Growing Philodendron Splendid (Philodendron Verrucosum x Melanochrysum)

Last Updated on January 23, 2023 by Admin

The Philodendron Splendid is also called the Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum.

The former is no doubt easier to say and remember that its scientific name. But you may want to remember the latter as well when buying the plant.

Like many pretty philodendron plants, you’ll want to scout around and research before you buy.

It is one of the rarer ones.

So, you won’t see all or many stores, even those online, carrying it. And it they do, it may be out of stock or priced at a few hundred dollars.

Needless to say you want to canvas and find the the most ‘affordable’ expensive price you can. But make sure not to sacrifice quality and watch out for scams, which tends to happen a lot for the rare and expensive philodendrons and monstera plants.

Once you have the plant, you can propagate this beauty so you don’t have to worry about finding more.

Alternatively, you can get one from some growers or if you have friends who like to give some of their plants away. But, it is harder to find these growers.

Appearance

One of the biggest selling points of this houseplant is its looks. It is a member of the Araceae family.

And, like other philodendrons, it features stunning heart-shaped leaves.

In this case, you have large foliage that have beautiful veins running from the midrib arching out to the edges.

But, unlike others, it is a hybrid as you can already probably tell from its name.

It is originally from the rainforests of Ecuador which is why you’ll see below that it has many tropical characteristics.

Philodendron Splendid Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Philodendron Splendid grows best with bright, indirect light. That’s because in their native environment these plants live in under the trees and larges plants in the rainforest.

As such, they receive more of dappled light as opposed to direct light.

Due to this, they cannot tolerate long periods of direct sunshine. They also have a problem with very intense rays. Both of which can burn its leaves, which are its crown jewels.

As such, it is a good idea to position them so they receive dappled, filtered or indirect sun.

This means the best spot for them is in the north or north east facing window. You can likewise keep them in an eastern exposure.

These spots will give it ample sun without risking sunburn.

In contrast, if your only well-lit windows are facing the south or west, make sure to use some kind of blinds or drapes to block some of the light. Or, move then away from the window so they don’t get hit by sun’s rays.

The Splendid won’t have a problem with slightly less light. Thus, you can place it 3 or even 7 feet from a bright window in the south or west.

If you happen to live in an apartment with no windows, consider grow lights. But, keep the bulbs far enough to keep them from burning the leaves as well (4 to 6 inches above).

Temperature

Because it originates from Ecuador, the Philodendron Splendid is accustomed to tropical conditions. This makes it perfect for household and other indoor spaces which tend to feature the same climate conditions.

That’s because we humans enjoy the same kind of moderate temperature.

To give you an ideas, the plant does best when temperature is steady between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This will be in the lower end during the evenings and early mornings and towards the upper part of the range in the afternoons.

It is a good idea to avoid fluctuating temperature. And, keep it away from cold areas like in front of the air conditioner or open windows and doors when breezes can come in.

If you live in US Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, you’ll be able to grow the plant outdoors. The Philodendron Splendid likes warm weather. So, it thrives in places with sun 365 days a year.

On the other hand, it is not frost hardy. Nor can it survived in very cold climates. As such, snowy winters will kill the plant.

Thus, if you live in the northern part of the country and experience quite a bit of frost in winter, it is a good idea to keep the plant in a container so you can bring it indoors during this time.

Most owners just grow them as houseplants to avoid the trouble of moving them every few months.

Humidity

The plant’s humidity preference is likewise dictated by its natural environment. Rainforests are notorious for being humid because they experience frequent short bursts of rain.

This increases the moisture around the air as the rainwater evaporates.

As s a result, your Philodendron Splendid enjoys high humidity. Ideally keeping humidity at 60% or higher produces the best results.

But, the plant will do just as well in average room humidity without any harm.

As long as it doesn’t go below 40%, you’ll be okay.

However, it is a good idea to be aware of how dry your locale is. If you live in the desert or experience very dry summers and winters, then checking the humidity is a good idea.

You can use a digital hygrometer to easily stay on top of this.

If humidity drops, you’ll instantly know and can do something about it.

The easiest ways to improve humidity is either to use a humidifier or a pebble tray. The former gives you more control. It also has the ability to push humidity up by a lot.

Pebble trays require less maintenance. But, they can only do so much so if you’re trying to increase humidity from 30%+ to 60% or 70% that’s not going to happen with this. You’ll need a humidifier.

But pebble trays will push things up a bit without the maintenance hassles of humidifiers.

