Philodendron Little Hope Care & Propagation for Beginners

Last Updated on April 15, 2022 by Admin

The Philodendron Little Hope is also called the Philodendron Bipinnatifidum Little Hope. It gets its name because is the dwarf version of the Philodendron Hope.

The plant likewise has split leaves like the Philodendron warscewiczii, although the splits in its foliage are not as pronounced.

The Philodendron Little Hope grows upright and is a vigorous grower. It features beautiful, green, glossy leaves and a bushy-like habit.

How do your care for the Philodendron Little Hope? The plant needs medium to bright, indirect light to thrive. It will grow fast with proper care so expect many stunning leaves.

Keep the plant in a warm place with good humidity. Feed it during its growing season for optimal growth. But avoid wet, soggy soil since it is susceptible to overwatering and waterlogging.

Table of Contents

Philodendron Little Hope Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Philodendron Little Hope likes medium to bright, indirect light which is where it grows best. Due to its size, most growers will keep the plant indoors.

You’ll usually see this lovely philodendron plant in living rooms or areas in the homes where guests or a good amount of traffic is.

Another reason it is easy to care for indoors is that it can tolerate low light. Although, the less light you give it, the slower it will grow.

That said, it isn’t much of a problem with this plant since it won’t grow too big.

However, you do want to limit how low light gets because the Philodendron Little Hope will produce fewer leaves which are also smaller when it does not get enough light.

Therefore, the best locations for the plant are in the east, west and north facing windows. If you keep it in a northern exposure, make sure it there’s enough light there especially during the latter part of the year.

On the other hand, be careful with too much light.

While the plant enjoys plenty of light, too much can also harm it. Excessive intense sunlight will cause its leaves to turn yellow or get pale.

If the sun gets too harsh, it can even burn the leaves of the plant.

This is why you want to keep it away from direct sunlight during mid-day which is the hottest times of the day.

Around 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. try to avoid letting the sun’s rays hit the plant’s leaves.

In contrast, the Philodendron Little Hope really appreciates direct sunlight from early morning sun (before 10:30 a.m.). This is why a spot near an east facing window is ideal.

Temperature

The Philodendron Little Hope is native to the tropical rainforests of South America. There it lives under the shade of the much larger plants and trees.

As such, while the weather can get really hot in those regions, the plant is used to more moderate to warm conditions (thanks to the shade from the forest canopy).

Its ideal temperature range is between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

And it has no problems dealing with climates that reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit as well.

This makes it easy to care for indoors since most homes maintain living conditions within the plant’s ideal range.

Therefore, you can keep it in your home or patio without having to adjust your thermostat.

That said, you do need to make sure the plant stays warm especially during the winter. It is not cold hardy and has a hard time with temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

This means a few things.

It is not a good idea to keep the plant outdoors during the colder months unless you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.

In these areas, it will happily grow outdoors in a container or in the ground all year round. That’s because there’s sunshine and warm weather even during November through March.

But in areas below Zone 9, it is better off as a houseplant.

If you bring it outside to soak in the summer weather, make sure to take it back indoors once the temperature drops near 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Indoors, keep the plant in a warm place. If your home gets cold during winter, you can pick up a heat mat or heat pad that you can place under the pot.

Humidity

Humidity is another aspect of the tropical rainforest that the Philodendron Little Hope has gotten accustomed to.

As such, it prefers high humidity ideally between 60% to 70%.

But it will easily tolerate humidity of 40% without warm or any issues. I’ve also noticed that it an take humidity that’s in the 30s.

However, if your home consistently has humidity in the low 30s or high 20s, it is a good idea to try and increase the humidity around the plant.

That’s because very low humidity can cause the plant’s leaf tips and margins to turn brown. And if you leave it in this condition, you’ll see more and more brown leaves develop.

Thus, brown leaves are a sign that the plant is not getting enough moisture.

If this happens, the quickest way to help out the plant is to move it to the bathroom, mist it or give it a shower.

This will give you a little bit of time to decide what long term solution you want to take.

You can get a humidifier, group it with other houseplants, use a pebble tray or humidity tray. Of course, you can just leave the plant in the bathroom or regularly mist it.

