How to Care for Philodendron Sujitha at Home

Last Updated on June 9, 2022 by Admin

The Philodendron Sujitha is a lovely hybrid that’s often confused with the Philodendron Xanadu because of how similar they look.

It is a beautiful plant that does not get as much attention though as the Xanadu.

But this upright growing philodendron features beautiful wavy, green leaves on thin, long stems.

It is a compact, non-climber which makes it different from many other philodendron varieties.

Because it is easy to care for, this is a great exotic looking plant that’s perfect for beginners.

How do you care for the Philodendron Sujitha? Keep the plant in bright, indirect light indoors and partial shade outdoors. Avoid strong, intense direct sunlight which can burn its leaves.

Warm weather is ideal along with high humidity. Avoid the cold as it is not winter hardy. Also, allow the soil to dry between waterings. It is susceptible to overwatering and root rot.

Table of Contents

Philodendron Sujitha Plant Care

Light Requirements

The Philodendron Sujitha grows best with good lighting. Like other philodendron varieties, it grows in the forest under the canopy of the huge trees.

Therefore, it thrives in medium to bright indirect light indoors.

Outdoors, it does best in partial sun or partial shade.

Note that while the plant enjoys staying in a well-lit location, it is not able to tolerate very strong, harsh or intense light.

This means you want to keep it away from direct sunlight especially during the hottest times of the day (mid-day).

Similarly, avoid the direct rays of the sun during summer.

The Philodendron Sujitha can tolerate about 2-3 hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis. But its leaves will experience damage if you leave it for longer than that.

Its beautiful green foliage will turn yellow. You may also see some spots appear on the leaves. And in excess exposure, they will get scorched leaving you with black or brown burn marks.

Sadly, when these changes happen, they are permanent. And the leaves cannot turn green again.

So, your only option is to remove the damaged leaves and allow the plant to produce new ones.

Of course, it is crucial that you move the plant to a less bright location.

Otherwise, the new leaves will suffer the same fate.

On the other hand, the Philodendron Sujitha can likewise tolerate low light. As in direct sunlight, the plant itself will survive. But its leaves will bear the brunt of the consequences.

When there is too little light, the plant will become leggy.

Its growth will slow. And it will produce fewer leaves. Additionally, the leaves will likewise be smaller.

Thus, try to keep the plant in good lighting without direct sun.

Temperature

The Philodendron Sujitha prefers temperatures to stay between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

As with many other philodendron plants, it is native to the tropics.

So, it favors warm weather over the cold.

This is why it is a great fit for homes because most indoor environments are kept around 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why?

We humans like this temperature and feel most comfortable in and around this range.

As such, this makes the plant easy to grow indoors in terms of temperature.

That said, you still need to watch out for any potential cold areas in your home as well as sudden and significant temperature fluctuations.

These are two things that can cause temperature stress or shock to the plant.

Air conditioners, cold drafts and sudden drops in nighttime temperatures are all things to watch out for indoors.

Outdoors, it is mostly the weather.

The Philodendron Sujitha loves the weather in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 12. It is “winter” hardy in these locations.

I put winter in quotes because these locations technically don’t have winters. They stay relatively sunny and moderate (maybe a little cool) during the latter part of the year.

But there is no snow, frost or freezing temperatures there.

As such, the Philodendron Sujitha can live outdoors all year round in these areas.

However, the same is not true if you have four seasons where you live.

In these areas, the plant is better off indoors as a houseplant. It can still enjoy outdoor vacations during the warmer times of the year between the middle of spring to the middle of autumn.

But make sure to bring it back indoors once things get colder.

The plant has a hard time with temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity

The Philodendron Sujitha will grow best in humidity of 60% to 75%. If you can maintain this, it will grow faster, bigger and produce more lush leaves.

However, it likewise will tolerate humidity of 40% and higher.

And from experience, it will withstand humidity that’s slightly below 40% as well without any harm or issues.

This makes is much easier to grow indoors, at least for most homes.

You can use a hygrometer to gauge what the humidity is in different rooms in your home. These will vary depending on how moist or dry that location is.

