Philodendrons are a shop and home favorite and one of the most popular houseplants in the world, and for great reason. They are easy to care for, have beautiful foliage, and can thrive in a variety of indoor environments. Whether you're a seasoned plant parent or just starting out, these plants are a great addition to any home.

Varieties of Philodendrons

There are over 400 species of philodendrons, so there's a lot of variety to choose from! How exciting that you could choose to just decorate your home with philodendrons and the choices are endless! Some popular philodendron varieties include:

• Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron scandens): This is one of the most common philodendrons, and it's easy to see why. With its heart-shaped leaves and trailing habit, it's a great choice for hanging baskets or for growing up a trellis. 

• Split-leaf philodendron (Monstera Deliciosa): This variety is also known as the swiss cheese plant. The leaves have large, natural perforations that resemble holes in Swiss cheese. It's a great choice for a floor plant, and it can be trained to climb a trellis for support. It's that feel good plant for large spaces or for adding vertical interest to a room.

• Pink Princess Philodendron (Philodendron Erubescens): This species is known for its colorful, heart-shaped leaves. It's a great choice for it's versatility, it can be grown in a pot or trained to climb a trellis.  This plant has had its fair share of controversy as it was slow to come to market and was being sold for a variety of expensive prices for all differenty types of sizes. 

  

There are also a bountiful amount of un-common philodendrons that are popping up.  One that we love is: 

• Philodendron Ecuador (Philodendron Verrucosum): This species has heart-shaped leaves with vibrant colored veins. It's a great choice for a statement plant, and it can be grow up to 3 feet tall or more.  It's a climber and a stunner!

Caring for Philodendrons

Philodendrons are excellent low-maintenance plants, which makes them a great choice for anyone and for all spaces. Here's what you need to know to keep your philodendrons thriving:

• Light: Philodendrons prefer bright, indirect light, but they can also tolerate low light conditions. Just be careful not to expose them to direct sunlight, which can burn their leaves.

• Water: These plants like to be watered when the top inch of their soil is dry, but be careful not to overwater them if they are kept in low light. Make sure the soil is draining well and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent water from sitting in the bottom of the pot.  Varieties such as the Pink Princess Philodendron and the Philodendron Verrucosum will like to have soil that is more most than other philodendrons. 

• Soil: Philodendrons prefer a well-draining soil, many people like to use a mixture of one part all purpose houseplant potting soil and 2 parts perlite or pumice to add more air to the soil. Most Philodendrons will come to you with a heavy peat soil and this type of soil is great for commercial plant greenhouses, but can often cause trouble for you at home by holding onto to much water. Once your plant acclimates to your home think about adding some new soil around the root ball or some perlite for added aeration. 

• Fertilizer: Feed your philodendrons with a quality houseplant fertilizer such as dyna-gro. Dilute the mix to water with each watering or mix in once a month. Fertilizer makes the difference, do not skip this part. 

• Pruning: Prune your philodendrons regularly to promote full, healthy growth. Just snip off any yellow or brown leaves and any stems that are getting too long.  Be sure to look-up how to propagate your philodendron as while you are pruning you can snip just the right spot so that you can influence your plant to grow and have a new starter plant to play with!

Philodendrons are easy-to-care-for plants that will add beauty and life to any indoor space. Whether you choose a heartleaf, monstera, pink princess, or selloum philodendron, these plants are sure to delight for many years!