How Often to Water Philodendron Little Hope

The Philodendron Little Hope needs watering about once a week on average.

However, this is just a guideline. It is important to adjust your watering schedule based on the weather.

During hotter climates like summer, the soil will dry much faster. Therefore, the plant will need watering 2 or even sometimes 3 times a week.

On the other hand, when the weather gets cold in the winter, there’s little sunlight and the low temperature causes the soil to take much longer to dry.

This often means you only need to water once every 2 or 3 weeks.

So, the best way to know when to water the Philodendron Little Hope is to check its soil. You can feel the surface of the soil to see if it is dry or wet.

To know if it is time to water, stick your finger into the soil down to about 2 inches. This is about the second knuckle in your index finger.

If the soil feels very dry and all you get in your fingertips are soil dust, then it is time to water.

However, if there’s moisture or the soil feels wet, don’t water yet. Instead, wait a few days then test the soil again.

By waiting for the top few inches of soil to dry between watering, you’re able to prevent overwatering.

Also, don’t be afraid if you miss by a few days.

You don’t need to be precise about water. The key is not to be too early as you’ll end up adding more water when the soil is still wet.

This means you can water when the soil is dry halfway down.

Any time between the top 2 inches all the way until the soil is dry 50% of the way works really well.

Philodendron Little Hope Potting Soil

The Philodendron Little Hope needs loose, well-draining soil. This is important since it is prone to overwatering.

Soil with good drainage will allow excess moisture to get out so the roots don’t end up sitting in too much water for long periods of time.

In contrast, avoid heavy, dense, compact or water-retentive soils. All of these retain too much moisture which will increase the risk of overwatering.

The easiest way to ensure that your Philodendron Little Hope has the right soil is to get an Aroid mix. This is available in nurseries and online plant shops.

You can likewise make your own DIY potting mix at home.

Luckily, it is very easy to make this. I like to use:

1 part potting soil
1 part coco fiber

You can use peat moss in place of coco fiber.

You can also go with

3 parts potting soil
1 part perlite (or pumice)

If you want to go minimalistic, you can likewise use 100% sphagnum moss. I’ve experimented and tested this extensively and works quite well too.

I also have some gardener friends who use a well-draining succulent or cactus mix. They make sure it has part sand in it.

Although, I haven’t tried the last one for myself, so I can’t say much about it.

Fertilizer

The Philodendron Little Hope also appreciates fertilizer. And I do recommend using it as it will help the plant produce more leaves.

Additionally, its leaves will look more vibrant. Plus, you avoid any nutrient deficiencies.

Note that the Philodendron Little Hope does not need a ton of fertilizer. So, all you need to do is follow the instructions on the label.

A good feeding routine makes use of a balanced, water soluble fertilizer that’s diluted to half strength.

Since the plant is kept indoors and in a pot, you don’t need to use 100% strength. But if you will grow it in the ground in your garden, then do use the full-strength application.

Only apply when the plant is actively growing. This is during spring and summer.

On the other hand, you don’t need to fertilize the plant in fall and winter. Its growth will slow down during that part of the year due to the cold.

Pruning

The Philodendron Little Hope will grow to about 12 to 24 inches tall and about 24 inches wide.

So, while its name says it is “little”, that’s not actually the case.

Instead, it is little only when in comparison with the other philodendron varieties which tend to grow quite big.

Additionally, the Philodendron Little Hope is a fast grower.

This is especially true if you give it the right living conditions. As such, good lighting, proper feeding, watering, temperature and humidity will let it produce lots of leaves.

Pruning is usually not needed when the plant is young, growing or still a bit sparse.

However, you can prune it to encourage more growth. Also, you can trim off the outliers as some leaves or stem will be longer or shorter than most of the others. This can “disrupt” its looks.

As it gets bigger and fuller, pruning is more of a judgement call.

You can trim it to control its height or width a bit. Additionally, you can remove a few stems and leaves if you think the plant is getting overcrowded or bushy.

Additionally, remove any leggy stems as well as those that have turned brown or yellow.

If you see any diseased leaves, make sure to trim them off immediately as these tend to spread.

