How to Grow and Care for Philodendron Lynamii

Last Updated on April 13, 2022 by Admin

The Philodendron Lynamii is a rare, unique looking philodendron plant with amazing hear-shaped leaves what look like a flat dish.

These leaves will reach an impressive size allowing them to span the distance from your head to your waist and even more.

It also features unique colors making it very different from other philodendron varieties. Its leaves have green and pink colors. Although as they mature, the deep pink hue will transition into dark green color.

The plant is native to the tropical rainforests of South America, particularly Peru.

How do you care for Philodendron Lynamii? Give the plant bright, indirect or filtered light. It enjoys warm temperature and moderate to high humidity for optimal growth.

Feed with a balanced fertilizer which will help it reach its leaf potential.

Make sure to allow the soil to dry between waterings in order to avoid overwatering and waterlogged soil. Use well-draining soil as well.

Table of Contents

Philodendron Lynamii Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Philodendron Lynamii grows best in medium to bright indirect light indoors. This gives it a change to get big and produce its huge striking foliage.

As such, it needs sufficient light for photosynthesis to provide the itself he energy to grow and develop.

This makes as east facing window ideal since it enjoys the bright and gentle morning sun.

The plant can likewise tolerate low light. But the issue here is that it will grow slower, produce fewer leaves and smaller ones at that.

With proper care, you’ll still get an impressive plant. But it won’t be as awesome as the one that gets lots of light.

The caveat with low light is that if light gets insufficient.

This is when things become a problem. That’s because dim or dark locations will cause the plants growth to slow or even get stunted. You won’t see it produce many leaves. And the leaves will be small too.

Therefore, be careful with light that is too low.

A simple test I like to do to avoid his is to place a newspaper or magazine on the spot I plan on putting the plant. If you can read the text content of the publication there without turning on the lights or a lamp, there is sufficient light for the Philodendron Lynamii to grow.

Another option is to use artificial lighting. Grow lights or fluorescent lights work well too. You can use them as a supplement or on their own to keep the plant happy and healthy.

Finally, there’s strong light.

This you want to avoid. Direct sunlight during mid-day (10:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm.) and summer are no-no’s.

Thus, avoid putting the plant in the direct path of the sun’s rays during this time.

As a result, if you want to put the plant in the west or south, be wary of where the sun’s rays hit during mid-day. Keep the plant away from those.

You can likewise keep it about 3 feet or farther away from the window. This will still give it lots of light without the risk of the intense rays of the sun.

If too much strong light exposure hits the plant’s leaves, they will turn pale or yellow. In extreme cases, they will burn and turn brown.

These are irreversible so you won’t have any choice but to prune the affected foliage.

Temperature

The Philodendron Lynamii prefers warm weather that is consistent. Ideally, keep it in temperature that’s between 60 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where it is most comfortable and will grow optimally.

That’s because the plant comes from the tropics, more specifically Peru in South America.

There, it lives in the rainforest under the large trees and plants. Thus, it does get shade from the sun’s rays, so it does well in moderate to warm environments.

That said, it can tolerate temperatures of 90 or 95 degrees Fahrenheit with no problems or harm. However, try to avoid leaving it in very hot locations as it can get dehydrated faster unless you water regularly.

The thing you want to watch out for is the cold.

Since the Philodendron Lynamii comes from the tropical regions of South America, it does not see winters. Instead, it is sunny, warm to hot all year round.

This is why the plant is not cold hardy. And you want to avoid leaving it in temperatures that is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

In this climate, its growth will slow then get stunted. If it is left there for long periods, it will experience stress and even cold injury. This can lead to dropping leaves or eventually even kill the plant.

As such, avoid leaving it outdoors once winter arrives. Bring in indoors before the temperature drops under 50 degrees and keep it in a warm spot in your home through the winter.

You can take it outside during summertime.

If you happen to live in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11, you can keep the Philodendron Lynamii outdoors in a container or plant it in the ground.

Since the weather stays sunny and warm 365 days year in these areas, it will happily grow. And when kept outside, it will get much bigger than it does indoors.

Humidity

Another aspect of tropical rainforests is high humidity. As such, the Philodendron Lynamii enjoys humidity of 70% to 90% the best.

