Philodendron Sharoniae Plant Care Guide

Last Updated on April 13, 2022 by Admin

The Philodendron Sharoniae features very distinct looking leaves that will grown low and wide. The leaves on their own can reach 3 feet long. And the plant can grow to 15 feet high.

What makes the leaves stunning are their shape, size and ridged patterns.

This philodendron plant is native to South America, particularly parts of Ecuador and Colombia.

How do you care for Philodendron Sharoniae? Give this plant bright, indirect sunlight and keep it in a warm, humid location. It enjoys moist soil but is prone to overwatering.

So allow the soil to dry between watering and use well-draining soil. To support its growth, it will need fertilizer during its growing season. The plant is a heavy feeder.

Table of Contents

Philodendron Sharoniae Plant Care

Light Requirements

Bright, indirect light allows the Philodendron Sharoniae to grow optimally and produce beautiful vibrant foliage colors. However, one of its best features is its ability to do well in a wide range of lighting conditions including medium and low light.

However, the one location you want to be wary of is direct sunlight. This is likewise the case with strong, intense sun.

Too much exposure to this will cause its green foliage to turn yellow or get sunburned.

Thus, you want to avoid both situations.

This means it is a good idea to keep it away from a south-facing window (at least without any protection). Similarly, don’t let it get long exposure to the summer sun.

Finally, if you want to keep it outdoors or take it outside during the summer, avoid full sun.

Instead, choose a location with partial shade outdoors.

Indoor, an east facing window is ideal. But you’re not limited to that since you can place it in any of the four directions as long as the sun’s rays never touch the plant.

Temperature

The Philodendron Sharoniae has an ideal temperature of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Just as importantly, avoid temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its preference for this comes from its native habit, the tropical forests of South America.

There, the sun shines all 365 days of the year and the weather is consistently warm. Therefore, this is the find of environment the plant likes most.

Because the tropics don’t experience winter, snow or frost, the plant has low tolerance for cold weather.

More importantly, leaving it in too cold a spot will result in cold damage.

As such, it does best in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11. In these locations, you can grow it outdoors, be it on the ground or in a pot.

Anywhere colder, it is better suited as a houseplant since most homes maintain temperatures that match its preference.

That said, you can still bring the plant outdoors during summer. Just make sure to take it back indoors once the weather starts getting colder.

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Humidity

The Philodendron Sharoniae prefers humidity of 60% to 70%. It will likewise appreciate higher humidity as well.

Luckily, it does not mind humidity that’s between 40% to 50%.

Therefore, try to at least shoot for 40% when growing it as a houseplant.

If you happen to live in areas where humidity consistently is lower than this level, it is a good idea to take some precautionary measures. I also like to keep a hygrometer near my plants so I always know what the humidity is around them.

This lets you make any adjustments if needed.

You can mist the plant or use a humidifier if you find that the air is too dry where you live. Another simple, free, hands-off option is to set up a pebble tray.

Or if you don’t mind having the plant in a more hidden part of the home, move it to the bathroom.

All of these will help increase humidity in various degrees. So you do need to do a little bit of trial and error to see which works best for you.

How Often to Water Philodendron Sharoniae

The Philodendron Sharoniae enjoys soil that consistently stays moist. But be careful not to get it too wet which can lead to many different problems for the plant.

Sufficient water is important for the plant’s growth. It also needs moisture to maintain its large leaves.

That said, the most common problem with houseplant owners is they tend to be too generous with water. Sadly, this can lead to overwatering and eventually plant death.

As such, you want to find that balance between moist soil and getting too wet.

The best way to water the Philodendron Sharoniae is to wait until the top 2 inches of soil dries out. You can also wait until half the soil has dried before adding more water.

Anywhere in between will keep the soil moist and the roots hydrated without the risk of overwatering.

This is very important since watering too often or before the top soil gets dry will lead to wet soil. When this happens, the roots will end up swimming in water.

Because they need a balance between water and air, the excess water will prevent them from being able to breathe. This results in damage and later root rot.

Thus, watch out for yellow leaves as this is a sing that the plant is getting too much water.

On the other hand if you see the plant’s leaves turn brown, this is most likely a sign that the plant is being underwatered.

In either case, make sure to adjust your watering routine to prevent problems arising from too much or too little moisture.

Philodendron Sharoniae Potting Soil

The Philodendron Sharoniae needs rich, well-draining potting soil that is light and loose. Avoid using garden soil or regular potting soil since these will either be hold too little or too much moisture for the plant’s liking.

Instead, you’re looking for soil that stays moist but has good drainage.

This gives the plant what it needs and wants when it comes to watering.

Choosing the right kind of soil for your Philodendron Sharoniae is very important because it plays a huge role in either holding onto or draining the water your pour into it.

This means that if you use soil that is too heavy or retains too much moisture. it will negate you watering schedule efforts. That’s because the soil will hold onto to too much of the water for too long.