How to Propagate Philodendron Little Hope

The Philodendron Little Hope is easy to propagate. And the best time to do this is during spring to early summer.

The most effective way to propagate the plant is through stem cuttings.

Here’s how to propagate the Philodendron Little Hope from stem cuttings step by step.

Look for healthy stems. You can choose one or more stems depending on how full you want the new plant to look or how many new plants you want to grow.

Make sure each candidate stem has at least one node and 2-3 leaves on it.

Use a sterile pair or scissors or pruning shears and cut the stems below a node.

Once you have the node, you can make a decision if you want to propagate the Philodendron Little Hope in water or you want to propagate it in soil.

Propagating the Philodendron Little Hope in Water

Take the stem cutting and place it in a glass container filled with water.
Make sure the nodes are submerged in the water. Remove any lower leaves that get wet. But leave all the upper leaves intact.
Keep the container in bright, indirect light. And change the water once every 2 weeks or so.
In about 3 or so weeks, the roots will be very noticeable.
Once the roots reach at least 1-2 inches in length, you can transfer them from the water to a pot with well-draining soil.

Once in the pot, water the soil to keep it moist. Then take care of it like you would the mother plant.

Propagating the Philodendron Little Hope in Soil

Propagating the Philodendron Little Hope in soil using stem cuttings skips the steps where you root it in water.

Instead, you allow the new plant to root in soil.

Here’s how:

Prepare a pot and fill it with fresh well-draining potting mix.
Apply rooting hormone to the cut end of the stems. This step is optional so you can skip it if you don’t have rooting hormone.
Plant the cuttings in the soil. Again, keep the nodes buried.
Place the pot in bright, indirect light and water the soil so it stays moist not wet.
In about 4 or so weeks, the roots will take hold and begin establishing themselves in the soil.

You can test to see if the cuttings have rooted by lighting pulling on them.

If roots have developed, the cuttings should resist your pull.

How to Repot or Transplant Philodendron Little Hope

The Philodendron Little Hope only needs repotting every 2 to 3 years. Therefore, you don’t need to repot it annually.

Also, don’t hurry to repot it immediately after you bring it home from the store.

The Philodendron Little Hope usually comes in 6 inch pots, although this can vary by store. I like to just quarantine the plant and observe it for pests, diseases and other issues.

You’ll only need to repot it then if you notice the soil is holding on to too much moisture.

Otherwise, just wait until the plant has outgrown is nursery pot before moving it.

The only time you need to repot the Philodendron Little Hope is when you see roots sticking out from the bottom of its drainage holes.

This is your sign it is time to move the plant to a larger pot.

The best time to repot is spring, so you can wait until then to do so.

When repotting, choose a container that is 2 inches larger. Also replace the soil with fresh, well-draining potting mix.

If you’re already happy with the plant’s size, you can just prune it a bit and keep it in the same pot while refreshing the soil.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

Yes, the Philodendron Little Hope is toxic to people and pets. But it only becomes toxic when ingested or the sap is exposed.

Therefore, handling the plant poses no risk.

That said, be careful of letting young children, dogs and cats play around the plant since they may accidentally eat or chew on its leaves.

Philodendron Little Hope Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

The Philodendron Little Hope is susceptible to common houseplant pests.

This includes mealybugs, spider mites, aphids and scale. All of which can become issues if you allow them to grow in number.

As such, prevention is the best option here. Although, there’s no 100% guaranteed way to prevent pests.

That said, keeping the plant healthy, regular cleaning and applying neem oil or insecticidal soap once a month goes a long way.

With proper care, you may never need to deal with these bugs.

Nevertheless, you’ll still need to do regular checkups to see if there are pests have gotten to the plant. This will let you deal with them when there are only a few.

Diseases

Root rot is the big thing to watch out for with the Philodendron Little Hope.

It is prune to overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

Here, it is even more important to avoid this issue as much as possible. That’s because root rot develops under the soil which keeps it hidden from sight.

And past a certain point, there’s no saving your plant once too much of the root system has rotted.

Therefore, avoid overwatering and using dense, heavy soils that can lead to waterlogging. Also, use pots with drainage holes to ensure the excess liquid drips out of the container.