One of the easiest houseplants to grow, philodendrons are fairly large indoor plants with stunning foliage and unique shapes. Happy in indirect light, they make excellent houseplants for even the beginner plant parent. Learn how to plant, grow, and care for philodendrons.
About Philodendrons
Philodendrons are a genus of tropical and subtropical plants in the family Araceae, which includes other popular houseplants like Monsteras and Anthuriums. Their generic name is also often used as the common name, for example, heartleaf philodendron. With over 450 species and growth habits from terrestrial to vining and climbing, you may find you can never have enough of these beautiful plants.
Most philodendrons have large, glossy leaves that can be oval, spear, or heart-shaped. Some are covered in a velvety coat of fine hairs.
In their natural habitat of Central and South America, most philodendrons are tree canopy species growing in humid, tropical forests. They enjoy the dappled light, high humidity, and warm temperatures found in and under the tops of the trees.
While some are epiphytic, others are hemiepiphytic. If you want some bedtime reading, check out this paper on the history and use of the terms epiphytic and hemiepiphytic published by Oxford University Press. Epiphytic philodendrons germinate in the tree canopy and eventually grow roots toward the soil. Hemiepiphytic philodendrons germinate near or on the forest floor and look for a tree to climb.
Philodendrons that follow this pattern will grow along the ground toward areas of darkness (heavy shade under trees). This trait is called skototropism. Once they find a tree trunk or plant to climb, they revert to phototropism, growing toward the light.