5 Care Tips for Philodendron gloriosum – + Propagation & FAQ

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Philodendron gloriosum is a stunningly gorgeous species in the Philodendron genus with mesmerizing, heart-shaped, velvety leaves. Sadly, this Colombian native has been classified as a vulnerable species in its natural habitat according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Fortunately, we can add this plant to our home collections to both enjoy and do our part in conservation!

A beautiful member of the Araceae family (aroid plant family), this will make a wonderful addition to any houseplant collection.

Let’s take a look at 5 care tips of this beautiful foliage plant, along with tips on propagation as well as answers to some frequently asked questions.

PHILODENDRON GLORIOSUM CARE

1. LIGHT

These plants are versatile indoors when it coming to lighting. If you want larger leaves, be sure to provide plenty of bright indirect light.

At a minimum, place it right in front of a window that doesn’t have any direct sun.

Better yet, an eastern facing window (morning sun) will provide enough natural light indoors for your plant to maximize the size of your leaves.

These plants do not prefer to be in really sunny conditions all day, so if you have window that have too much direct sunlight, you can always filter or diffuse the direct sun with sheer curtains or blinds that are partially closed.

Not enough light will not be conducive to growth, so if you have particularly dim conditions, you can always supplement with, or grow exclusively, under a grow light.

This plant already exhibits fairy slow growth, so be sure that you are providing your plant with enough light and the optimal conditions mentioned in this post for best results.

2. WATERING

Always water thoroughly and allow excess water to drain away. I recommend allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out (feel it with your finger) before watering again.

If you follow this tip, and you’re using an appropriately chunky, loose soil, there should be no concern of “overwatering“. See the Potting Mix & Pot Types section further down in the post for more details.

3. TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY

These are warm growing plants, so try and avoid minimum temperatures much below 55F (13C). An ideal temperature range would be about 65-85F (18-29C)

These plants appreciate high humidity, so be sure to increase humidity, especially during the winter months if you’re running forced air heat.

Warm, dry air can be an invitation for spider mites, so keep this in mind! These plants tend to be prone to spider mites, so try and create humid conditions in order to avoid this.

It is not practical, nor necessarily desirable, to increase humidity to jungle levels, but try and aim for 50-60% relative humidity in your home. I prefer to use a humidifier to easily accomplish this.

Check out my humidifier picks. I know you will love them!

And please put down that mister. Misters just wet your plant’s leaves and do nothing for humidity.

Lastly, don’t ignore air circulation as you increase humidity. Stagnant, humid air is an invitation for fungal issues, so try and gently circulate your air with a fan.

4. POTTING MIX & POT TYPES

This plant prefers a loose, well-draining potting mix. A traditional aroid potting mix is equal parts all-purpose potting mix, orchid bark, and perlite.

Depending on your conditions, this ratio of ingredients can dry out very quickly. If you’ve tried this and it dried out too quickly for your conditions, here are some good options to consider:

• If you still want to use equal parts potting mix, perlite and orchid bark, experiment with using miracle gro moisture control mix (link to Amazon). This mix absorbs more water than traditional potting mixes, but since you’re also using plenty of perlite and orchid bark, your roots will be getting plenty of air and so it allows you to keep a moist medium while greatly minimizing/eliminating root rot.

• If you don’t want to use a moisture control potting mix, try using 2 parts of your favorite all-purpose mix (like the regular Miracle Gro mix) plus 1 part of orchid bark and 1 part of perlite.

Many growers also throw in a bit of horticultural charcoal to keep the potting mix fresh. It will improve drainage and absorbs impurities, so throw in a handful into your mix.

As far as choosing a pot type for Philodendron gloriosum, here are some valuable tips to consider:

• These plants are not vining, but rather, it is a crawling philodendron and a terrestrial plant that spreads horizontally. Because of this growth habit, give your plant a pot that is much wider than it is deep in order to allow for enough room for growth.

• Always ensure your pot has drainage holes in order to allow excess water to escape and help avoid root rot. Good drainage is a must.

5. FERTILIZER

My favorite liquid fertilizer that I’ve been using for years is Dyna-Gro Grow. It’s an amazing, nutritionally complete, urea-free fertilizer that contains all the micro and macro nutrients that plants need.

You will not be disappointed, so try Dyna-Gro Grow as a part of your houseplant care routine.

I’m in the camp of fertilizing dilutely with every watering during the growing season. I simply take 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of Dyna-Gro Grow per gallon of water.

PROPAGATION

Since this is not a vining plant, propagation is a bit different.

Philodendron gloriosum plants grow from a rhizome, which is essentially an underground stem. As the rhizome grows, it will continue to produce new growth.

Here are the steps to easily propagate:

• Use a pair of sterilized, sharp pruners to cut your rhizome. You may already see the rhizome on the soil surface. If not, gently displace any soil so that the rhizome is visible. You can also take the plant out of its pot if you’d like.

• Next, all you have to do is cut the rhizome into as many parts as you’d like. Just make sure that each rhizome chunk has one or two leaves

• Pot up your individual sections into a good potting mix, as discussed previously.

• Lastly, it will greatly benefit your potted cuttings to have higher humidity while it is getting more established. You can use a clear plastic bag placed loosely over the top (propped up by thin stakes so that the bag doesn’t touch the leaves). Or you can simply use a humidifier.

FAQ & SOLUTIONS

Here are some of the most common problems and questions with Philodendron gloriosum. Are any missing? Comment on my post and I will make sure to add it.

Looking for other philodendron plants to grow? Check out my selection of easy to grow philodendrons.