grow and care your split leaf philodendron

Split leaf philodendron, Swiss cheese plant, or windowleaf (Monstera deliciosa) is a tropical plant native to rainforests of Central America.

Split-leaf philo is another dependable house plant from the Araceae family. It also happens to be one of the most captivating.

Split leaf philo has glossy, heart-shaped or rounded leathery leaves. When Split leaf philodendron grows older the leaves will develop deep clefts and oblong perforations.

This stunning philodendron is a tree-like shrub. Young plants have sturdy, upright stems, which tend to lie horizontally as the plant ages. Split leaf philo eventually sprawl to become twice as wide as they are tall. Because of that give your house plant plenty of room to spread out.

Furthermore give your Split leaf philo a trellis and watch it climb.

planting split leaf philodendron outdoor

When planting outdoor give them rich soil mix. This will give them lots of room for their roots to grow and spread. Their natural trait is to grow aerial roots hence providing them with a solid base is necessary. You can use a tree bark or strong, moss-covered support sunk for the base. Tying them up with a fishing or nylon thread will give them the needed support and flexibility without snapping.

split leaf philodendron fruits is edible

These philodendron plants produce an edible fruit known as Cerimans or Monsteras. The fruit look like green cob of corn with hexagonal kernels. Split leaf philo fruit have a high content of potassium and Vitamin .Apart from that it tastes like a combination of mango, banana, and pineapple and is used to flavor drinks and ice-creams. However it can be poisonous when unripe but is a tasty tropical delight after ripening.

grow & care split leaf philo

POTTING MIX
Philodendrons do best in loose, well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. They will grow in 100% sphagnum peat moss. Soilless mixtures such as peat-vermiculite or peat-perlite are also satisfactory.
WATER
When growing philodendron plants, allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. The length of your index finger to the first knuckle is about an inch, so inserting your finger into the soil is a good way to check the moisture level. Droopy leaves can mean that the plant is getting too much or not enough water. But the leaves recover quickly when you correct the watering schedule.
SUNLIGHT
Set the Philodendron in a location with bright, indirect sunlight. Find a position near a window where the sun’s rays never actually touch the foliage. While it’s normal for older leaves to yellow, if this happens to several leaves at the same time, the plant may be getting too much light. On the other hand, if the stems are long and leggy with several inches between leaves, the plant probably isn’t getting enough light
FERTILIZER
Feed philodendron houseplants with a balanced liquid foliage houseplant fertilizer that contains macro-nutrients. Water the plant with the fertilizer monthly in spring and summer and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter. Slow growth and small leaf size is the plant’s way of telling you that it isn’t getting enough fertilizer. Pale new leaves usually indicate that the plant isn’t getting enough calcium and magnesium, which are essential micro-nutrients for philodendrons.
TEMPERATURE
The ideal temperature for a philodendron is between 65 – 78°F during the day, and around 60°F at night.
TOXICITY
Philodendron should not be consumed by animals or humans. Lacy tree philodendrons are toxic to cats and dogs. Being educated on poisonous plants can help you avoid any accidents all the while enjoying your greenery.
PEST PROBLEMS
Philodendron are not prone to insects, but you may encounter aphids and mealybugs. You can wipe off mealybugs with cotton balls dipped in rubbing alcohol. Periodically showering the plant with water and applying insecticidal soap will help keep pests at bay.

how to prune split leaf philodendron?

  1. First cut excess aerial roots away or train them to grow on the moss support without crowding too much.
  2. Then routinely examine the plant for scabby and dark parts and remove the infected parts immediately.
  3. Roots emerging from the base of the plant must be tucked back into the soil.
  4. if the soil is over moist  then the leaves ‘sweat’ so do not water them too much as it might cause root rot.
  5. Place them in a well-filtered sunlit area to avoid wilting and drying of the lower leaves.

Pruning Tips:

 While pruning this plant wear a pair of protective gloves as the plant may cause skin irritation

[must read: how to prune your philodendron plant?]

protect your split leaf philo from pest

buy-split-leaf-philodendron

Split leaf philodendrons are low-maintenance plants, however keep a regular watch for pests such as mealy bugs, scale and spider mites.

You must clean the plant leaves regularly with a soft, damp cloth. This habit will prevent the pest attacks and keeps the plant healthy.

where to get split leaf philo?you can buy it at amazon for only $49.99

re potting your split leaf philo

When Split leaf philodendrons grow, re-potting it from time to time is necessary. The best time to re potting is during spring.

  1.  First choose a pot that has drain holes at the bottom.
  2. The pot must be 2 inches larger than the current pot.
  3. Then Mix one part perlite and two parts potting soil.
  4. Place the plant into the pot by holding its base.
  5. Check if the top of the root ball is 3 inches from the top of the pot and add or remove extra soil accordingly.
  6. Then add perlite, compost, and potting soil till its 2 inches from top of the pot.
  7. Finally water the plant till excess water drains out.
  8. For a better result fertilize at regular intervals from spring to fall

[must read: how to re pot your philodendron plant?]

you want to buy split leaf philodendron? click here

Summary
Split Leaf Philodendron Grow & Care Tips
Article Name
Split Leaf Philodendron Grow & Care Tips
Description
When planting split leaf philodendron outdoor give them rich soil mix. This will give them lots of room for their roots to grow and spread
Author
Publisher Name
philodendron plant
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12 Comments

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This Post · April 4, 2019 at 1:24 pm

It works quite well for me

Roman · April 5, 2019 at 8:40 pm

Thanks to the terrific guide

Review · April 8, 2019 at 9:31 pm

It works quite well for me

John Randle · February 22, 2020 at 8:15 pm

Half of a 20 x 14 ft. bed of outdoor split leaf in my yard that have been growing great, huge for 15 years are now shriveled up with tiny rigid leaves on the stalks.
They just don’t compare to the big leaves growing right beside them? Many have just given up. What are they missing? They get plenty of water and fertilized along with everything else in the yard.

John Randle · February 22, 2020 at 8:15 pm

Half of a 20 x 14 ft. bed of outdoor split leaf in my yard that have been growing great, huge for 15 years are now shriveled up with tiny rigid leaves on the stalks.
They just don’t compare to the big leaves growing right beside them? Many have just given up. What are they missing? They get plenty of water and fertilized along with everything else in the yard.

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