All you need is a flat, wide tray that’s bigger than the base of the pot. Fill it with water and pebbles that will stay above the water. Then place the pot on top of the pebbles so it does not get wet.

As the water evaporates, the vapor increases humidity around the plant.

Again, this is limited because it only covers the area around the plant. if you have many plants or want to increase humidity for an entire room a humidifier of the right size works best.

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Watering Philodendron Splendid

The Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum enjoys moist soil. As such, you do need to water it every so often.

Like other houseplants, don’t water overhead and wet the entire plant. This is a recipe for foliage disease.

Instead, water directly onto the soil.

But, make sure that you don’t overdo it. Your Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum will experience problems if you overwater or let the soil stay muddy and soggy.

Instead, allow the soil to dry on the top 1 to 2 inches before watering again. Before you water, always test by sticking your finger into the topsoil to 1 to 2 inches deep.

If that area feels dry, you can water. If not, wait until the top 1 to 2 inches feels dry before you do.

This will eliminate the risk of overwatering.

Using this method, it won’t matter if it is summer or winter as you’re going by feel. As the weather gets warmer, the soil will naturally dry faster so you’ll feel the top dry up in fewer days.

During winter, the cold will keep the soil from drying up as fast. So, it will naturally take longer before you’ll feel the topsoil dry.

Soil for Philodendron Splendid

In addition to testing the soil each time before you water your plant, the other essential factor to preventing overwatering is using the right kind of potting soil.

For your Philodendron Splendid, you want well-draining soil that’s light and airy. This will allow excess moisture to easily drain so that the pot does not get saturated.

Additionally, the light nature of the potting mix will allow air to flow through just as easily. The balance between air and water, both of which the plant needs, allows its roots to stay healthy.

In contrast, using heavy soil or one that retains too much moisture puts it at risk of root rot. This destroys the root tips which eventually causes the plant to die because it cannot absorb nutrients or water anymore as the root tips don’t function properly.

The easiest way to do this is to use sphagnum peat moss. You can use 100% of this as your potting soil.

You can likewise use soilless mixes of peat and perlite or peat and vermiculite. Both of which work just as well.

Fertilizer

In addition to soil that’s rich in organic matter, it is also a good idea to use fertilizer for your Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum. This will allow it to grow optimally.

With plant food, you want something with high nitrogen. That’s because philodendrons are foliage plants. And, nitrogen helps this aspect of plant growth (vegetation).

You only need to feed it once a month during the warm months. Once it gets cooler in the fall, you can stop and not feed it through the winter.

Like all houseplants, be careful not to overfertilize.

Pruning

Philodendron Splendid grow to about 4 to 6 feet tall. Thus, they are floor plants and fast growers.

But, they don’t require a lot of pruning.

That said, do give it enough room because it does have large leaves. It would be a shame it people keep brushing up against the leaves and eventually damage them.

That said, do trim off any discoloration, damage or diseased areas including parts of the leaves. You can resection them if only a small part of the leave is affected.

Philodendron Splendid Propagation

The easiest way to propagate Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum at home is via stem cuttings.

This is a quick way to grow a new plant that is a clone of your existing one. Thus, you get all the features of the current one. And, you already know how to care for it.

Here’s how to propagate Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum via stem cuttings.

Start by picking a healthy stem that’s at least 4 to 6 inches long. You want something with at least 1 to 2 leaf nodes.
Make sure the sterilize your cutting tool before using it. You can use rubbing alcohol for this. Doing so will prevent passing any infection or contaminants. You also want to use sharp shears to make clean cuts not a dull knife or pair of scissors.
After you cut the stem, allow the cut end to callous. You’ll see sap come out after you make the cut. Fortunately, while the plant is toxic, the sap is not a skin irritant.
Place the stem cutting into a glass of water. You can propagate it in water this way. Or, you can go straight to a pot with soil. The latter takes longer. And, doesn’t produce as high success rates.
Replace the water in the glass every so often before it gets dirty.
After 15 to 21 days, you’ll see roots grow out of the cut end of the stem.
Once the roots are about half an inch or more you can move it to a pot. You can wait longer if you wish.
Make sure to use light, well-draining potting mix when planting the cutting in soil.
If the cutting is not able to stand upright on its own, use a skewer or small stick to support it.
Water the soil and keep it moist once the top layer dries. But be careful not to overwater it.
Place the pot in a bright place that does not get direct sunlight.
After a few months, you should see shoots begin to grow.

How to Repot Philodendron Splendid

Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum are fast growing plants. As such, repotting will be needed every 1 to 2 years.

But, you don’t need to time it. Instead, just take a look at the plant’s root ball and the bottom of the pot every time you water.

