How to Take Care of a Philodendron Verrucosum

A Philodendron Verrucosum is most known for its beautiful heart-shaped leaves. Not only is the plant gorgeous with its dark green leaves, but the plant care is also low-maintenance, which is excellent for beginners. In addition to being low-maintenance, this plant cleans the air, making it a lovely addition to your home. Here is the complete guide to Philodendron Verrucosum care.

Common Names

Ecuador Philodendron

What Soil Works best for a Philodendron Verrucosum?

A potting mix that contains orchid bark and perlite works best for a Philodendron Verrucosum. Aeration is also critical for this plant, so make sure that the soil has some organic matter and that the soil is never soggy. Mushy soil can eventually lead to root rot, a common issue with this plant.

Since this plant is a climber, you should consider placing a moss pole in the middle of the soil to have it latch onto as it matures. The moss pole will mimic the rainforest conditions of South America, where this plant naturally grows onto other trees as it grows.

Can You use a Houseplant Fertilizer?

The best time to use a liquid fertilizer for a Philodendron Verrucosum is during the growing season, which is the spring and summer. You can give the plant fertilizer once a month, and you can gradually increase how much you give the plant after the first dosage.

You don’t want to give the plant any fertilizer during the winter months since that is when the least amount of growth occurs.

How Much Sunlight Does a Philodendron Verrucosum Need?

Bright indirect light works best for this philodendron species. Since this is a tropical plant, its natural habitat grew with indirect sunlight and shade, so you should mimic that setting.

Direct sunlight does not work well with this plant since it can scorch the dark green leaves. If you leave this indoor plant in front of a west-facing window, you should put up curtains or blinds to reduce the sun’s rays on it.

What Temperature Works Best for this Plant?

Anything above 70 degrees Fahrenheit works best for this philodendron plant. The warmer the temperature, the faster this plant will grow. Don’t set this plant near a cold window or next to an AC unit since that can cause growth issues.

If you keep this plant outside, don’t allow it to be out when the temperature dips below 40 degrees. You should plan to have this plant back in your home before frost develops on the ground.

What Humidity Requirements Does a Philodendron Verrucosum Need?

A Philodendron Verrucosum loves being in high humidity climates. If possible, you should place this plant in a bathroom with a shower. Running a hot shower each day will create a humid environment, which this plant will appreciate.

Running a humidifier next to this plant is a good concept if your home or office is dry. A humidifier running for a few hours is a good way to produce more moisture around the plant. However, don’t immediately use the humidifier next to the plant if you gave it water recently. You want the soil to dry out after providing it with water, and a humidifier will keep the soil soggy.

Finally, you can use a pebble tray to help increase the humidity level around this plant. When water evaporates on the rocks, the moisture rises in the air, which gives the plant a more humid environment.

How Often Should You Water a Philodendron Verrucosum?

Your watering schedule should consist of weekly watering during the growing season or whenever the top two inches of soil are dry. It is best to keep the soil moist, never soggy. Soggy soil can lead to root rot, which is a common problem.

When you water this plant, notice how the soil absorbs the water. If the soil quickly absorbs the water, you might want to increase the watering. If you water the soil and it is slowly drinking and or sitting at the top of the soil, you should check the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot to see if they are clogged. Clogged soil from roots and or soil can create a backup of excess water, which then drowns the plant since it can’t absorb the water you are giving it.

What Size Does a Philodendron Verrucosum Grow to Typically?

A Philodendron Verrucosum grows to about 2-4 feet tall.

Most Common Bugs

Spider Mites, mealybugs, and whiteflies are common bugs that latch onto an Ecuador Philodendron. If you discover these bugs on the plant, you should isolate them from other plants. Next, use neem oil, water, and rubbing alcohol on a cloth and gently remove the pets from the plant.

You should also shower the plant down to remove any bugs or webs from the leaves if possible. Once you are done showering the plant, let the excess water drain out of the bottom of the pot. After that, you should wipe down the leaves with a dry cloth to remove any leftover water on the green veins and leaves since that can lead to fungal issues.

Most Common Diseases

Fungal build-up on the leaves is a common problem due to overhead watering. When watering the plant, try and get as much water directly in the soil mix to reduce water staying on the leaves. If there is fungus on the leaves, you will need to remove it.

To remove the fungus from the leaves, you first want to isolate the plant away from others. Next, you can use a fungicide to spray down the leaves. After that, you can wipe down the leaves with a cloth to remove the fungus and the fungicide.

Another problem with this plant is root rot. Root rot occurs from overwatering the plant and having soggy soil. You need to remove the plant from the soil, cut away dead roots, and then repot it to fix this problem. It might make sense to remove the old potting soil altogether since some leftover mold could be in the mix.

Can You Prune a Philodendron Verrucosum?

It is best to prune a Philodendron Verrucosum only when dead or yellow leaves form. By pruning those dead leaves away from the plant, you help it preserve energy for the rest of the plant. Otherwise, you don’t need to regularly prune this plant unless you want to trim it a bit if it looks a bit leggy.

Can Your Propagate a Philodendron Verrucosum?

Using soil or water, you can propagate a Philodendron Verrucosum plant from stem cuttings. Here are the stem cutting propagation steps below that you can use for either preference.

Cut a healthy stem off the mother plant right below a node. You want to use clean shears when you cut because you don’t want to infect the plant.
Remove the leaves towards the bottom of the stem cutting.
Place the stem cutting into a jar of water, or place it directly in a pot of soil. Either method works fine, but using a jar of water is helpful to see the roots form, especially if you are new to propagation.
Move the cutting into an area with bright indirect light.
If you put the cutting into the soil, you can give the plant some water to settle into the ground. If you chose the water method for propagation, disregard that step.
After a few weeks, roots should be visible in the glass of water, or the plant should be slightly firm in the pot of soil.

You can also use air layering for propagation. Below is a video that helps explain that in more detail.

Can You Repot this Plant?

This plant has a fast-growing root system, which means root bound can occur. If you discover roots are sticking out of the drainage holes, you will want to repot this plant. The repotting steps include removing the plant from the current container and placing it in a pot two inches bigger than the previous home. You can also put fresh potting soil into the new container to give it a boost of nutrients.

Where Does the Philodendron Verrucosum Originate from Initially?

A Philodendron Verrucosum’s natural habitat is in the rainforests of South America. Specifically, this tropical plant is in Peru, Columbia, Panama, and Ecuador can find this tropical plant. You can also find this plant natively in Costa Rica, which is part of Central America.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Works Best?

A Philodendron Verrucosum works best in a USDA Hardiness Zone of 9b-11.

Is it Toxic?

Like many other types of philodendrons, this plant is toxic to humans and animals if they ingest it.

Conclusion: How to Take Care of a Philodendron Verrucosum

In summary, a Philodendron Verrucosum is a beautiful plant that fits perfectly in most homes and offices. To recap the plant care guide, you want to water it when the top two inches of soil are dry, keep it in an area with high humidity, and remove it from climates that dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, you can propagate this plant using stem cuttings, which means you can add more of these around your home!