Philodendron Bob Cee Place Care & Growing Guide

Last Updated on April 13, 2022 by Admin

The Philodendron Bob Cee is sometimes spelled as Philodendron Bob See. So, if you see either in a store’s plant label, they refer to the same plant.

The Philodendron Bob Cee is a rare plant that comes with an equally expensive price of $100 and above. You may see some priced much higher as well.

So, if you’re in the market for them, make sure to canvas before you buy.

This is another large plant that produces long, narrow, serrated leaves. It is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, which is why it enjoys warm, humid conditions.

How do your care for Philodendron Bob Cee? The plant grows best in medium to bright, indirect light. But it can tolerate low light. Avoid intense, direct sunlight as this can burn its leaves.

The plant is not cold hardy and prefers warm to hot climates and high humidity. And while it enjoys moist soil, it is susceptible to overwatering. Therefore, always let the soil dry between waterings.

Table of Contents

Philodendron Bob Cee Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Philodendron Bob Cee thrives when placed in medium to bright indirect light indoors. That’s because it is native to the tropical rainforests of South America where it lives under the larger trees often clinging or climbing on them to get more sun.

As such, they are shaded by the large plants and trees whose branches and leaves block the rays of the sun. This allows the Philodendron Bob Cee to receive filtered or dappled light.

It is also why it cannot tolerate strong, intense direct sunlight. This is true especially during mid-day when the sun is the hottest. You also want to be careful of the summer sun which is likewise harsh.

Therefore, the plant grows best in indirect, filtered or dappled light indoors.

And too much sun will turn its leaves yellow or even scorch them.

This is why you want to keep the plant at least a few feet from the west and south facing windows since both directions get sunlight from around before noon to mid-afternoon (when the sun is the strongest).

You can likewise filter the light from these directions by using curtains, drapes or blinds if you want to keep the plant nearer to the window.

In contrast, an east facing window is the best spot for the plant indoors. That’s because it gets gentle morning sun. The Philodendron Bob Cee can not only can tolerate this kind of light it actually likes it and you’ll see it grow faster in this location.

Outdoors, place the plant in partial shade or somewhere the light is filtered. Keep it away from full sun.

If you live somewhere that had four seasons, you may need to move the plant to a brighter spot come winter as light will be more scarce.

If you don’t get enough natural light into your home, you can use artificial lights. The plant responds well to grow lights and fluorescent lighting.

Temperature

The Philodendron Bob Cee enjoys temperature between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, this comes from its natural habitat which is tropical Brazil.

As such, it can tolerate warmer weather and have no problems with 95 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. However, it prefers a more moderate climate since it is used to the being under the cooler shade of the large trees in the forest.

What’s more important is that the plant is not cold hardy.

Therefore, you want to move it to a warmer, cozier spot by fall when the temperature starts to drop. Don’t leave it outdoors through winter as the plant cannot survive frost or freezing conditions.

In fact, try to keep it away from temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Below this level, it will struggle beginning with slower growth. Later, its growth will stunt and its leaves can turn yellow and drop as well.

If left in cold environments for a long time, the plant could die as well.

Instead, it prefers USDA Hardiness Zones 9b to 11 where the weather is warm and sunny the entire year. If you live in these regions, you can keep the plant outdoors all year without any problems.

Humidity

The Philodendron Bob Cee also likes humidity, ideally between 50% and 80%. This is again due to its tropical nature.

Humidity ensures that the plant gets enough moisture from the air. Philodendrons including the Bob Cee like this. And it is why they produce lots of aerial roots.

These are not ground roots like those that grow in soil. Instead, they hang in the air to get moisture to help the plant in case humidity is not sufficient. Thus, you can take advantage of this.

One thing to watch out for is brown tips and edges.

This can happen if humidity is too low for the plant’s liking. Since the ends of the leaves are the farthest point of the plant from the roots, insufficient moisture causes them to dry out first.

So, you’ll see brown tips and edges that become crispy, dry and brittle.

This is your warning sign that the plant needs more humidity.

As such, it needs your help. And you can increase humidity around it by moving it to the bathroom, misting it or using a pebble tray. You can likewise get a humidifier as well.

How Often to Water Philodendron Bob Cee

The Philodendron Bob Cee likes moist soil. But be careful not to overdo it and leave the soil wet and soggy. You also need to adjust watering throughout the year to adapt to the changes in the weather.

Moist soil is best for spring and summer when the weather is warm and the plant is actively growing. This will give the plant enough hydration.

However, come winter, avoid moist soil as this can lead to overwatering. Instead, let the soil dry out more. That’s because the cold weather causes soil to stay wet or moist longer. Additionally, the Philodendron Bob Cee only does very little, if any growing during this time.

The other reason to watch out for too much moisture or watering too frequently is overwatering. This plant is susceptible to this, and it can lead to root rot.

For this reason, always let the soil dry out a bit between waterings.

Ideally, wait at for at least the top 2 inches of soil to dry before you add more water. You can test this by sticking your index finger down into the soil up to the second knuckle.

And only water if the soil at that depth feels completely dry.

By doing this, you prevent watering too soon or often, which will lead to overwatering later on.

Related

Philodendron Bob Cee Potting Soil

The best soil for the Philodendron Bob Cee is loose, well-draining soil that is rich. This helps prevent overwatering which makes it very important.

The right or wrong kind of soil can help or hinder your plant care efforts. That’s because it can save you in times you happen to overwater the plant. But the wrong soil can negate correct watering habits by holding on to too much water.

The latter will result in waterlogged soil which ends up in overwatering. This in turn will lead to root rot eventually.

