The Philodendron imperial is an excellent houseplant. This glossy, green, and lush leafy plant offer just a little bit of Mother Nature’s elegance to your home.
If you would like to get one or already have one in your home, this philodendron imperial green care guide is about to become your best companion.
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What is a Philodendron Imperial Green?
Philodendron imperial green is one of the wide varieties of philodendrons that you can find. It is easy to take care of and looks elegant all year round.
The plant has a straight stature. It does not vine out or droop down. Its large, glossy green leaves fan out into wondrous foliage.
Additionally, it does not need very bright light – therefore, it will do well in a bedroom, bathroom, or taking centre stage in the living room. You can put it in a basket or a neutral-coloured pot, and it will delight anyone fortunate enough to enjoy its presence.
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How to Care for a Philodendron Imperial Green
If you have purchased your first philodendron imperial green, you may be feeling overwhelmed at the thought of keeping it alive and making it thrive.
It should not be as hard as it may seem, though.
The imperial green is a simple plant, demanding only your love and care and not nearly as cumbersome as some other plants.
Here is how to take care of this plant:
1. Temperature Requirements
As long as you keep your plant at steady room temperatures of 18-28 degrees celsius, it will do well. Any colder than that, and you will notice a decline in growth, and if there are extreme rises or drops in temperature, your plant could suffer from damage and shock.
Ensure you keep imperial greens away from doors to prevent them from being hit by draughts that could harm them.
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2. Light Requirements
Imperial greens can tolerate surprisingly low light environments. However, with low light comes slowly no growth and a plant that survives but does not necessarily thrive.
Ideally, you will want to give your imperial green lots of bright, direct light. Direct sunlight will be too harsh, so avoid putting them in the way of any hot sun rays.
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3. Humidity
Philodendrons have their origin in the tropics – so they like a humid environment. About 40 – 60% humidity levels are optimum, but you can keep these plants in drier conditions.
Misting the leaves and pebble trays and keeping a humidifier in your home will help create an ideal humid space.
4. Fertilization
Fertilizing your plant is an excellent way to keep it healthy and growing. But this should only be done during summer and spring since these are the growing seasons.
Using a good indoor plant fertilizer or food every two weeks is ideal for imperial greens – as well as most philodendron varieties.
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5. Soil
When planting and repotting your philodendron imperials, it is critical to make sure you have nutritious soil for your plant to live in.
These plants are like a potting mix that drains well but still manages to retain moisture. A peat-based soil is ideal.
6. Watering Philodendron Imperial Green
Philodendron imperial green likes to stay moist but does not tolerate being overwatered at all. It is better to allow them to dry out a bit before watering again. You should only water your plant when the top 1-2 inches of the soil begins to feel dry.
7. Leaf Care
If you have philodendron imperial green in your house, one of your responsibilities will be to ensure the leaves are clean, shiny, and free of dust. This is for more than visual appeal since dust blocks your plant from soaking up good light, which they need for photosynthesis.
Use a damp cloth and wipe away any dust that has collected on the leaf.
8. Repotting Philodendron Green
Your philodendron imperial green has the capacity to grow quite fast, particularly when placed in the correct environment. But this means that it can quickly outgrow its pot.
Therefore, when you notice the plant starting to get too big for the pot, or if you see roots starting to grow out of the drainage hole, it is time to repot.
You can repot your plant in late winter or early spring, and you can do it every year or so – depending on how speedily your plant is growing.
When choosing a new pot, ensure it is not more than 1 – 2 inches bigger than the old one; otherwise, you will run the risk of overwatering your plant.
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9. Propagation
Philodendron imperial greens are relatively easy to propagate and can be grown from either stem or tip cuttings.
Once you have a good cutting (around 6 inches long), you can put it in soil or water. You should begin to see roots forming in about three weeks.
10. Pruning
These plants are low-maintenance and do not require much more than a good place in your home, sufficient watering, and some loving words as you pass them by.
Therefore, you will not need to worry about pruning the plant unless you find dying or dead leaves. Any leaf that is not looking healthy should be taken off to promote healthier growth in the plant.
Common Challenges to Anticipate
Although these plants are amazingly easy to care for – making the best beginner plants – they do occasionally encounter challenges that can worry any good plant parent.
The good news is that most of these issues are easily fixed, and philodendrons are hardy plants, able to come back from almost anything.
Here are some of the problems you can anticipate:
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1. Drooping Leaves
If your Philodendron imperial green is looking a little sad, there are a few things you can look at. Leaves will begin drooping if the plant is not receiving sufficient water. However, you may also see sagging leaves if it has been overwatered.
Extreme temperature is another cause of drooping leaves. If your plant is in a spot that is too cold, too hot or exposed to extreme winds and drafts, its leaves will droop.
2. Root Rot
This is one of the most common challenges, not just for philodendron imperial greens but for any and all houseplants.
Root rot affects the roots, and it can be very difficult to cure the plant once it has this disease. The best way to prevent your plant from dying from root rot is to prevent it from getting it at all.
Root rot mostly comes from plants growing in very wet soil. In other words, overwatering accounts for most cases of root rot in plant roots.
Therefore, it is critical to ensure that you are checking the soil and only watering when the top part of the soil is already dry.
3. Leaves Turning Yellow
If your Philodendron imperial leaves are turning yellow, it could be a sign of overwatering – which has the potential of turning into the dreaded root rot. This is particularly likely if you notice the bottom leaves turning yellow first.
If you are confident you have been following the correct watering schedule, yellow leaves could also be caused by too much light, particularly if it is in direct sunlight. Also, it is possible that the plant has cold stress or it is simply adjusting to its new environment.
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4. Pests, Insects, and Bugs
Philodendron imperial green houseplants are not a favourite of most pests and bugs, thankfully. However, it is always a good idea to check your plant for mealybugs, spider mites, and scale bugs.
Pests and bugs may cause stress to your plant, and leaves may begin looking distressed.
5. Brown Spots
Brown spots on your Philodendron imperial green leaves could be a sign of incorrect watering. But the catch is that it could either be too little or too much watering. The only way to identify this is by checking how wet the soil is and taking note of your watering schedule.
Other causes of brown spots could be stress caused by low humidity and new or cold environments.
How Tall Does Philodendron Imperial Green Get?
Philodendron Imperial Green is a moderate to fast-growing plant. It typically attains an ultimate height of about 90 to 120cm indoors.
Is Philodendron a good indoor plant?
Philodendron makes good indoor plant since they adapt to various water and lighting conditions and do well indoors. The plants have large, green, dark leaves that allow them to trap even the tiniest of water and light.
What is the Difference Between Philodendron and Pothos?
A pothos leaf extends and unfurls from a current leaf while a philodendron leaf extends on a bit of a vine in a cataphyll, which is a thin, waxy, opaque sheath.
