Philodendron
Philodendron is a vegetable in the Araceae family. It grows best in part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 9-12.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Philodendron
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tropical houseplant (cuttings) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Easy heart-shaped trailing foliage. Note: Toxic to pets if chewed.
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is an easygoing trailing aroid with glossy heart-shaped leaves, tolerant of lower light and quick to root from cuttings.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Philodendron hederaceum|Hardiness zones: 9-12|Propagation: cutting|Light: Bright indirect light|Water: Medium|Mature size: trailing 4-8 feet
Plan your philodendron planting
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Start your free plan →Philodendron care at a glance
Medium to bright indirect light; the heartleaf philodendron is among the most shade-tolerant vines, just slower and sparser in dim corners.
Water thoroughly when the top inch of mix has dried; it forgives a missed week.
Unfussy at normal room humidity.
Keep above 55°F — cold damage starts below that.
Standard well-draining potting mix, ideally lightened with perlite.
Balanced fertilizer monthly in spring and summer.
In winter: Cut back in winter — every 2–3 weeks is typical in a cool room.
Calcium oxalates — oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting if chewed by pets; mildly irritating to people. Hang trailing vines out of reach.
Pet listing per the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database.
How to propagate philodendron
Stem cuttings in water
- Snip below a node so the cutting has 2–4 leaves.
- Remove the lowest leaf and stand the node in water.
- Roots appear in 1–3 weeks — among the fastest of any houseplant.
- Pot several cuttings together for a full pot, or plant them back into the parent.
Common philodendron problems
Why is my philodendron leggy with long bare stems?
Likely cause: Low light stretches the vine — long internodes, small leaves.
Fix: Move it brighter, then cut the vines back hard; it branches from the cuts, and the cuttings root in water to refill the pot.
Why are my philodendron's leaves turning yellow?
Likely cause: A few old leaves is normal turnover; many at once is almost always overwatering.
Fix: Let the top inch dry between waterings and check the pot drains freely.
Why are my philodendron's new leaves small?
Likely cause: Low light or exhausted soil — the vine is running on fumes.
Fix: Brighter indirect light, monthly feeding in season, and a repot every couple of years restore leaf size.
Care profile compiled from extension and horticultural society guidance and the ASPCA toxic-plants list. Conditions vary by home — treat ranges as starting points.
At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for philodendron yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.