So even if you water with perfect frequency, the soil ends up drowning the roots with waterlogged soil.

Thus, I suggest going with an Aroid mix if you want to get something that’s out-of-the-box and you can purchase from nurseries or online plant shops.

You can likewise create your own DIY potting mix for Philodendron Sharoniae. This is simple and you’re able to modify it later on if you wish.

Here’s a blend that works really well for me.

30% potting soil
40% bark
20% peat
10% perlite

Then for good measure add some activated charcoal.

This combination will retain enough moisture for the roots (thanks to the potting soil). The other ingredients will make it drain excess water fast while keeping the mixture well-aerated.

Fertilizer

The Philodendron Sharoniae is a fast grower which is why it is a heavy feeder. Thus, giving it sufficient fertilizer it important for its leaves to get bigger and maintain their luster.

Since it is a foliage plant, make sure it gets enough nitrogen. This will promote vegetative growth allowing it to flourish.

As such, unlike many other houseplants, it is not a good idea to let your Philodendron Sharoniae go without nutrient supplementations.

Some plants won’t have any problems with that. But this is not case for this one.

Instead, apply a balanced houseplant fertilizer once every 2-4 weeks during its growing seasons. Don’t forget to dilute it to half strength as you don’t want to use too much concentration.

Excess fertilizer application or concentration can damage the roots. So I suggest starting by applying once a month then see how it responds.

if it does well and seem to want to grow even faster, you can up the application to once bi-weekly.

Pruning

The Philodendron Sharoniae is a fast-growing plant what can grow up to 15 feet in the wild. Indoors, the biggest I’ve see was about 6 feet. Although this could very well get bigger.

The leaves are likewise very impressive. They can reach 3 feet in length and grow quite broad as well.

Thus, this is a stunning plant that can easily serve as a focus of attention in any home or living room.

Because the leaves make up majority of the size of the plant and there aren’t going to be a ton of the, pruning is not a heavy task.

Although, you may need to prune it if you want to limit its size.

But fore the most part, the plant produces a few leaves (5-10) that get very large in size.

Therefore, trimming is somewhat limited unless you see any foliage that’s brown, yellow, diseased or damaged.

How to Propagate Philodendron Sharoniae

The Philodendron Sharoniae can be propagated through stem cuttings. This is the easiest way to grow more of this plant.

And all you need to do is take a stem and plant it. Eventually, the cutting will grow into a clone of the parent.

Here’s how to propagate Philodendron Sharoniae from stem cuttings

Select a healthy stem with at least one node and one leaf. You’re looking for a segment that is about 3 to 8 inches long.
Cut off the stem just below a node.
Then remove any leaves at the bottom that will likely end up in the soil. However, keep the top leaves intact as they will help with photosynthesis.
Place the cutting into fresh, well-draining soil.
Make sure that you bury the nodes under the soil. This will allow them to root.
Water the soil and place the plant in bright, indirect sunlight.
It will take about 3-4 weeks for the cutting to root and take hold of the soil.

How to Repot or Transplant Philodendron Sharoniae

The best time to repot the Philodendron Sharoniae is during spring to early summer. But you don’t need to do this annually.

Instead, it takes around 2 years or so before the plant needs repotting.

As always take this as a guide rather than a strict role.

That’s because the although the plant is a fast grower, its growth rate ultimately depends on its living conditions and care.

More light means faster growth. Similarly, more humidity, fertilizer and the right kind of soil and amount of water also factor in.

Thus, each plant will grow at its own rate depending on where it lives and who is taking care of it.

Therefore, I prefer to gauge when to repot the plant by looking at the bottom of the pot. If you see roots coming out from the drainage holes, it means it is time to repot.

You don’t need to transfer it any time before then.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

Yes, the Philodendron Sharoniae should not be ingested because it becomes toxic to humans and pets in this way.

On the other hand, there’s no risk of touching it unless the outer layer has been broken and there is sap. When you come into contact with the sap, make sure not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Instead, wash your hands first.

Philodendron Sharoniae Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

Mealybugs, spider mites and aphids are among the most common pests that will come and feed on the Philodendron Sharoniae.

These are problematic as they not only grow in number but also take the sap of your plant. Therefore, this can weaken your plant and cause it to get malnourished and dehydrated.

The best way to prevent pests from coming around is to keep the plant healthy and clean its leaves regularly.

A weak, or stressed plant will be more susceptible to pest attacks.

Similarly, dust attracts these insects.

In case you do find any bugs on the Philodendron Sharoniae, it is important to isolate the plant and begin treatment immediately.

Use neem oil or insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests.

Diseases

When it comes to disease, there are 3 common ones to look out for. These are root rot, bacterial blight and bacterial leaf spot.

However, you always want to look out for any abnormalities in its leaves.

Spots, discoloration, lines, deformations or patches can be signs of bacterial or fungal diseases. Therefore, it is important to take action when you notice any of these.