The Philodendron Golden Dragon is one of the most sought-after house plants, a cultivar of the vining plant found naturally in humid tropical regions. It is a fast growing climber that requires little maintenance and is ideal for hanging indoors.
The Golden Dragon Philodendron can help detoxify the air of harmful gases like benzene and formaldehyde that are produced at home. It’s also known as Philodendron Golden Dragon Narrow Form, Philodendron Lime Fiddle, and Philodendron Camouflage.
About Philodendron Golden Dragon
Table of Contents
Lime or golden speckles, marbling or mottling are common characteristics of standard Philodendron Lime Fiddle plants.
In place of the typical golden speckles, plants of the Philodendron Golden Dragon variegata feature striking white, yellowish, cream, or mint sectors, half-moons, splotches, etc. Remember that the presence of gold mottling cannot be guaranteed.
Philodendron Golden Dragon Variegated
The plants of the genus Philodendron require little maintenance. Similar considerations apply to the golden dragon philodendron. It can be used with little upkeep or effort. Even though it doesn’t require much effort, it improves the aesthetics of your house and cleanses the aura.
Philodendron Golden Dragon Plant Care
Let’s dive deeper into the golden dragon philodendron’s needs and upkeep.
Water Requirements for Philodendron Golden Dragon
The golden dragon philodendron’s tropical origins necessitate regular watering. During the period of growth, your plant requires consistent watering. Your plant’s optimal size depends on how well and when you water it.
The Philodendron needs to be soaked in water and then left to dry for a short time before being soaked again. This typically entails limiting watering to once or twice a week. A prolonged period of dry weather could be fatal to a plant, but with regular watering, a humidifier close by, soil cover, and the pot sitting on a tray of pebbles, you should be able to protect your investment.
Don’t put them to death with your compassion! Inattention to watering is the most prevalent cause of plant death, although overwatering is a close second.
The cute little plant you bought at the store has captured your heart, and you want nothing more than to see it flourish and stay with you forever. So, you water it every time you look at it, reasoning that water is love for a plant. In reality, no.
Waterlogged soil or water pooling at the base of a pot deprives roots of the oxygen they need to thrive. Leaf yellowing can indicate either over or underwatering. Check for withering in a plant whose leaves are already yellow. Color shifts, discoloration at the leaf margins, and, most alarmingly, leaf loss, are all symptoms of illness.
After it reaches a height of 8 to 10 inches, you can gradually reduce the frequency of your watering episodes. When the plant has matured, it needs water only when the top inch of soil dries up.
In this case, check the top layer; if it is still damp from the prior watering, there is no need to water the plant again. The soil has to be watered if the plant starts to wilt.
Overwatering might stunt its development and should be avoided at all costs. You need to keep the soil moist, not soggy, or the plant’s roots will rot and die.
Light Requirements for Philodendron Golden Dragon
Light requirements for a Philodendron Golden Dragon plant vary by cultivar. The darker leaf variant will thrive in the moderate light of an east-facing window. If placed in bright sunlight for a long period of time, the delicate leaves of this plant will be fried by direct sunlight. Keep an eye out for sunburn symptoms, such as dry white spots around the leaf tips.
For the Philodendron Green Dragon to keep its dazzling appearance, especially with lighter green or gold-speckled colouring, bright indirect light is essential. Sheer curtains or a shade panel placed in front of a south-facing window diffuse direct sunlight without blocking out too much of the visible spectrum.
Though philodendrons as a whole have a reputation for being able to thrive in low-light settings, this is strictly true of the darker-leafed types. Any Philodendrons trained to grow vertically will have long, skinny legs if the light levels are too low.
Soil Requirements for Philodendron Golden Dragon
Golden Dragon thrives in loose, well-drained soil with plenty of air circulation. Try incorporating some perlite into your usual potting soil mix. You can also use the potting soil mix designed for Philodendrons is also suitable for this plant.
Use clay containers as opposed to plastic ones. To avoid the issue of overwatering, which can occur with plastic containers, use terracotta pots since they absorb excess moisture from the soil.
Temperature Requirements for Philodendron Golden Dragon
Philodendron golden dragon has the same warm temperature requirements as other tropical plants. Keep the environment between 65 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit so the plant can flourish. While nighttime temperatures of around 60 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal, extreme cold can stunt its development.
Maintaining high humidity is needed when the temperature outside is high. Put your plant somewhere with lots of light, airflow, and moisture. Misting the plant during the day can help keep it from overheating and maintain high humidity.
You should also try to keep your plant away from severely cold environments. Before the cold weather sets in, bring the plant indoors and place it in a bright, warm area. Both frost and cold temperatures have a negative impact on the development of this plant.
Humidity Requirements for Philodendron Golden Dragon
The golden dragon thrives in conditions of mild humidity. Since it evolved in the tropics, it needs moist conditions to thrive. This plant is also tolerant of low humidity. However, it does not do well in extremely arid conditions.
A humidifier can help keep your plant alive in dry, chilly climates. Moreover, you can also mist your plant to help it endure the dry air. However, you must remember that there are limits to how much mist you can create. If the leaves remain damp, bugs can eat them. Place a pebble water tray under the base of your plant’s container. Humidity around the plant will be maintained.
Fertilizer Requirements for Philodendron Golden
This beautiful plant will signal a lack of fertilizer by growing slowly and producing little leaves. Insufficient amounts of magnesium and calcium, two critical micro-nutrients for philodendrons, typically manifest as pale new leaves.
