Philodendron Jerry Horne Care & Propagation

Last Updated on April 13, 2022 by Admin

The Philodendron Jerry Horne is a large climbing aroid that features long narrow leaves with lobes on the backside. It is said to be a hybrid of the Philodendron bipennifolium although nobody seems certain about this.

While it looks a bit different from most philodendron varieties, it is easy to grow the plant.

How do you care for the Philodendron Jerry Horne? The plant needs bright, indirect light but cannot tolerate direct sunlight. It also does best in warm, humid conditions in well-draining soil.

Make sure not to overwater the plant or over fertilize it as both can cause damage to its roots eventually.

Table of Contents

Philodendron Jerry Horne Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Philodendron Jerry Horne enjoys medium to bright indirect light. This is an important aspect for it to maintain its lovely green color.

That said, it does not mind low light. But its tolerance has a limit.

Once you notice that plant’s growth slow, it produces fewer or smaller leaves, it means it needs more light.

Light is necessary for photosynthesis which the plant uses to produce energy. In turn, it uses the energy to grow and produce foliage.

So a shortage in light will affect all of these.

Just as importantly, be careful about direct sunlight. the Philodendron Jerry Horne cannot tolerate very strong or intense light. This includes both natural and artificial light.

Therefore, keep it away from direct sun and the sun’s rays, especially during summertime and mid-day. Both have the harshest sun.

With grow lights, keep the bulbs far enough from the plant so that the heat they emit does not burn its leaves.

Too much direct sun or proximity to grow lights not only can turn the plant’s leaves yellow but also scorch its leaves.

Temperature

The Philodendron Jerry Horne has an ideal temperature of between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It also prefers USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12 if kept outdoors.

So what does this mean?

It means the plant is easy to care for indoors because most homes maintain temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Therefore, you don’t have to do anything to accommodate the plant as far as temperature goes in your home.

However, you do want to keep it away from objects and appliances that cause temperature fluctuations.

These include heaters, radiators, air conditioners and areas with cold drafts.

Outdoors, if you live in Zones 10 through 12, you can opt to grow the plant outdoors in the ground or a container. It will be happy because there is sunshine and warm weather all year round.

But if you live anywhere with four seasons, it will be better to keep the Philodendron Jerry Horne indoors as a houseplant.

You can take it outside during summertime. But make sure to bring it back indoors once temperature drops near 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The plant does not do well below 50 degrees because it is not cold tolerant.

Related

Humidity

Ideal humidity for the Philodendron Jerry Horne is between 50% and 80%. However, I’ve found that it can tolerate humidity of 40% and slightly lower with proper care and in certain conditions.

Humidity is important because if air gets too dry, you’ll see the plant’s leaves turn brown and crispy on the edges and tips.

For a plant with so many leaves this looks unappealing. It also makes the plant look unhealthy.

Therefore, try to keep humidity around it near or above 40% as much as possible.

If you live somewhere with dry air, it is a good idea to get a hygrometer.

This will allow you to immediately tell when humidity is too low. This way, you can do something about it.

Similarly knowing the humidity around the plant lets you know if the measures you’ve taken to increase humidity have worked or are not enough.

You can use any of these methods of you notice indoor humidity drop too far down.

Get a humidifier
Mist the plant 2-3 times a week
Place it in the bathroom
Keep the plant on a pebble tray

How Often to Water Philodendron Jerry Horne

Water the Philodendron Jerry Horne when the soil is slightly dry. This means you should wait for the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings.

Alternatively, if you want to play it safe, you can wait until the soil is dray about halfway down before watering.

This is very important because the Philodendron Jerry Horne is prone to overwatering.

As such, the roots don’t like wet feet. And if they are left in sitting in water for long periods of time, they will eventually experience root rot.

That’s because they get deprived of oxygen which they need to stay healthy (in addition to water).

As such, it is very important not to water the plant when the soil is still moist or wet. Overwatering or waterlogged soil both can cause serious issues.

On the other hand, just like all plants, you should not let the soil completely dry out.

This will cause dehydration which can damage the plant as well.

Thus, watering is very important but it has to be done in moderation to ensure a balance between moisture and air.

Philodendron Jerry Horne Potting Soil

The Philodendron Jerry Horne needs light, well-draining soil that has good aeriation.

This combination allows the roots to get the hydration they need while quickly draining excess moisture. it also allows sufficient oxygenation so the roots get enough air.

Again, it is all about balance between air and water when it comes to this plant.

Avoid heavy soils since these will hold too much moisture and increase the risk of overwatering.

Similarly, avoid soil that gets compacted over time. This will prevent water and air from easily penetrating the potting mix to reach the roots.

Instead, a loose, well-draining mix is ideal.

If you prefer getting your potting soil from the nursery or online, look for an Aroid mix. Different growers will use different versions of these with varying ingredients and composition.

However, they all work the same and are designed for Aroids which are members of the Araceae family.

Therefore, you not only can use this soil for philodendrons but also pothos, monstera, alocasia and anthuriums just to name a few.

If you like making your own potting mix and being able to customize or modify it as needed, you can do so by picking up these ingredients instead. This is a recipe that has worked really well for my philodendrons, including the Philodendron Jerry Horne and its parent the Philodendron bipennifolium.

