Heartleaf Philodendron Care: 8 Tips to Grow Heart Leaf Plants

A heartleaf philodendron plant (Philodendron hederaceum or Philodendron scandens) is notable for its long stems, bushy foliage, and heart-shaped green leaves. Another common name for a heartleaf philodendron is “sweetheart plant.” It descends from the Araceae family alongside both the pothos and Monstera deliciosa plants, which are also popular houseplants.

Originally hailing from countries and islands like Brazil and the West Indies, these plants are used to humidity, indirect sunlight, and warm temperatures. Their growing season lasts through spring and summer in the wild, but you can start new growths at any time of the year indoors. Studies conflict about just how toxic heartleaf philodendrons are after ingestion, but it is advisable to keep them away from pets and children who might try to eat them.

Heartleaf philodendrons are easy to care for, but you should keep some key considerations in mind. Follow these eight heartleaf philodendron plant care tips:

1. 1. Balance humidity levels. You should treat these indoor plants as if they were still at home in Central America, South America, or the Caribbean. Use a humidifier to give them plenty of moisture or mist them regularly. While they can survive without a lot of humidity, they require it to truly thrive.
2. 2. Fertilize when appropriate. New plants benefit from houseplant fertilizer. Similarly, whenever you see your heartleaf philodendrons sprouting new leaves, consider adding a bit of fertilizer to boost their growth.
3. 3. Give them bright light. Bright, indirect light conditions are best for heartleaf philodendron plants. Low light is preferable to direct sun if you can’t provide indirect sunlight. If your home doesn’t have a lot of natural light pouring in through the windows, consider purchasing a grow light to simulate the conditions.
4. 4. Provide moist soil. Pick a potting mix with peat moss, perlite, and any other soil types that retain moisture well without getting waterlogged. Make sure there are drainage holes in your pots so the moisture has a place to go. Add pebbles to the bottom of the potting soil to increase humidity.
5. 5. Prune sporadically. When you snip stem cuttings beneath the leaf nodes, you encourage your heartleaf philodendrons to grow back even stronger. This pruning process helps your plant keep producing more and more foliage. You can also use these philodendron cuttings for propagation.
6. 6. Repot every few years. Every two or three years, you’ll need to place your heartleaf philodendrons in new pots. Repotting allows new root systems to grow and prevents root rot. You can also split up the roots to propagate the plants in multiple pots.
7. 7. Vanquish pests. The usual insect assailants can attack your heartleaf philodendrons. Get rid of aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, spider mites, and more by spraying them with a homemade or store-bought insecticide.
8. 8. Water appropriately. Keep an eye on your soil to see when these plants need watering—in general, you should keep their soil constantly moist but never wet or muddy. Make sure to use lukewarm water, as cold water can shock these warmth-loving, tropical plants. Dried-out, brown leaves mean you’re underwatering, while wilting yellow leaves mean you’re overwatering.

Heartleaf philodendrons are robust natural growers—each leaf is around two to four inches and each stem can reach four feet. Pruning these plants is easy if you’d like to keep them smaller, but you can also take advantage of their size in multiple ways. Turn them into climbers by training them to wrap around a trellis, planting aerial roots along the way. Similarly, you can use them as trailing plants by letting their long stems and many leaves dangle from a hanging basket.

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