For example, bathrooms and kitchens will usually have much higher humidity since we regularly use water there.

Similarly, note that the change in the weather also affects humidity.

Winters are known for bringing very dry air. Similarly, very hot dry summers will cause humidity drops.

There are appliances as well that do this. Most notable are air conditioners and heaters.

Therefore, try to make sure that you’re aware of these things and make contingencies for the plant.

In general, as long as the plant is growing well and the leaves look healthy, it means the Philodendron Sujitha is adapting well to humidity.

However, if you see the leaf margins and tips turn dry, crispy or brown, it means that the plant need more humidity.

How Often to Water Philodendron Sujitha

Watering the Philodendron Sujitha is the one thing you want to pay special attention to.

This is the one aspect that can make your break the plant.

Why?

Because the Philodendron Sujitha likes consistently moist soil. However, it dislikes wet, mucky soil.

In fact, too much water can eventually damage or kill the plant.

This is why being very generous with watering this plant is dangerous.

The reason is that it is susceptible to overwatering and also root rot.

The problem here is that many gardeners understand moist soil as keep the surface of the soil wet. So, they end up giving the plant regular watering.

When you water too frequently, the roots will eventually sit in too much water.

Unfortunately, as much as they need water, they also need oxygen. And when there’s lots of excess water filling the air pockets in the soil, oxygen cannot get through.

If this happens often enough or for very long periods, the roots eventually suffocate then die. After which, they will rot.

Dead roots don’t function anymore.

And as long as the water keeps coming, more and more roots die.

Once too many roots have rotted, the few remaining healthy roots won’t be able to support the plant. Therefore, it will deteriorate and weaken since it will lack water and nutrients.

In time, the plant will eventually die.

This is why overwatering is the worst thing any gardener can go to the Philodendron Sujitha.

Too avoid this, allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry between waterings. This will let the soil partially dry first before more moisture comes in.

Philodendron Sujitha Potting Soil

The Philodendron Sujitha does best in well-draining, rich potting soil.

Drainage is very important for the plant because of its susceptibility to overwatering and root rot.

And soil plays a big role in this because it is the medium where the plant lives in.

Therefore, it is important that the plant does not retain too much moisture. Otherwise, even if you water properly with the perfect watering schedule, the soil will just end up holding all the liquid.

When this happens, the roots will still end up swimming in lots of water.

So, never use heavy soils or soils that are dense. Any kind of soil mix that is designed to retain moisture is not ideal for the Philodendron Sujitha.

These will work well for water-loving plants. But it will cause waterlogged soil for this philodendron.

And this will result in overwatering and potentially root rot as well.

For best results, always choose a well-draining soil mix for the plant.

My favorite is an Aroid mix. But you can go without anything with good drainage and aeration. You can likewise make your own potting mix at home with just a few simple ingredients.

1 part potting mix
1 part perlite
1 part orchid bark
½ part horticultural charcoal

This mixture will give you some water holding ability to keep the roots hydrate. Then the perlite, bark and charcoal provide drainage and aeration to keep the roots healthy.

Don’t forget to use a pot with sufficient drainage as well.

Fertilizer

The Philodendron Sujitha will grow best with fertilizer. While you can go without feeding it, the difference will become obvious after a year or so.

The unfertilized plant will not only grow slower but it will be much smaller as well. And you’ll see fewer leaves too.

So, I highly suggest using fertilizer.

Here, you have many different options.

The most common used by most gardeners is balanced liquid fertilizer. This is commercially available which makes it easy to get.

Apply half strength once a month during the plant’s growing season (spring and summer).

Stop around early to mid-fall.

Avoid overfeeding the plant since it can lead to fertilizer burn which damages the roots.

Pruning

The Philodendron Sujitha can grow to about 8 feet high. But indoors and it containers, it will only reach a few feet tall.

In this case, its leaves will grow outward making it look stunning.

You’ll also see it become fairly bushy and full which is when it looks very beatufiul.

Because of how it grows, most of the plant above the soil is primarily its leaves and stems. As such, pruning isn’t really needed unless you want to trim the plant or shape it a certain way.

