Philodendron Grazielae Growing & Care Tips You Should Know

Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by Admin

The Philodendron grazielae is another rare philodendron that’s hard to come by. Your best bet is scouring online shops to see who carries them. And, hopefully, they’re not out of stock.

Another good way is to find exotic plant growers. These enthusiast have amazing collections. And, if you happen to know them, they’ll be happy to give you one.

The Philodendron grazielae feature very attractive, roundish, heart-shaped leaves that are dark green in color.

They are easy to care for and look amazing especially if allowed to grow.

Like many philodendrons, it is an avid climber. In its native habitat, it goes up trees where it lives.

One of the best things about the plant is that it is fairly versatile. Most growers keep them in containers where they look amazing especially if you let them get thick and bushy.

However you can also grow them in hanging baskets where they look just as amazing.

Philodendron Grazielae Plant Care

Light Requirements

Philodendron grazielae thrive on bright, indirect light. This means anything from medium to semi-shade light, including dappled or filtered exposure.

While the plant enjoys bright light which is uses for photosynthesis, too much sun is something you want to avoid.

That’s because in its native habitat, it grows under the forest canopy. As such, the large trees, their leaves and branches block the brunt of the sun.

What the plant has evolved into getting is light that is able to sneak through the bigger plants.

Thus, while still bright, it is not exposed to the sun’s rays.

You want to mimic this as closely as possible because too much sun exposure will burn its leaves. As such, avoid intense sunshine during the afternoons as well as during the brutal summers.

As far as position goes, the east, northeast and north are the best. If you place them facing the west and south, make sure to have some kind of blinds or drapes on the windows.

Alternatively, you can also distance the plant away from the window in these locations. Anywhere from 3 to 6 feet often works depending on how far the sun gets in and what angle it comes in at.

The goal is to keep it away from the yellow areas on surfaces where the sun hits.

Temperature

In addition to indirect sun, your Philodendron grazielae also has a climate preference. It is tropical.

As such, it behaves like most houseplants which are tropical in nature.

The good news is that most homes have these exact conditions because humans enjoy moderate temperatures.

This makes it very easy to get the plant acclimated indoors without any problems.

Its ideal temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You have more leeway upwards as it can tolerate up to 90 or 95 degrees. But, avoid much higher than that because too much heat will stress the plant.

On the other hand, cold is a big problem. While going down to the 60s isn’t a big deal, you want to avoid anything below that.

Between 50 and 60 degrees the plant will struggle and show some symptoms. But, as it gets lower, it will begin to sustain damage.

As such, you can only grow it outdoors all year long if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. Otherwise, it will become an annual which is a waste because the plant is very hard to find.

Thus, do keep it as a houseplant or in a container. That way you can take it indoors as the weather gets colder around fall.

Humidity

As your Philodendron grazielae is a tropical plant, it desires high humidity. In fact, it does best when humidity is kept at 60% to 80%.

Unfortunately, that’s a bit on the high side even for the most humid home. So, unless, you have a grow room or a greenhouse, you’re unlikely to give the plant these conditions.

The good news is that it can grow fairly well in less humid conditions. And, it won’t have any problems with average room humidity.

However, do keep in mind that if you want the plant grow at its best, meaning large, vibrant green leaves, then 60% or higher is something worth shooting for.

To do so, you may need a humidifier especially if you want to increase the humidity in an entire room or need to push air moisture levels up significantly.

Two other methods that work really well are grouping plants together and placing them on a water tray.

The former increases air moisture as the plants transpire as a group causing more vapor in the air.

The latter uses the water under the pot to increase vapor as the liquid evaporates.

In both cases, only the area around the plant/s experience the higher humidity, not the entire room.

I also highly suggest picking up a digital hygrometer which is fairly inexpensive. This will let you know what the humidity is in any part of your house. And, if you need to take action to keep your Philodendron grazielae happy.

source: wikimedia commons

Watering Philodendron Grazielae

Water your Philodendron grazielae like you would any other houseplant or philodendron. The key is to give it enough water during the hotter months and to cut back during the colder seasons.

More importantly, avoid overwatering or allowing the plant to sit in water too long. This can result in the dreaded root rot.

The easiest way I’ve found to do this is to use a combination of well-draining soil (more on that below) and allowing the top soil to dry between waterings.

To do so, regularly check the soil by sticking your index finger down about 2 or so inches deep. If the soil is dry beyond 2 inches, it is time to water.

But, if the soil is still moist, wait until it dries at least 2 inches from the top of the soil surface before you water again.

Doing so will allow the soil the dry a bit before you water. This will prevent overwatering.

Unfortunately, feeling for the wetness of the soil only comes with experience. As such, it takes practice.

In the meantime, if you find you need a bit of help, consider getting a moisture meter. This is an affordable device you stick into the soil to tell how much moisture there is.

Soil for Philodendron Grazielae

The most important thing about soil for your Philodendron grazielae is to use one that is well-draining.

This means it holds enough moisture to keep the plant hydrated. But, is good at draining all the excess water.