Once you see roots start to come out from the drainage holes, it is a sign that the plant is looking for more space.

When repotting avoid the temptation of jumping to a much bigger container. Instead go up gradually (1 to 2 inches). This is more tedious as it means sooner repotting.

But, it also keeps our plants healthy.

Too much space, where the soil is disproportionally much more than the size of the roots increases the risk of root rot ad the soil stays wet longer. Too much space is just like having too little as far as plants go.

That’s because both circumstances cause stress.

When stressed plants become susceptible to pests and diseases.

Toxicity

Keep your Philodendron Splendid away from young children and pets. It is toxic.

Although it has a low poison severity to humans and animals, ingesting a large amount can cause vomiting, swelling and pain.

This is due to the calcium oxalate crystals.

Pests

Proper care and giving it the requirements listed above is the best way to keep your Philodendron Splendid healthy.

That said, pests can still be a problem. And, while no growers ever wants to see them, you’re likely to experience some kind of pest during your gardening career.

In addition the proper care, the other best way to prevent pests from coming around is keeping the plant clean. This is especially true for plants with large leaves.

Regular inspection is likewise a good idea.

When you see any sign of them or the damage they cause, immediate treatment prevents it from spreading.

With Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum, aphids, mealybugs and spider mites are common problems.

You can use neem oil which works great for getting rid of these pests. Plus, it is very natural and very affordable. You can also use them to get rid of other insects at home if you have extra.

Diseases

Diseases, unlike pests are a bit more preventable. While not all can always be prevented, the biggest cause of plant disease is too much water. After that, it is underwatering or allowing the plant to dry for overly long periods of time.

Both put the plant in stressful situations which makes it more susceptible as well.

But, for the most part, too much water prevents oxygen to get through the creases in the soil to the roots.

With the leaves, watering when there is no sunlight or enough air circulation to help the moisture dry is a common problem.

Thus, don’t wet the leaves when you water unless, you’re giving it a shower during the heat of summer to cool it off. If that’s the case, allow to dry by placing it is a sunny area with good air flow after.

But, when watering, pour into the soil not on top of the plant.

It is likewise a good idea to water in the morning or at the latest early to mid afternoon. Once you get past 4:00 pm, and there’s less sun, you run the risk of the moisture not drying fast enough.

Closing Words

The Philodendron Splendid is a highly sought-after plant because of its huge, stunning foliage. These are unique even among philodendrons.

Best of all the plant is easy to care for and you can propagate it at home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a philodendron splendid?

The Philodendron Splendid is a rare aroid that has large, green, heart-shaped leaves that are deeply veined. The plant is a cross between the Philodendron verrucosum and Philodendron melanochrysum. It is native to the tropical rainforests of Ecuador but adapts well to average home conditions.

Is Philodendron splendid rare?

The Philodendron Splendid is rare and a very sought after plant because of its large, unique-looking heart-shaped foliage. The plant thrives in plenty of light and should not be overwatered.

Is Philodendron Splendid a climber?

The Philodendron Splendid is a climber. Giving the plant a support like a pole to climb on will help it get bigger and produce larger leaves. This will make the Philodendron Splendid more attractive. It likes to climb as this is how it grows in its natural habitat, the tropical rainforest.

How big does Philodendron Splendid get?

The Philodendron Splendid grows to between 4 to 6 feet tall when grown indoors. Outdoors, the plant can reach over 12 feet high as it gets more sunlight as well as nutrients and water from the soil. The larger the plant gets, the bigger its leaves become. Make sure to give it enough space to grow.

Is philodendron splendid a hybrid?

Philodendron Splendid is a hybrid featuring large, veined, green heart-shaped leaves. The plant inherits these features from its parents. The Philodendron Splendid is a cross between the Philodendron Verrucosum and Philodendron Melanochrysum.

How do I make my philodendron splendid leaves bigger?

To make your Philodendron Splendid leaves bigger, it needs a sufficient pot to allow its root system to get established. This allows the plant to absorb more nutrients and water from the soil. Philodendron Splendid grow best in bright, indirect light. It needs proper watering as well. Feeding it with a water-soluble fertilizer during its growing season will help its leaves get bigger as well.

How do you propagate a splendid plant?

The simplest way to propagate a Philodendron Splendid is via stem cuttings. Select a healthy stem with at least 1-2 leaves. Then cut this stem below a leaf node. You can grow the stem cutting in water or directly plant it in soil. In a few weeks, the stem cutting will begin rooting and grow to a new plant.