Philodendron Erubescens Care - Guide ro Growing Blushing Philodendron

Last Updated on January 13, 2023 by Admin

The Philodendron erubescens is also called the Blushing Philodendron. And yes, the word Erubescens is a Latin term that means “reddening” or “blushing”.

In any case, this plant is significantly because many popular cultivars come from it. Among them include the:

Philodendron Pink Princess
Philodendron Imperial Red
Philodendron Imperial Green
Philodendron Red Emerald
Philodendron Emerald Queen
And a few more

It is a member of the Araceae family. This Philodendron Plant can grow to between 10 to 20 feet high.

It is best known for its large, heart-shaped leaves which can grow up to 16 or so inches long. The leaves has a dark green glossy look to them on top. And, a more red purpose or burgundy color on the bottom.

As a native of the rainforests of Central and South America, it is a vigorous climber that enjoys tropical conditions. Thus, making it an easy to care for houseplant.

Philodendron Erubescens Plant Care

Light Requirements

Philodendron erubescens thrive in medium light to partial shade. They can also take some bright, indirect light. But, avoid bright sunlight especially outdoors.

This makes it easier to grow indoors as a houseplant since you don’t have to worry about keeping near a very bright window.

This meals means that you’re better off with either a northern or eastern exposure as opposed to a western or southern one.

In a well-lit room, you can likewise keep it anywhere even 10 to 12 feet away from windows without any problems.

Like other philodendrons, avoid contact with direct sunlight. Exposing its foliage to the sun’s rays will cause they to burn. Similarly, too much bright light will also turn its foliage yellow.

Outdoors, you want to keep it under partial sun or shade. The sun is brighter outside because there are no walls and ceilings to block access.

This means that keeping the plant under dapped light or some kind of canopy is a good idea.

Temperature

Philodendron erubescens is a warm weather plant that is well-suited to indoor conditions. This makes it easy to care for as a houseplant.

It does best when temperature is kept between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. But it will likewise tolerate slightly hotter climate.

That said, you do want to monitor the plant once the weather reaches 95 degrees. Above this level towards 100 degrees, it will likely start showing signs of stress.

If you see any, move it to a cooler collation

On the other hand, the plant can tolerate the cold much less. In fact, it is not frost hardy.

So, you don’t want to leave it outside or in areas where the temperature can drop under 50 degrees. This will stunt growth or at the very least slow it down. At 40 degrees or lower, you’ll start seeing it experience some damage.

Speaking of the outdoors, the plant can likewise live in the garden or in container all year round in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11. Below zone 10, it is best to do so during the warmer months after the threat of frost as passed. And, take it back indoors once things get chilly around fall.

Each time you do, make sure to debug the plant so as not to bring any critters into your home which may infest your other houseplants.

Humidity

As far as humidity goes, your Philodendron erubescens enjoys humid conditions. Ideally, you want to keep humidity at 50% or higher. But, it will be able to tolerate lower humidity without any problem.

Again, this makes it an easy plant to grow and care for indoors.

However, you do want to watch out for overly dry conditions. If you live in the desert or experience cold, freezing winters, the humidity may drop considerably during these times.

I highly suggest picking up a hygrometer, which is inexpensive and very useful for growers. It will tell you what the humidity is in any given root. It will likewise automatically change readings as the weather changes. So, you’ll always be kept up to speed on what room humidity is.

This will let you adjust moisture levels if needed. And, also know if the adjustments you’ve made are enough or need a bit more tweaking.

source: wikimedia commons

How to Water Philodendron Erubescens

Your Philodendron erubescens is drought tolerant. And, it is sensitive to overwatering.

As such, a basic rule of thumb is to keep soil on the dry side and avoid overwatering. Overwatering can come in the form of watering too much or watering too often.

And, the best way to avoid this is to use your sense of touch. Feeling the soil, and sticking your finger down a couple of inches will quickly tell you when you water.

If the soil at that depth is moist, wait a while. Then, test again.

Only water the plant if it has dried up This will prevent overwatering which can lead to root rot.

Alternatively, you can use a moisture meter to gauge how much moisture the soil has.

If you happen to see the plant’s leaves turn yellow. That’s a sign that it is getting too much water. More importantly, this is a warning light telling you to adjust your watering routine.

Otherwise, continuing can eventually lead to root problems.

Soil

Give your Philodendron erubescens rich, well-draining potting soil for the best results. It likewise does best in slightly acidic to neutral soil with pH between 5.8 to 7.5.

You want to avoid heavy soils as well as light sandy soils. The former will retain too much water that will put your plant at risk of root diseases. Meanwhile, the latter will drain too quickly such that its roots are not able to absorb enough water and nutrients.

So what does this mean?

This means you have a few options when it comes to soil.

If you prefer going with a commercial product (i.e. one from the nursery), you can use either African violet soil, orchid mix, cactus or succulent mix. These will all work but they have different compositions and textures. So, you can decide which you prefer.
If you like making your own, you can go with 100% sphagnum peat moss or a combination of peat and perlite or vermiculite.
If you have regular potting soil already sitting around at home, you can likewise use that and add sand to improve drainage.

Fertilizer

Your Philodendron erubescens is a fast grower. To support this growth, you’ll need to supply it with the proper nutrients.

Apply a balanced fertilizer (15-15-15 or 10-10-10) diluted to half strength on a monthly basis. If you notice the plant is not growing as well as it should despite getting optimum lighting, then you can increase feeding gradually to once every two weeks.

While the plant won’t die without fertilizer, its growth will slow down. And, you’ll likewise see it produce smaller leaves depending on how fertile your soil is and if you add compost annually.

