularly to keep it “in shape.”
Spadeleaf Philodendron
The botanical name of this type is Philodendron domesticum. It is called spadeleaf because this type of Philodendron has leaves resembling the shape of a spade. The glossy leaves of this plant can grow quite well in dappled sunlight. The large spade-shaped leaves of this Philodendron will be a nice companion for your living room. The good news is, this plant can also purify indoor air.