If you can give it this, it will grow faster and bigger. It will likewise produce more leaves that are larger as well. And its color will be more vibrant too.

However, be careful with too much humidity in your home since it can lead to moisture issues on the structure or even mold.

The good news is that the plant can tolerate 40% humidity without harm. And it can tolerate as low as the mid 30s from my experience with it.

But be careful with lower humidity since it would be such a waste to damage its leaves.

If humidity is too low, you’ll see the Philodendron Lynamii’s leaves turn brown on the tips and margins. These are irreversible so you need to cut the affected parts off which will affect the shape and look of the larger leaves.

Also, the lower the humidity and the longer it is left there, the more leaves will get affected. And larger sections of the leaves will turn brown as well.

So, I don’t like risking the plant’s health and look for that.

Instead, I prefer having a hygrometer on hand to make it easy to tell what the humidity is at any given time. If I notice that humidity is low I’ll help out the more sensitive plants.

You can mist the plant or get a humidifier.

My favorite methos is to use a humidity tray. You can also use a pebble tray which works just the same. This does get tricky as the plant gets bigger.

So, you can just surround it with water containers or features. This will give it enough humidity to stay healthy.

How Often to Water Philodendron Lynamii

Allow the soil to dry between waterings. That’s because while the Philodendron Lynamii enjoys moist soil, it is sensitive to too much water.

It is worth noting that the plant’s large, thick leaves are able to store some water. So, it can tolerate some drought but not as long as succulents or those with succulent-like leaves do.

Thus, it is safer to be on the dry side with this plant.

That’s because too much water can lead to root rot.

Therefore, avoid watering the plant too frequently. Instead, wait for at least the top 2 inches of soil to dry before adding more water.

You can also be more conservative and wait until the top half (50%) of the soil dried before you add water. This is even safer as it allows you to completely avoid any risk of overwatering.

And the plant still has enough moisture.

If you follow the method above, you’ll usually water about once a week give or take a few days.

When the weather gets hot in the summer, the soil will dry faster so you’ll automatically be watering sooner. Often this will be 2 or 3 times a week depending on how hot is gets where you live.

In winter, since the soil will take much longer to dry, your watering schedule will automatically adjust to longer intervals. Usually, you’ll end up watering once every 2 or 3 weeks. Again, depending on how cold it gets where you live.

As such, avoid using a fixed schedule.

Instead, by feeling the soil, you’ll know when to water the plant.

Related

Philodendron Lynamii Potting Soil

Because overwatering and root rot as such a big threat, the best soil for Philodendron Lynamii is loose, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.

The latter will help it grow bigger and faster. Meanwhile loose soil and good drainage will ensure that excess moisture will quickly drain. This way, you avoid waterlogged soil and overwatering.

It also allows for good aeration which allows the roots to breathe properly.

This is why the best soil for the plant is an aroid mix.

This kind of soil is designed for aroids which are plants in the Araceae family. So, you can use the soil for philodendrons, monsteras, anthuriums, peace lilies, alocasia, pothos and more.

Aroid mixes have all the features that the Philodendron Lynamii needs.

And you can pick up a bag in your local nursery or favorite online shop. However, I’ve noticed that not all stores carry them. So, do check.

If you cannot find it, you can use this DIY aroid mix recipe instead. I’ve tried and tested it and it works very well. Just combine:

3 parts orchid bark
1 part sphagnum moss
1 part perlite
1 part activated charcoal

The moss will retain moisture while the bark, perlite and charcoal all provide drainage. The charcoal and bark are likewise chunky to easily allow water to drain and let air reach the roots.

Note that there are many other recipes out this. But this is what works great for me.

The key is to have something that holds moisture to keep the roots hydrated. But have good drainage and aeration as well.

Fertilizer

The Philodendron Lynamii does well with fertilizer. This will supply it with the proper nutrients to get big and produce its huge, impressive leaves.

Make sure you choose a high quality fertilizer with macronutrients and micronutrients. The latter is important since it needs calcium and magnesium to grow healthy and maintain beautiful foliage color.

The good news is that feeding the plant is simple and straightforward.

I like to use a balanced, water soluble fertilizer once every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer. This the plant’s growing season. And it will grow the most during this time.

