This mellow Philodendron is the perfect houseplant for a new gardener. However, it takes time to expand. A leaf’s full unfolding can take from one to two months. A fully mature specimen can reach a height of 0.9 m.
You’ll be glad you waited for the Philodendron Gloriosum to bloom when its leaves unfold, and you can finally admire them. This plant’s huge, heart-shaped leaves have the shape and color of the greenest grass, making this plant a visual feast. The green color stands in stark contrast to the white veins radiating from the leaf’s midvein.
About Philodendron Gloriosum
Table of Contents
Biological Community
Like many other tropical houseplants, this species of Philodendron is native to Colombia. You can find it in the lower Andes and Orinoqua.
The species’ numbers are declining across its natural range, and the IUCN has classified it as “Vulnerable.” Clearing its preferred dry forest habitat for farming and poaching for the plant trade poses serious threats to this species’ survival.
Philodendron Gloriosum Plants Appearance
There’s a good reason why philodendron gloriosum has become such a popular houseplant in recent years. Its huge, heart-shaped, dark green leaves are velvety to the touch, making it a particularly attractive plant. The veins of the leaves are an eye-catching silvery green, and in young plants, they may even have a pinkish tinge.
Even when grown in a garden, it is not uncommon for a single leaf to reach a width of 26 inches or more in the wild.
Aroids like gloriosum are planted primarily for their foliage rather than their blooms. The inflorescence, or flower, is a simple spathe and spadix that are white in color.
Aesthetic Value
Philodendron gloriosum’s aesthetic value is undeniable. It’s one of the main reasons why this aroid ranks so highly on the wish lists of amateur gardeners, horticulturists, and professional growers alike. The anthurium gloriosum is a stunning plant due to its enormous, heart-shaped, green leaves.
Foliage
The large, heart-shaped leaves of Philodendron gloriosum have a dark green color and include delicate white veining. The velvety surface of the plant is as pleasing to the senses as it is to the eyes. The underground stem spreads out along the ground and is responsible for the plant’s crawling or creeping behavior.
The anthurium gloriosum is considered a slow-growing cultivar since each leaf takes about a month to mature. Yellowing leaves are a telltale sign of waterlogging or nutritional deficiency, so it’s easy to diagnose problems just by glancing at the plant.
Flowering
After the plant has reached full maturity, it produces white flowers, each of which is accompanied by a spathe that encloses a spadix. There are many aroid species, and this type of flower development is typical for many of them. When viewed through a botanical lens, the anthurium gloriosum blossom is known as an inflorescence.
More blooms are produced because of increased competition for water, light, and nutrients in the tropical environment. However, when maintained as a foliage plant inside, anthurium gloriosum rarely flowers; thus, this isn’t usually a cause for concern.
Extent and Development
Philodendron gloriosum has leaves that can get as long as 36 inches, especially when every possible factor favoring growth is in place. Yet, you should anticipate a moderate pace of growth from the plant. That’s because fresh leaf flushes won’t appear on the plant for a few months.
If you want them to grow well, your gloriosum plants should be given extra care and attention throughout their optimal growth period. Give the plant a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month and put it in a spot with bright indirect light.
Fragrance
There is no aroma from the foliage, but the flowers might produce a scented aura.
On the other hand, if something is amiss with your plant, you may be able to tell from the way it smells as well. For instance, a bacterial infection can cause a lesion comprised of numerous microscopic, water-filled regions, which release an extremely pungent stench after drying out.
Remove diseased areas of the anthurium gloriosum, clean the leaves with rubbing alcohol, and apply horticultural oils like neem oil and citronella to treat the ailment.
Philodendron Gloriosum Varieties
Philodendron plants can be difficult to come by. There are a few distinct types out there for the determined houseplant hobbyist to seek, adding a new level of difficulty and allure to the pursuit.
Dark, rounded leaves with delicate veining and a reddish border characterize Philodendron gloriosum ‘Dark Form.’
The ‘Zebra’ variety of the Philodendron gloriosum is distinguished by its pure white color and strong veining.
The veins and the undersides of the leaves of Philodendron gloriosum ‘Pink Back’ exhibit a soft pink color.
The ‘Round Form’ variety of Philodendron gloriosum has more rounded leaves and no sharp points.