To make this potting mix recipe, combine:

3 parts potting soil
4 parts orchid bark
2 parts peat
1 part perlite

I also like to add a few handfuls of horticultural charcoal which increases chunkiness and drainage.

Finally, since the Philodendron Jerry Horne is a climber, it is a good idea to give it a pole or something similar for support.

This will allow it to go upwards. It also grows faster and produces larger leaves when allowed to do so.

Fertilizer

For optimal growth, the Philodendron Jerry Horne also needs fertilizer. It is not a heavy feeder so there’s no need to give it a lot of plant food.

This is something you want to be careful about since too much fertilizer can ultimately damage its roots.

Instead, only feed the plant during spring and summer. Once the weather gets cold around mid-fall, you can stop feeding. Don’t fertilize the plant in winter either.

You can use a balanced, liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once a month.

Also, never add fertilizer when the soil is dry. This will cause over concentration. Instead, only do so when the soil is moist. Or water the soil before applying.

Another option you can go with is slow-release fertilizer.

This works different from the liquid formulation since the nutrients are released over a longer period of time. Therefore, you reduce the risk of overfeeding the plant.

And it allows you to only feed the plant 1-2 times each year because of this.

Pruning

The Philodendron Jerry Horne will grow into a large plant. It can easily reach 15 feet or more.

So, you do need to plant on where to put in.

Additionally, when the plant gets bigger and produces more leaves, it can look messy.

Therefore, while it is a slow climber, you’ll eventually need to do regular pruning.

One is to regular its size based on how much space you have and how you want it to look. And secondly, trimming it will allow it to look neat and not too untidy.

Additionally, also make sure to remove any yellow, brown or damaged leaves.

When pruning, don’t forget to sterilize the cutting tool before you cut into the plant. This way, you don’t run the risk of passing bacteria or fungi to it.

How to Propagate Philodendron Jerry Horne

The Philodendron Jerry Horne can easily be propagated from stem cuttings.

This allows you grow more plants from the parent if you want.

Just as importantly, the plant lends well to propagation so the process is usually simple and successful.

Here’s how to propagate Philodendron Jerry Horne from stem cuttings.

Choose a healthy stem for your cutting. You want a stem with at least one node and a few leaves on it.
Use rubbing alcohol to sterilize the blade of your scissors or pruning shears before cutting into the plant.
To make the cut, snip the stem cleanly just below the node. You want to include the node or nodes in the cutting since it will not propagate without a node.
Prepare a pot and fill it with fresh, well-draining potting mix.
Dip the cut end of the stem into rooting hormone. You can use powder, liquid or paste form. They all work the same.
Plant the cutting into the soil by making a hole using your finger then inserting the stem. Make sure that the node goes under the soil.
Water the soil until moist and place the new plant in bright, indirect light.

It will take about 3-4 weeks for the cutting to root.

When the time comes, you can lightly pull on the cutting. It should resist your pull. This means that roots have developed and are now attached to the soil.

How to Repot or Transplant Philodendron Jerry Horne

The Philodendron Jerry Horne often needs to be repot once every 2 years or so.

However, this all depends on how fast it grows, which in turn depends on how much light, humidity and watering you give it. The plant also tends to grow faster when given a support to climb.

As such, I always prefer to listen to the signs that the plant is giving me.

And the best way to know when to repot is to check the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Once you see roots coming out from there, it is a sign that they need more room to grow.

When this happens you have two options.

Repot to a container that is one size larger
Prune the roots to keep the plant in the same pot and limit its size

The second option is something you may want to do if it gets too big for your liking, especially indoors.

With the first option, all you need is a slightly bigger pot and fresh, well draining soil.

In the second option, unpot the plant and prune the roots. Don’t overdo this. You just want to trim enough so it can fit right back into the same pot.

This way you are able to maintain its size while keeping it healthy.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

Yes, the Philodendron Jerry Horne is toxic. This means you want to be careful where you place it if you have very young children, cats or dogs in your home.

Accidental ingestion can cause pain, mouth swelling, irritation, vomiting, nausea, and other side effects.

Philodendron Jerry Horne Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

The Philodendron Jerry Horne does not have much problems with pests. However, it is not immune to them either.

Therefore, it is important to regularly inspect the plant for pests. Often, it is the sap sucking insects like spider mites, mealybugs and scale that come around.

Therefore, it is important to catch them as soon as possible so you can get rid of them with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

If you leave them be, even for short periods of time, they will rapidly grow in number. This is when they cause serious damage as they feed on the plant’s sap.

This will cause it to lose nutrients and water leading to leaf curling, yellowing, wilting and other issues.

Diseases

In general, the Philodendron Jerry Horne like

wise does not experience disease much.

However, it can be made susceptible to them if there is excess moisture.

This can come in the form of overwatering the soil, waterlogging or lack of drainage. As such, it is important to always wait for the soil to slightly dry between waterings.

Additionally, use well-draining potting soil. And make sure that the pot you use has holes at the bottom.

Similarly, misting too much and leaving the leaves very wet for long periods of time can cause bacterial and fungal infections.