To help your new Golden Dragon become established, apply a slow-time released fertilizer every three years, keeping it at least six inches away from the plant’s base.
Potting Philodendron Lime Fiddle
Pots containing philodendron mottled dragon require drainage holes.
Providing adequate drainage is the most critical thing you can do for your plant’s health. Adding at least 25% perlite to your indoor soil mix helps improve water drainage and circulation.
Glazed ceramic pots are ideal for staking down a floppy plant, but they can be quite heavy, especially when filled with a lot of well-draining soil and a big plant. A plant’s location inside the house can be changed frequently; therefore, a base with wheels can be quite helpful.
Roots breaking the earth’s surface are a sure sign that it’s time to repot your plant into a bigger container. Refrain from using low-quality fertilizer; it will be harmful to the plant.
Characteristics of Philodendron Golden Dragon
Leaf and Foliage of Philodendron Golden
The dimensions of the leaves of golden dragon plants are their greatest distinguishing feature. Their big, dark green leaves are a striking feature. The same dark green covering can be seen on the healthy stem. As a result of its lush, dark green foliage, the plant comes across as an overall dark green, with occasional golden spots on the leaves.
The broad, evergreen leaves of the Philodendron Golden Dragon make a stunning year-round addition to any houseplant collection. Because their leaves look great in any climate, many who are passionate about plants like to keep them indoors as ornamental displays.
Size of Philodendron Golden
Golden Dragon Philodendrons range in size from miniature to medium. Initially, their length is typically 6″ to 12″. However, they have the potential to reach 20-25 inches.
Despite its name, Golden Dragon Philodendrons do not produce flowers. However, the structure of its glossy leaves is what truly sets it apart as a gorgeous plant.
Drought Resistance
The Philodendron Golden is a drought-resistant plant and can endure dry conditions and low humidity. However, when water supplies drop below the bare minimum, it can have catastrophic consequences.
Adeptness at Withstanding Stress
This plant’s sturdy stems and intricate patterns allow it to withstand direct light to moderate stress. However, the stress of the high pressure will stunt the plant’s growth.
Immunity to Plant Diseases
Philodendron golden dragon is not completely disease-proof, and serious illness conditions, marked by the transformation of golden spots into reddish-brown ones, can result from attacks by fungi or bacteria. But the clincher is that these illnesses are uncommon in indoor plants. Timely detection allows for remedial action to be conducted before widespread damage to the plant occurs.
Pests
Mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects are typical predators of the Philodendron Golden Dragon. Pests cannot harm healthy plants, but they can weaken and kill those that are already sick with bacteria, fungi, or other diseases.
Growth of Philodendron Species
Given favourable conditions, the Philodendron Golden Dragon has a rapid rate of development and can reach considerable heights in a short period of time. This is also a selling point for plant lovers for bringing these plants inside during the winter.
Toxicity of Golden Dragon
No one should ever ingest one of these plants because of its poisonous properties. Ingestion or accidental contact with the poisonous compounds may result in mild to severe health complaints. These plants require vigilant protection from both pests and youngsters.
Durability of Golden Dragon
The longevity and sturdiness of the Golden Dragon philodendron are another plus point. Without being replanted, the leaves may fall and grow again.
Maintenance of Golden Dragon
Maintaining a Golden Dragon Philodendron requires little effort. Since they need so little attention, growing them indoors is a breeze. The ideal conditions for their growth are found in an indoor environment with favorable warm temperatures and humidity levels. Too little dappled light will result in leaf discoloration, or, worse, dead leaves, which is fatal to this plant.
Dormancy
If not given the right attention in the fall and winter, these plants can lose their leaves and even die. However, the vines might get taller because they don’t need to produce leaves. Considering watering frequency is necessary to maintain a wet soil environment. It is best to utilize water sprays or misting during this period to prevent the plant from drying out.
Overfeeding a plant can cause serious harm at any time, especially when the plant is dormant. Do not start new philodendrons indoors during their dormant season. Wait until the new plant grows in the spring before doing any grooming or propagating.
Propagating Green Dragon
The simplest method to propagate your golden dragon is to take a clipping of the plant’s top stem from a mature dark lord or mother plant and put it in a container containing a nutrient-rich organic potting mix.
Dark lords in good health develop many aerial roots. If several aerial roots emerge from a particular node, you should cut your cut directly beneath it.
Build a small container with perlite, wet coco coir, and worm castings.
Select a portion of the adult philodendron dark lord’s main stem that is at least a few inches above the ground and has two or more nodes with aerial roots.
Use pruning shears to cut the stem below a node. Wear gloves to protect yourself.
Use a rooting hormone powder or solution to coat the freshly cut stem.
Using your prepared potting mix, plant the stem cuttings so that the top few inches of the aerial roots are buried.
Use the remaining potting mix to fill the remaining space in the container.
Soak the ground completely.
Ideally, you’ll want to find a nice, toasty spot with lots of bright, indirect light.
A plant’s roots may take as little as three weeks or as long as a few months to develop fully.
You can detect the presence of roots by gently yanking on the stem’s base. You have established a strong root system if the plant fails to budge.
Conclusion
The golden philodendron or philodendron longilobatum is a tropical plant that thrives in bright dappled light and well-draining soil. This plant not only looks nice but also cleans the air in your home when placed in a sweet spot. In addition to being low-maintenance, it’s also quite simple to use. Display philodendron golden dragon on your work desk and let it do its magic!