For the most part, pruning is only necessary if you feel that there are too many leaves or the plant is taking up a bit too much space to the sides indoors.

Of course, don’t forget to remove any dead, discolored, damaged or diseased leaves.

How to Propagate Philodendron Sujitha

Philodendron Sujitha is usually done in in a few ways.

Commercial operations tend to rely on tissue culture. As such, this is how the plants are grow in most shops.

However, if the seller or grower is a home gardener, tissue culture is impractical.

Instead, stem cuttings and division are the most common propagation in this case.

Stem cuttings involves taking healthy stems and growing them into new plants. This works really well for the Philodendron Sujitha because it has a lot of leaves and stems.

Division is a better option if you have a large plant that you want to reduce in size. Here, you don’t have to wait for the new plant to root. Instead, you already have 2 or more smaller plants that will keep growing.

Propagating Philodendron Sujitha from Stem Cuttings

For stem propagation to work, the most important thing is to choose healthy stems. This means stems with at least 1-2 nodes and several leaves on it.

The nodes are crucial since without nodes, the stems will never propagate successfully.

So, make sure to have at least one node for each stem cutting.

The best time to propagate the Philodendron Sujitha is during early spring.

Once you’ve chosen the stem or stems to propagate:

Sterilize a pair of scissors or pruning shears. Then cut the stem just under the node.
Leave the stem cuttings aside for a few hours to let the cut end dry and callous.
In the meantime, prepare a pot and fill it with well-draining soil.
When ready, apply the rooting hormone to the bottom of the stem cuttings. Then plant the cuttings into the soil.
Water the soil and keep it moist. And leave the plant in bright, indirect light

In about 4 or so weeks, new roots will develop. And they will get established into the soil.

You can also propagate the Philodendron Sujitha in water.

Water propagation requires an extra step. But it will let you see the roots develop on a daily basis.

Use a transparent jar and fill it with water. Then place the cuttings in the water. Remove any leaves that end up wet as these will rot if left in the liquid.

In about 3-4 weeks, you’ll see quite a few roots from the cuttings.

Once the roots reach at least 1-2 inches long or more, you can transfer them from water and plant them into a pot with soil mix.

How to Repot or Transplant Philodendron Sujitha

As with all houseplants, repotting will eventually be needed to allow the plant to keep growing.

But the Philodendron Sujitha only needs repotting about once every 2 or years.

The best time to repot is during spring to early summer. But only do so when the plant has become root bound. There’s no other reason to do it outside of emergency situations.

That said, it is a good idea to replace the soil once a year to make sure the potting mix stays fresh. When you do, you can keep the plant in the same pot.

The telltale sign when to repot the plant is once you see rooting poking out from the holes at the bottom of the pot.

This tells you they they’re looking for more space.

As such, move the Philodendron Sujitha to a pot that is one size larger. Choose a container with drainage holes at the bottom as well.

Avoid going much bigger since excess soil will keep the roots wet longer whenever you water a large pot.

Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs

Keep the Philodendron Sujitha away from young children, cats and dogs. It is toxic because it contains calcium oxalate crystals.

These get activated when ingested.

This is why they become toxic when eaten but are safe to touch and work on when their exterior layer stays intact.

Philodendron Sujitha Problems & Troubleshooting

Pests

The Philodendron Sujitha is not a pest magnet. However, it can get attacked by some of the common houseplant pests.

Aphids, spider mites and mealybugs the ones that are most likely to come after this plant.

So, it is a good idea to regular check the leaves, especially underneath, for bugs.

When you do see any insects, immediately get rid of them.

This includes the adults, eggs and their larvae. Leaving any of these behind will allow the cycle to start over again in just a few days.

So, eradicate all of them as much as possible.

Diseases

Overwatering is the most common cause of diseases and other issues with the Philodendron Sujitha.

Root rot is the most serious of these as it can eventually kill the plant.

But in general, keep water in check.

Staying in the dry side is always safer in this case. That’s because watering the soil or wetting the leaves too much both cause problems be it root rot or fungal infections.