This makes watering a bit more forgiving even if you sometimes add too much water since the excess is drained.

It is also very important to make sure that the container has drainage holes. This will allow the liquid to escape and not pool at the bottom of the container.

Overwatering is the biggest reason why houseplants die. As such this is the number one thing you want to watch out for when caring for your Philodendron grazielae.

With well-draining soil, you have a few options. The simplest being regular potting soil or potting soil you already have. Then adding perlite which improves drainage.

Using compost to amend the soil likewise helps over the longer term as it improves drainage while increase nutrients.

Philodendron Grazielae Fertilizer

Philodendron grazielae don’t need fertilizer. But, adding some at the right times will help it grow bigger and produce more lush, green leaves.

However, fertilizer is a double edged sword. Too much is worse than too little.

So, like water, be careful it feeding your plant. Both the amount and frequency are essential to avoid fertilizer burn which can damage your plant’s roots and stems.

If you decide to use fertilizer, you’ll only need to feed your Philodendron grazielae during its growing season which are spring and summer. Do so once a month making sure to dilute the dose to half strength.

The plant won’t be able to tolerate full-strength. IF you use that, you’ll almost surely overfeed it.

During the colder months you can stop or apply once every 2 or 3 months.

Pruning

Philodendron grazielae are slow growers. Thus, they don’t require much pruning even if they do get to 3 feet high eventually.

However, they do get bushy after a while and their vines get long as well. This may or may not fit the look you’re going for. if that’s the case, do prune it a bit.

But be careful not to prune too much as this will cause stress to the plant. And, a stressed plant is more prone to pests and diseases.

As it gets longer and denser it can also look a bit unruly. Thus, pick your spots and trim a few stems as needed.

Philodendron Grazielae Propagation

One of the best things about the Philodendron grazielae is that it is easy to propagate at home.

Thus, if you want to grow more, you can do so without having to find one and buy.

The best way to propagate your Philodendron grazielae is via stem cutting. And, the best time to do so is during spring.

Here’s how.

Take a stem cutting that’s about 3 to 5 inches long. You want to take one just below the leaf node. Leaf nodes are where the roots will grow from later on. As such, you need a stem with at least 1 or 2 leaf nodes.

Next, you can choose between growing the stem cutting in water or go directly to soil. Both work but have their pros and cons. Staring in water roots faster and has a higher success rate. But, requires an extra step then transferring it to soil later on.

If you decide to grow your Philodendron grazielae in water,

Place the stem cutting in a glass or jar filled about halfway or slightly less with water. Make sure to remove any leaves that will get submerges before placing the cutting into the jar.
Keep the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light.
After 15 to 20 or so days, you’ll see roots start to form in the water.
When the roots grow to between half an inch or an inch long, you can move the plant into a pot with soil.

If you decide to go straight to soil,

Prepare a small pot and fill it with fresh, well-draining potting mix.
Plant the stem cutting into he soil.
You can cover the pot with plastic to increase humidity. This helps the cutting grow faster.
Leave the pot in a warm, bright spot with indirect sunlight.

It takes a little longer to root in soil. But, you’ll end up in the same place as you would when starting in water.

How to Repot Philodendron Grazielae

Philodendron grazielae don’t need to be repot often. They’ll take anywhere from 2 years or a bit more.

But, don’t keep count.

Instead, keep an eye out for roots that may start to come out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Once you see these start, it means that it needs more space.

To repot:

Get a container that’s about 2 inches wider than the current one. Don’t get tempted to jump up to a container that’s 5 tor 10 inches so you don’t have to repot for the next 10 years. That’s a recipe for disaster since a container that’s too big will increase the risk of overwatering. Instead, go up by 2 or 3 inch increments.
You also want to prepared fresh potting soil. Make sure to use well-draining potting soil. I suggest mixing the ingredients before you repot and then fill the new container about 40% near halfway so the transplanting process is seamless.
The best time to repot is during spring or early summer.
When ready, gently take the root ball out of the pot.
Then, remove excess dirt and debris.
Make sure to check the roots to see if they’re healthy. If they’re tangled up, which often happens when the plant has been pot bound, carefully separate them using your fingers.
Place the root ball into the new pot.
Then fill in the extra spaces with fresh potting soil.

Toxicity

One thing to keep in mind is that your Philodendron grazielae is toxic. There’s no problem with holding or touching it as it isn’t poisonous or an allergen that way.

But, ingesting any part of the plant can cause digestive tract issues if enough is consumed.

Thus, keep it away from young kids and pets.

Pests and Diseases

Your Philodendron grazielae does not generally have a lot of pest problems. The better care you give it the less likely you’ll ever need to bother with this issue, which is a headache for many growers.

That said, you always want to know what to do and be aware of the potential pests that can come.

With your Philodendron grazielae, the most common pests include aphids, scale and mealybugs. These are problematic because they’ll all affect your plant’s healthy often by sucking the sap which is what carries nutrients to different parts of the plant.

Thus, you want to keep an eye out for them.

if you do see them, use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Both are good remedies for these problems.