Philodendron - evergreen perennials. Differ from other plant genera of the family Araceae variety of life forms. Philodendron mostly epiphytes, which are attached to a support with long aerial roots, suckers.
Temperature. Summer common room. In winter, with the reduction of daylight, preferably a cool place at 18-22 ° C, but not below 15 ° C. Avoid cold drafts. If there is no direct flow of warm air from the batteries, the philodendron well overwinter and at normal room temperature 22-26 ° C, on condition that they provide lighting (using fluorescent lamps).
Lighting. Light a place protected from direct sunlight at noon, a light partial shade. Variegated forms require a bit more light, preferably morning or evening sun. Philodendron undemanding plants, many of them are growing and when fully artificial light, and near the northern window. But the truly powerful and sprawling shrubs form only in good light.
Irrigation. Moderate spring and summer, the soil should be kept moist (not raw), this means that the next irrigation land in the upper third of the pot should be well dry. In winter, reduce watering, not only allowing complete drying of the soil, the land should be dry in the upper half of the pot, then you need to wait 3-4 days before watering. With an excess of irrigation, the lower leaves may turn yellow if the soil dries out too long, compressed, very dense and does not allow the roots to breathe, may develop root rot. Remember, philodendron mostly epiphytes, which means that the roots need to breathe, what happens in a dense swampy soil. If not abundant moisture dry up the tips of the leaves with a strong drying - dry up and fall away goals usually lower leaves. Sometimes excessive irrigation stalks and leaves to act as water droplets.
Fertilizer. From March to October philodendron feed complex fertilizer for decorative foliage plants. Fertilizing every two weeks. The big tree vines can once during the summer in the upper layer of soil when transplanting or without it, add well rotted compost. Feeding philodendron fertilizers, it is important not to overfeed, or yellow or turn brown tips of the leaves themselves leaves v`yanut and become lethargic. If you add the soil a significant proportion of humus, it does not feed his other fertilizers over two months. Conversely, philodendron often suffer from a lack of nutrients in the soil, if their long transplanted and forget to feed. This shrinking the leaves, the tips of their dry and yellow, plants are stunted.
Air humidity. Philodendron - residents of the rain forest or floodplains, they love moist air. Unfortunately, the dry air can not compensate for excessive watering. Need to regularly spray the plants in the spring and summer and winter, when heating system along better place pans with wet sphagnum moss,, batteries curtain wet sheet. Small plants suit shower several times over the summer to wash away the dust. In large plants are regularly rubbed with leaves with a damp sponge.
Transplanting philodendron. Transplanted annually in the spring, young plants and in three or four years old. The soil should be very loose at the same time nutritious. pH 5.5-6.5, that is slightly acidic, philodendron likes alkaline soil. In drawing up its own Soil Use 1 part sod land, 1 part coconut substrate, 1 part humus (compost), 0.5 part coarse sand or vermiculite. Pot should be enough spacious necessarily the bottom drainage. If the soil eventually formed salt deposit, it must be removed, and replaced with fresh ground on. Water for irrigation use pooled.
Reproduction. Apical and stem cuttings and leaves cut from five. Typically, cloning does not present any difficulties, many philodendron have air roots - just enough to put in the ground. But the juicy cut stems better sprinkle charcoal or gray to not zahnyv in a wet environment.
Possible difficulties. The main problem is connected with properly chosen soil when it is too tight, compressed and long dries. Despite the fact that a large philodendron leaf mass, and hence a large evaporating surface, leaves protected from huge water losses thick skin, the soil should be moist, but not crude. So occasionally loose earth in a pot, add the transplant baking powder (vermiculite, pieces of bark, small expanded clay, etc.) and let it dry out between waterings.
Pests philodendron
The plant can be struck Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, thrips, mites. Schitovkoy appear as brown, sometimes translucent plaques located on both sides of the sheet, mainly along the veins. TRIPS also left its mark on the leaves in the form of silver bars and spots - so look nekrozni sucked area. With Quadraspidiotus perniciosus and thrips control measures include thoroughly wash the leaves with a sponge with soap to remove pests and their allocation. Then pour the soil systemic insecticide (aktara, konfidor). After a week of watering is repeated insecticide solution.
When ticks, provoking too dry air and high temperatures, the leaves appear yellow spots of irregular shape, the letter to the light you can see the point, punctures, and on the back of a white husk leaf-dandruff - red pests. To combat mites need using drugs - acaricides. Maintain high humidity (not less than 40%). If the size of the plant, you can wash the leaves once a week during hot shower (water temperature to arm suffered).