Grow Philodendron Indoors or Outdoors

Philodendron is a member of the arum family and has been a popular plant for hundreds of years. Care must be taken to keep children and pets away from the plant. Philodendrons are poisonous if eaten and the sap may irritate people with sensitive skin. Not everyone can grow the philodendron in their outdoor space-it is a sub-tropical plant, but it is possible to keep the plant indoors when necessary and give it a taste of the garden in the warmest time of the year.

Only gardeners in USDA zones 9 through 11 can grow philodendron outdoors. Plant in moist, well-drained soil and a dappled or partial shade such as under a tree with a loose, not dense , crown that lets in just a bit of shade.
Water the plant regularly except in the winter when the soil should be just barely moist. The plant is dormant in the winter and does not need as much water. Prune lower leaves away if they become discolored, otherwise it can be left to grow.

When growing indoors, you can give the philodendron the same kind of light it would get outside by placing it in a window with a light curtain. It is easy to see if the plant is getting the right amount of light. If the leaves are too small, the plant is not getting enough. Never put it in direct sun. This will result in leaf burn.

Allow the soil to go dry in between waterings then only water until the soil is moist and not wet. Water less in the winter, a period of slow growth. If the leaves turn yellow, the plant is getting too much water. If the leaves turn brown and fall off, it is getting too little.

Keep the room temperature between 75 and 80 degrees F. during the daytime and between 60 and 70 at night.
The higher the humidity the more leaves the plant will have and they will be more lustrous. Mist the plant on a regular basis. Wash the leaves with a damp rag or the pores will become clogged.

Re-pot only when the current pot becomes very tight. The plant like it when it's leaves are cramped tight together, so re-potting too soon is not beneficial. Re-pot only in the late winter or spring when the roots are compacted into a tight ball. Put the plant into a new pot 2 to 3 time bigger than the old one. Make sure to use a pot with drainage soils or drill your own in the bottom. Use a commercial potting soil. Water more often than usual for the first month so that the roots do not become completely dry or become soggy.