Thus, to avoid excess water retention, good drainage is important. Loose soil also allows air to easily reach the roots so they can breathe.

A simple way to achieve this kind of soil is to combine the follow ingredients.

1 part potting soil
1 part perlite
1 part orchid bark
½ part horticultural charcoal

The potting soil holds some moisture so the roots can stay hydrated. On the other hand, the perlite, orchid bark and charcoal provide good drainage.

The charcoal and bark are likewise chunky, so the roots get enough oxygen.

Meanwhile, avoid heavy soils as this will hold too much moisture which can lead to waterlogging. You also don’t want to use too much drainage. Things like sandy soil will cause the water the drain too quickly that the roots won’t get a chance to drink.

Does the Philodendron Bob Cee Climb?

Yes, the Philodendron Bob Cee is a climber. This is how it lives in its native habitat. It clings onto the trees in the Brazilian rainforest and climbs up the large trunks to get more light.

As such, if you want to allow your Philodendron Bob Cee to reach its full size and growth potential, giving it a moss pole or cedar stake is a good idea.

Fertilizer

The Philodendron Bob Cee will also grow faster and produce more foliage if you give it fertilizer. While the plant will do okay without plant food, feeding it will allow the plant to grow optimally.

The key with fertilizer is to avoid overdoing it.

This is a common mistake since many beginner growers believe that more is always better. However, that’s not the case with fertilizer.

In fact, too much is more harmful that not giving it any plant food at all.

So, the best way to apply fertilizer is just to follow the instructions on the product label. This will be enough to help the Philodendron Bob Cee grow well.

You can use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Once a month feeding is perfect but only during the spring and summer which is when the plant is actively growing.

Don’t feed it during fall or winter since it won’t grow much in the fall. If you give it fertilizer, most of the nutrients will end up with in the soil and add to the build up of salt and excess minerals (which later become toxic to the plant).

Make sure to dilute the fertilizer each time you use it. Use water to reduce it to half the recommended strength.

Other good options you can go with include slow-release fertilizer or fish emulsion.

Pruning

The Philodendron Bob Cee will grow into a large plant with proper care. Like all philodendrons it will grow much bigger if kept outdoors in the ground.

Keeping it indoors in a pot makes it easier to manage its size since the plant does not grow as big in this environment.

That said, if you let the Philodendron Bob Cee keep growing, its long, narrow, serrated leaves can grow up to 4 feet in length.

This makes it amazing if you have the space indoors.

Otherwise, it is a good idea to prune the plant to manage its size. You can also use it to control how bushy the plant gets.

How to Propagate Philodendron Bob Cee

The most effective way to propagate the Philodendron Bob Cee is from stem cuttings.

Stem cuttings involves taking healthy stems and planting them. These will eventually grow into clones of the parent plant.

Here’s how to propagate the Philodendron Bob Cee from stem cuttings.

Start by looking for healthy stem cuttings. You want stems with at least one node and 2 or 3 leaves.
You can take one or more cuttings depending on how bushy your plant is and how many new plants you want to grow. If you want a bushier Philodendron Bob Cee to eventually grow in one pot. You can plant 2 or 3 stem cuttings in a pot, just make sure to space them out enough.
Use a sterile pair or pruning shears or scissors to cut the stem from the parent. Make sure to cut below the node. Without a node, your cutting will not propagate.
Plant the cuttings in a pot with well-draining soil.
Then water the soil and keep it moist. Also, leave the pot in bright, indirect light in a warm spot with good humidity.

It takes about 4 or so weeks for the cutting to develop enough roots and grab hold of the soil.

From there the roots will establish themselves.

Withing a month or two, shoots will start developing. And in a few months you should see new leaves appear.

How to Repot or Transplant Philodendron Bob Cee

The Philodendron Bob Cee does not need regular repotting once it has matured. But you will need to repot it more regularly if you start out with a small plant because it will grow considerably in size during its first 2 years or so.

After that, it takes about 2-3 years before you need to repot.

Note that these figures are just a guide. You want to use the plant’s growth to gauge when to repot.

The best time to repot is during spring to early summer.

But you only need to repot when the plant has become root bound. You can easily check this by looking the bottom of the pot. If there are many roots coming out from the drainage holes of the pot, it is time to repot.

Choose a container that is one size larger. This comes out to about 2 inches bigger than its current pot.

Avoid the temptation of overpotting since the excess soil volume increases the risk of overwatering.

When repotting, don’t forget to refresh the soil as well.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

Yes, the Philodendron Bob Cee is toxic. It becomes toxic when ingested. Unfortunately, it is poisonous to both humans and animals.

Therefore, avoid letting your cats and dogs chew or consumer any part of the plant. The same is true for very young children.

Philodendron Bob Cee Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

The Philodendron Bob Cee is fairly resistant to pests. But it is only able to do so when healthy.

A sick, weak or stressed plant becomes a lot more susceptible to pests.

The most common pest problems for the Philodendron Bob Cee are sap sucking insects including spider mites, mealybugs and aphids.

These are easy to get rid of when there are only a few of them. So, try to catch them early. And if you do spot any, immediately begin treatment.

You can spray the bugs off with water using a hose or shower head. Or you can use neem oil. Insecticidal soap is another good option.

Diseases

Root rot is the most dangerous problem for the Philodendron Bob Cee because it can ultimately kill the plant if not diagnosed early enough.

Root rot destroys the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. So, once too many of the roots have been damaged or rotted, the plant will eventually deteriorate and die.

Thus, avoid overwatering and waterlogged soil as these are the two main reasons for root rot.