Home»House Plants»Philodendron
It ’s not rare for plants to gain their common epithet based on the shape or coloration , but Philodendron pedatum ( fil - oh - DEN - dron ped - AH - tum ) has a unique claim to fame for many a Philodendron fiend .
The plant is aptly called oakleaf philodendron ( alternately import oak leafage ) and calculate as though an oak tree tree suddenly flex into an epiphytic plant .
As with many member of theAraceaefamily , this is a perennial indigene to the rain forest of South America , or more precisely , Brazil and Venezuela .
Oddly enough , while there ’s no argument regarding the coarse name , this plant has had a wide scope of alternating botanic titles over the years , some of which are still used as synonyms by growers .
These names include :
Philodendron Pedatum Care
Size & Growth
One of the quicker - mature philodendrons out there , the oakleaf is an greedy climber that can gain 9′ feet in height with the proper musical accompaniment and has a 1′ foot spread .
Bamboo , moss poles , plastic mesh , and PVC make for fantabulous supports , although moss poles also help supply humidity .
New leaves are a dark-skinned green and generally oblong but go through a metabolism as they get old .
Deep lobes form , giving the foliation their distinctive oak foliage bod , and can produce up to 14″ inches under ideal condition ( although you ’re more likely to get 6″ to 8″ inch length ) .
Flowering And Fragrance
You ’ll in all probability never see one of these major planet blossom indoors , but an outside specimen may train unimportant brownish - common to brown blossoms .
Light & Temperature
Bright , indirect sunlight for around 6 to 10 hour per day is idealistic for your oakleaf , although it can also tolerate fond nuance . Dappled or filtered sunlight are also great pick , but direct sunlight can scorch the foliage .
deposit it in the kitchen or can so you’re able to get cleaner air in exchange for a more humid environment .
philodendron can manage almost any humidity tier as long as there ’s at least a little and it is n’t swimming . test to give your oakleaf around 60 % percent humidity for the dear results , although 40 to 80 is also a good range . Much higher , and you may invite fungal infections . Where it ’s too humid , employ a dehumidifier ( this is also a bang-up way to provide your flora with purified H2O ) , and use a pebble tray or humidifier when the humidness is too low .
Just be heedful not to leave the plant too close to a vent , melodic line conditioner , or other source of swig , as the sudden temperature shifts can do stress .
mediocre household temperature are perfect for oakleaf , which does n’t produce well outdoors throughout most US.Avoid straying outdoors of a 50 ° to 85 ° degrees Fahrenheit scope , and aim for something cheeseparing to 60 ° to 75 ° degrees Fahrenheit . Having slimly cooler night ( 5 ° to 10 ° degrees Fahrenheit cooler than day temperatures ) can be very healthy for yourPhilodendronand has a similar effect as the unclouded storey in an average day / night cycle .
Watering And Feeding
While philodendrons love moisture in the air , they do n’t wish tolerate in the bathwater .
Use your finger to find out the soil and only water when it feels dry 1″ inch down .
Go easy and soundly until you see moisture beginning to ooze from the drainage holes .
This method acting ( also sleep together as the soakage - and - dry method ) helps prevent over - or underwatering . It avoid the need to account for variable quantity like humidness , temperature , and light floor , affecting how quickly a plant consumes water supply .
In between waterings , consider giving your oakleaf some balanced melted houseplant fertilizer .
One dose per month ( according to the recording label instructions ) in bounce and summertime is enough to fulfil this heavy eater . Avoid feed the plant in fall and wintertime , as this is its hibernating phase .
Soil & Transplanting
As an aerophyte , your oakleaf does n’t require a lot out of its filth so any calibre potting mix will do .
reckon amending the intermixture with peat moss or perlite to help ensure it ’s well - draining and has a somewhat acidulous pH , although the plant life can survive in back breaker to achromatic spirit level ( 5.5 to 7.0).Alternatively , you’re able to implant an oak leaf in nothing but moss or a mix of moss , perlite , or vermiculite .
Despite being a jolly fast raiser , you ’ll only demand to repot your oakleaf Philodendron every 2 to 3 years . If you see origin peeking out of the drainage holes , you ’ll need to graduate the industrial plant to a slightly larger container . When repotting , always discard the old culture medium and replace it with new . It eliminates mineral wastes and refill the plant ’s natural food supply .
Grooming And Maintenance
Prune our oakleaf in the spring and come down to absent damage or pathologic leaves , but fend off run overboard . you could also trim some of the ethereal roots that are n’t hold in the plant up , so long as you leave 1 ” to 2″ inches in distance for later multiplication . These rule also apply when pruning the industrial plant for material body . The only other bit of sustainment is to pass over the leaves down every week with a neem leaf refulgency or a damp textile to take away any dust or small invaders .
How To Propagate Philodendron Pedatum
Stem cuttings are , by far , the most common method for broadcast nearly all philodendron , include oakleaf .
The root cuttings may further be rootle using soil or water before transplanting it to their permanent home .
Other executable method for this climber let in air layering , solution division , or ( if you ’re lucky enough to get one to blossom ) seeds .
Oakleaf Philodendron Pests Or Diseases
Oakleaf philodendron share the same hardiness against blighter and disease as most plants in the genus . However , this does n’t mean they ca n’t become infested or infect . Mealybugs , scale , spider mites , and thrips are the most familiar foes you ’ll bleed into . exit unaddressed , they can pull up stakes behind honeydew , draw in common fungal spores such as coal-black mold and powdery mildew . beginning rot is the leading disease peril , which can be quash by practicing good watering habit .
mention that all philodendrons contain calcium oxalate crystal . While these are present in many food we feed ( in much small-scale quantities ) , the crystals are toxic to cat and dogs . humanity ( big or small ) that take in Philodendron will suffer less dangerous symptom such as nausea , vomiting , and a mellow risk of developing kidney stones .
Philodendron Pedatum Uses
These fantabulous climbers will touch the roof in due metre but will never run over their street corner of the room . That said , corners are an excellent stead for them , as well as mount up the side of bookshelf . They can also be allowed to cascade down from hanging basket to make it a little hard for your little two to four - legged family members to reach . in conclusion , philodendrons are considered clear air plants , meaning they absorb toxins from the strain , thus providing more than just beauty .