It will rest during the cold months so you don’t need to feed it during fall and winter.

Don’t forget to dilute the application each time you feed the Philodendron Lynamii. Add water to dilute to 50% the recommended strength for indoor plants in pots. If you grow the plant outdoors in the ground, use the full strength as suggested by the produce label.

Another option is to use a slow-release fertilizer. This will reduce the frequency of application.

And you’ll only need to apply once or twice per growing season.

Pruning

The Philodendron Lynamii is generally a slow growing plant. But it can reach up to 3 to 5 feet outdoors even when kept in a pot. Its leaves are even more impressive as they can reach 2 feet or wider.

Indoors, the plant’s size will be more manageable.

It generally takes about 2-3 years for the Philodendron Lynamii to mature.

Because its stems and leaves make up pretty much the entire plant, there really is no pruning to be done unless the leaves get damaged, turn yellow or brown.

If you see discoloration, old leaves or diseased leaves, make sure to remove them as these leaves will cause the plant to expend energy trying revived them.

Instead, you want it to just focus all its efforts in new foliage and the healthy ones.

How to Propagate Philodendron Lynamii

The Philodendron Lynamii can easily be propagated from stem cuttings. As such, I encourage you to propagate it since this is a beautiful plant. Plus, stem cuttings are free.

Stem propagation is also very easy to do and has a very high success rate.

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

Begin by choosing a healthy stem. You’re looking for a stem cutting that is about 4 to 6 inches long. Make sure it has at least one node and 2-3 leaves on it.
If you have rooting hormone, dip or rub the cut end with rooting hormone. While optional, I’ve found taking a few seconds to do this helps speed up rooting. It also increases propagation success rates.
Next, prepare a pot and fill it with well-draining soil. You can use the potting mix recipe above.
Plant the cutting into the potting mix. Remove any leaves that end up in the soil but leave the others. Also, make sure the nodes are buried in the soil.
Water the soil and keep it moist. Also, place the pot in a well-lit area with no direct sunlight.

In about 4 weeks or so, the cutting will develop enough roots to establish itself in the soil.

From there, take care of it like you would the parent. You can also repot it right then or wait until it gets root bound before doing so.

It will take a couple of months or so for shoots the develop. Then you’ll see leaves start growing shortly after that.

How to Repot or Transplant Philodendron Lynamii

Don’t repot the Philodendron Lynamii unless it is needed. It does not like being moved and can experience repotting stress or shock which will cause it to wilt, stop growing or even drop some leaves.

Thus, it won’t need repotting every 6 or 12 months.

Instead, it only usually requires repotting every 2-3 years. But I prefer listening to what the plant is telling you.

This means repotting only when it gets root bound.

To know when this occurs, check the bottom of the pot. Once you see quite a few roots in the drainage holes peeking out, it is time to repot.

Move the plant to a container that is one size larger (about 2-3 inches bigger). Also, replace the soil with fresh, well-draining potting mix (see above for the recipe).

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

Yes, the plant is toxic when ingested. And it is poisonous to people, cats and dogs. So, keep it away from young kids and pets to avoid any accidental consumption.

In case they do chew or swallow the leaves or parts of the stem, call your pediatrician or veterinarian immediately.

Philodendron Lynamii Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

The Philodendron Lynamii is not overly prone to pests. But it can get them.

Therefore, regular inspection is still needed.

That’s because the most common pests to bug the plant are sap sucking insects like mites, mealybugs, scale and aphids. These will reproduce very rapidly, which increases the risk of infestation fast.

As such, once you spot any bug, immediately treat it.

I like to just spray them off with a garden hose. You can use a shower head as well in the bathtub.

Either way, you need to be through and get rid of them all. It can take 3 to 4 sprayings over the span of a week or two to get them all.

Diseases

Root rot and leaf spot disease are the biggest issues to watch out for.

Root rot affects the roots. And it is caused by overwatering or waterlogged soil. So, avoid watering too often and make sure to use well-draining soil and a pot with holes.

Leaf spot is another issue. It can be caused by bacteria or fungi. And usually occurs with excess moisture in the soil or wet leaves.

As such, try to keep the plant on the dry side to avoid these issues.