Heartleaf Philodendron | Caring For One of The Easiest Houseplants
The Heartleaf Philodendron, also known as the Sweetheart Philodendron due to its heart shaped leaves, is a gem of a plant!
Native to Central America and the Caribbean, this plant is a wonderful low maintenance plant.
It adapts quite well to low light levels, and it thrives in high humidity conditions, making it an ideal plant for bathrooms.
Another bonus for this plant is its ability to clean the air from toxins.
In addition to all this, the Philodendron long vines can be highly decorative and can be arranged into beautiful trailing or climbing compositions.
The Heartleaf Philodendron sure checks all the boxes!
It’s a great plant to have whether you are new to plants, or are an avid collector; whether your are too busy to care for plants or are away from home for longer stretches!
The Sweetheart Philodendron won’t disappoint!
Heartleaf Philodendron Light
The Heartleaf Philodendron is known for its ability to survive in moderate light conditions.
It does however thrive in medium to bright, indirect light conditions.
Direct sun exposure will damage its leaves.
The more indirect natural light it receives, the faster the leaves and vines will grow.
I keep mine in a South facing room, approximately 14 feet away from the window, where it receives plenty of natural light, but never direct sunlight exposure.
These beautiful heart shaped leaves are very decorative.
When the plant’s stems, (or vines), start to grow, they can be arranged horizontally on surfaces to complement decor objects within your home.
Heartleaf Philodendron Humidity & temperature
The Heartleaf Philodendron is extremely adaptable, and as such will do really well in any home settings.
Having said that, this plant thrives in high humidity conditions.
If you have a window in your bathroom and are looking to add a splash of green to this room as well, the Philodendron is the perfect plant for it!
The one thing you need to be careful with your Heartleaf Philodendron is the temperature.
This plant does not tolerate temperatures below 60F/15C, so if you leave it outside for the summer, make sure you bring it back inside before temperatures dip below the 60F/15C mark.
When indoors, keep your plant away from any cold drafts, such as doors and windows.
Heartleaf Philodendron Watering & Fertilizing
One of the best aspects of the Heartleaf Philodendron is that it doesn’t need a ton of water.
Some say to let it dry out between waterings, others recommend to only let the top half soil dry out before watering.
I water mine on schedule every two weeks, and it’s extremely forgiving when I skip a week.
Alternatively, you can wait until the plant lets you know it’s time to water!
In-fact, similar to the Peace Lily, this plant lets you know when it’s time to water it by wilting its leaves.
Keep in mind that the more natural light it gets, the more water it will need.
Feeling the soil with your finger is always the best strategy!
The Sweetheart can grow fast and because of that, it needs food!
I recommend you fertilize it monthly from Spring to Fall with liquid plant food.
The Heartleaf Philodendron vines can grow very long, very fast!
You can let them trail from furniture or hanging baskets, or you can create beautiful compositions using stick-on hooks or trellises.
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Heartleaf Philodendron Soil & Repotting
Proper drainage is key for all plants, and the Heartleaf Philodendron is no exception.
Whether you display your Philodendron in a pot with draining holes or into a pot without draining holes, it is critical that you provide the proper drainage for its roots!
If you want to place your Philodendron into a decorative pot without draining holes, I recommend you read this article on “How to Plant in Pots Without Drainage Holes”.
Even though the Heartleaf Philodendron is a fast growing plant, it enjoys to be root bound, having its roots tight into its pot.
You can wait two to three years before upsizing its pot.
However, I do recommend you replace its nutrients depleted soil once a year.
When you do that, it’s a good idea to rinse its roots to check for diseases and pests.
Read my article on Repotting Houseplants for more details.
When you replace its soil, use a Tropical Potting Mix mixed with Perlite to add drainage. (I mix 4 parts soil to 1 part Perlite).
I had originally planned to hang the long vines of my Heartleaf Philodendron on translucent stick-on hooks on the wall. However, I had to rethink my plan as I really like how the plant and its vines are framing the dresser in such a natural and organic way.
Heartleaf Philodendron Pruning & Propagating
You should prune you Heartleaf Philodendron once the vines become too long and leggy.
It is actually really beneficial for your plant to get a good cut in Spring, as it promotes a healthier and fuller growth.
Did you know that the plant spends a lot of energy growing even leggy vines?
When you prune those long, leggy vines, you help your plant divert that energy into new growth!
Try and see for yourself!
And did you know that those vines, you pruned off the plant can be rooted into new plants by simply placing them in water???
Check out this article on the benefits of pruning indoor plants.
To propagate your Heartleaf Philodendron you simply need to prune your vines in between the nodes, which are those tiny protrusions along the stems.
The vines you’ve pruned and that you intend to propagate into new plants are called “cuttings”.
Place the cuttings in water to root.
You will notice new roots forming and growing from the nodes within two weeks.
Let the roots develop in water for at least a couple of months before planting them in soil.
Once they are planted in soil you will need to keep an eye on these new plants as they are used to be growing in water.
They need a transition period in which they may require more water than a regular Philodendron growing in a potting mix, in order to adjust to the new medium.
The wonderful thing about Heartleaf Philodendrons is that you can grow them in water as well.
Be careful though!
As the roots develop, and the plant grows, the water level will go down fast! So make sure you replenish your water regularly!
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