Philodendron gloriosum ‘Variegatum’ is a real phenomenon. Normal leaves with yellow or cream coloration dispersed throughout.
Philodendron species are popular subjects for amateur hybridizers. It can easily form hybrids with other species, hence resulting in variations of Philodendron gloriosum x melanochrysum or Philodendron gloriosum x maximum. Most of them are quite stunning.
Philodendron Gloriosum Care Guide
Take care of your philodendron gloriosum by fulfilling the following requirements:
Philodendron Gloriosum Soil Requirements
Pick out some organically rich, well-drained soil. Keep the soil pH at 5-8 to achieve optimal plant growth.
The roots must have a steady supply of oxygen. Therefore, you should use an orchid potting mix and add perlite and peat for improved drainage and air circulation.
When cultivating a plant, it’s best practice to provide conditions as close as possible to those the plant would experience in its native environment. Horticultural charcoal, a byproduct of charred trees, is abundant in the natural environment of Aroids since forests burn down naturally from time to time due to wildfires. Therefore, it is added to the soil mix.
The Gloriosum’s roots could choke and rot in heavy, soggy soil. This plant can also be grown in an environment consisting entirely of Sphagnum moss. Since moss lacks nutrient content, you should nonetheless occasionally fertilize your plant and provide it with a well-draining potting mix.
Philodendron Gloriosum Light Requirements
The Philodendron Gloriosum is a low-lying rainforest plant. There, the tall trees provide welcome protection from the sun.
Although it thrives in bright, indirect light, the Philodendron Gloriosum grow in low-light settings. You can still grow a Philodendron Gloriosum near a window, even if you live in a location with very little light.
A yellowing of the leaves on your Philodendron Gloriosum is a sure sign that it is receiving too much sunlight. It’s time to relocate your Philodendron to a cooler, shadier location. On the other hand, if the plant’s leaves are drooping, it is because it doesn’t receive enough light. You must relocate it somewhere with more light.
You can also see subtle signs that your plant isn’t getting enough light, such as leaf growth that’s directed toward artificial light. It will appear as if the plant’s stalks and leaves are desperately grasping at the sky to soak up more direct sunlight.
Philodendron Gloriosum Watering Requirements
The potting mixture you pick will dictate the ideal watering schedule for this aroid. Overwatering can cause root rot, especially for rhizome-forming species like Philodendron gloriosum. Therefore, you should choose a soil mixture that is coarse and porous so that any extra water may simply drain from the container with drainage holes.
Your Philodendron gloriosum will thrive with a little bit of moisture every day. During the vigorous growth months of summer, you can allow the top inch or two of soil to dry up before watering again. In the winter, when indoor plants are dormant, you can reduce the amount of water they receive to about half of what it would normally be.
This is not a picky aroid when it comes to humidity levels. Nevertheless, it dislikes arid environments.
When the indoor air becomes dry in the winter, it leads to browning leaf tips and spider mite infestations. Therefore, you should maintain a humidity level of at least 50% to 60% to keep your plant healthy.
The appearance and vitality of your Philodendron will suffer if you grow it in a dry environment. In such a situation, you can increase the humidity in your home by any of the following means:
Humidifiers
Use an indoor humidifier to raise the relative humidity of a given space. It’s great for your own skin, but it also helps the Gloriosum in your home.
Misting
Use a spray bottle of water to spritz the leaves of your Gloriosum. Keep your plant’s leaves moist frequently to maintain full, healthy growth.
Pebble Tray
Simply arrange stones in a tray and fill it with water. You can use it to provide your plant with a humid microenvironment during dry spells. Putting your sad-looking Gloriosum on the tray will quickly become a vibrant and joyful plant.
Clustering Vegetation
Planting your Philodendron near other houseplants is another option to enhance the humidity in your home, which is beneficial to both plants. By ‘huddling close’ in this way, plants mimic the mechanism that creates the humid conditions typical of rainforests, their natural habitat. Also, plant groups will have a richer, more interesting appearance.
Temperature Requirements for Philodendron Gloriosum
The optimal temperature for a Philodendron gloriosum is between 18 and 29 degrees Celsius. Bring them inside before the first frost of the season if you’ve been growing them outside; they can’t handle the cold and will suffer severe damage if exposed to it.