Pruning

Your Philodendron erubescens can grow to as tall as 10 to 20 feet high. Its leaves can likewise get to 16 inches long. Thus, you may need to trim it once in a while to limit or maintain its size and shape.

Beyond its looks, pruning is fairly low maintenance.

Remove any unhealthy leaves including those that have turned yellow. Similarly, trim any leggy stems to help them regrow.

Philodendron Erubescens Propagation

If you love the look of your Philodendron erubescens and its large vining leaves, you can grow more of your own without having to spend any money.

All you need is to do is take stem cuttings.

The best time to propagate this plant is during its growing season ideally spring or early summer at the latest.

Here’s how to propagate Philodendron erubescens from stem cuttings

Begin by picking out healthy stems to propagate. You want to choose stems with at least 2 to 3 leaf nodes.
With a sharp, sterile pair of scissors or pruning shears, take a cutting that’s between 3 to 7 inches long.
Fill a small pot (6 inch by 6 inches) with fresh, well-draining potting mix. Then, add some water to get the soil moist.
Remove the lower leaves that will get planted under the soil, leave a few leave on top.
Place the plant in a warm, humid location with medium, indirect light. If you can’t find a humid enough spot, cover the plant with a plastic bag to increase humidity.
In about 20 to 25 days, the cutting should have started developing roots. If you used plastic containers, you can slide out one of the cuttings and check the bottom of the root ball. You should see small white roots growing.
It will take a few more weeks for the roots to get established.
Over time, shoots will start growing as well.
Repot the plant once it outgrows its container.

In addition to stem cuttings, you can likewise propagate the plant from seed or via air layering. That said, stem cuttings are the easiest way to go about it.

How to Repot

Since Philodendron erubescens are fast growers, you’ll need to repot often if you start them out from a young age. The best time to do so is during spring.

Keep in mind they’re vigorous climbers. So, placing a stake or pole to let them climb on lets them grow optimally.

As they get older, they you’ll need to repot less often. But, it can likewise be a hassle to do so because they’re already hugging the pole.

Toxicity

Philodendron erubescens are toxic to cats and dogs. They are likewise toxic to humans because they contain calcium oxalate crystals.

Ingesting any part of the plant will result in mouth, throat and digestive tract irritation. It can likewise cause vomiting.

Pests and Diseases

Philodendron erubescens is a common victim of mealybugs, scaled, whiteflies, aphids. This means it is important to do regular inspections.

I’ve found that if clean its leaves routinely, you’ll be able to spot pests and signs of their damage early on.

Once you do, immediately separate them from other plants and start treatment. You can use neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Similarly, diseases can plague this plant. But, you have more power over this since majority of these are caused by too much moisture.

By controlling moisture, you’ll be able to limit fungal, leaf and root problems.

Last Thoughts

The Philodendron Erubescens is one of the most relevant philodendron varieties because it has many hybrids that have come out look beautiful. It is an easy plant to grow at home and propagates well.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long can philodendron erubescens live?

Philodendron are known for their long lifespan. You can expect your philodendron to live 20 years. The key is proper care. As long as it stays healthy, it will keep growing and be a mainstay in your home for decades.

What is the common name of Philodendron erubescens?

The Philodendron Erubescens is commonly known as the Blushing Philodendron. Because of this it is also called the Red-leaf Philodendron. Like other plants it has a few common names but only one unique scientific or botanical name which is Philodendron Erubescens.

How do you take care of a Philodendron erubescens?

To keep your Philodendron Erubescens healthy, place it in a bright location with lots of indirect sunlight. Avoid shady or dark locations as well as too much direct sunlight. Lack of light will slow down growth and make the plant unhealthy. Too much direct sunlight will dry out the plant or scorch its leaves. Make sure to use light soil and keep the soil moist not soggy. Applying fertilizer during spring and summer once a month also helps increase growth.

Is Philodendron erubescens indoor plant?

Yes, the Philodendron Erubescens will happily grow as a houseplant indoors. In its natural habitat, it lives in the rainforest outdoors. Thus, it will easily live outside your home with the exception of winter. However, the Philodendron Erubescens adapts quite well as an indoor plant. It will not grow as big indoors as it does outdoors.

Is Philodendron erubescens a climber?

Philodendron erubescens is a robust tree climber in the wild, so you’ll need to give it something to climb indoors. And it’ll need some help from you to start the climb. Don’t worry, it’s easy to do. A moss stick works wonderfully to support those eager-to-climb stems.

In its natural habitat, the Philodendron Erubescens is a natural climber. It will aggressively grow and climb up trees. Therefore, it is happiest when you can simulate this kind of environment. Indoors, you can use a moss pole, wall or something similar to allow the plant to climb. Any kind of support will work well. It will allow your Philodendron Erubescens to grow faster, bigger and produce larger leaves.

Is Philodendron erubescens poisonous?

Unfortunately, the Philodendron Erubescens is toxic. It is poisonous when parts of the plant is consumed or even just chewed. That’s because it contains calcium oxalate crystals. These are needle-like substances that will cause oral and digestive tract irritation and swelling. It can also cause nausea and vomiting.

How do you identify a Philodendron erubescens?

The Philodendron erubescens is a beautiful houseplant that features large leaves. The leaves spade-like in shape. These are unique in that they have a green color on the top surface and are purple red color at the bottom side. This is why the plant is called the Blushing Philodendron or Red-leaf Philodendron. The plant itself can grow to 12-15 feet high while its leaves can reach 1.5 feet in length.

Philodendron Erubescens Care – Guide ro Growing Blushing Philodendron