Fertilizer Requirements for Philodendron Gloriosum
The growing season is typically during summer. Anthurium gloriosum usually benefits most from fertilizer applications in the spring. Reduce the strength of the liquid fertilizer you use later in the winter by using it less frequently.
Use a fertilizer with a ratio of 14-14-14 to maximize plant development and health. Don’t use cheap fertilizers on your Philodendron gloriosum; they tend to build up in the soil and kill the plant.
Repotting Philodendron Gloriosum – How to Select the Right Pot for Your Plant
This plant thrives in a loose and porous potting mix. For a typical aroid potting mix, equal volumes of perlite, orchid bark, and all-purpose potting soil are used.
Some growers additionally include horticultural charcoal in the potting soil to prevent mold and mildew. Throwing in a handful of this can help with drainage and will also remove any contaminants.
The following are some important considerations when selecting a pot for your Philodendron gloriosum:
This vegetation is neither vining nor climbing but rather a crawling, creeper plant that grows horizontally, making it a terrestrial plant. In light of this growth pattern, choose a pot that is broader than it is deep to provide adequate room for your plant.
Always check to see if your container has drainage holes to prevent root rot from too much water sitting at the base of your plant. Drainage must be adequate.
Propagate Philodendron Gloriosum
The process of propagating Philodendron Gloriosum is simple. If you follow these instructions, you’ll soon have a house full of adorable little Gloriosum plants:
Remove a 7-15 centimetre segment from the main stem and discard it. Ideally, you’d want to select a strong and well-established stem with both leaves and roots.
Get some planting mix and put it in the ground. Verify that the soil drains well.
Put the plant in a spot where it will get lots of bright, indirect sunlight, like next to a window.
Take care to water your plant as needed.
Rhizome Cuttings Propagation
The process of propagating a creeping Philodendron from a rhizome cutting is similar to that of propagating a regular Philodendron from a stem cutting. The only major difference is that instead of making a horizontal cut, which would remove some of the plants from the top, you make a vertical cut, which means removing part of the plant from the side.
Find a place on the rhizome where you can make a clean cut, and you’ll end up with a piece of the plant with a couple of nodes. A rhizome cutting on its own will take significantly longer to germinate; therefore, it’s best to include a few leaves as well. Make a clean cut in the rhizome to remove the plant from its pot.
Moist sphagnum moss, potting soil, and water are suitable environments for rooting gloriosum cuttings. While you wait for the rhizome to develop, you can boost the humidity by placing the entire thing inside a clear plastic bag. This mimics the conditions of a miniature greenhouse, promoting rapid development.
Common Problems With Philodendron Gloriosum
The appropriate circumstances are necessary for this plant to flourish, despite its reputation for being low-maintenance and trouble-free. The following problems are indicators that your Philodendron gloriosum isn’t getting the care it needs.
Yellowing Leaves
The yellowing of your plant’s leaves is probably nothing to worry about. Eventually, the older leaves at the plant’s base will turn yellow and fall off as part of the plant’s natural life cycle. This can indicate overfeeding, overwatering, or both if it’s happening to young leaves.
DroopY Leaves
Not providing sufficient moisture is the most typical cause of those lovely leaves to droop. Primarily, the problem is caused by having wet feet, which leads to root rot, but another major cause is allowing the plant to dry out too much.
Brown Leaf Tips
You should expect leaf burn, beginning at the tips, if your Philodendron gloriosum isn’t getting enough moisture or is being exposed to too much direct sunlight. Put some thought into where you’ll put your plant. If your house becomes dry, a humidifier can be a good idea.
Philodendron Gloriosum Toxicity
Beautiful as it is, the anthurium gloriosum requires special care because of its toxicity.
The plant is, unfortunately, poisonous to all forms of life. Additionally, ingestion may result in oral edema, oesophagal discomfort, and convulsions.
Conclusion
The Philodendron gloriosum is a beautiful foliage plant due to its big, dark green leaves and distinctive venation. The tropical plant’s vibrant colors and aesthetic appeal make it a popular houseplant.
This philodendron melanochrysum plant’s creeping nature makes it a popular ground cover in tropical gardens. In addition, the plant makes an impressive terrestrial specimen when grown in large containers. Each enormous leaf of Philodendron gloriosum minimizes pollutants like carbon dioxide, which is why the plant is so popular among amateur gardeners.