Family: Araceae
Common name: Heartleaf philodendron, Sweetheart plant, Parlor ivy, Vilevine, Philodendron
Heartleaf philodendron is one of the most popular garden plants adored for their heart-shaped leaves and easy-to-maintain nature. These plants can grow and thrive indoors as well as outdoors provided there is good sunlight and moisture.
Plant characteristics
Heartleaf philodendron plants can grow to a height of 2-3 meters if their long stems can find a foothold to climb upwards. These plants are epiphytes growing on tree trunks or logs in their natural environments, and hence need supporting structures to cling to.
The thin, fleshy aerial roots not only help the plant to cling to or climb on surfaces; they also absorb moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere.
The stem is long, green, and flexible with a tendency to climb or trail, and sturdy enough to support the heavy leaves. If grown near fences, trellises, or supporting structures like moss sticks, the stems can climb rapidly upwards using small epiphytic roots to cling on the surfaces.
Leaves of the Heartleaf philodendron are green, glossy, and beautifully heart-shaped, the primary reason for their popularity among gardeners. These leaves are 10-15 cm long and mostly green, but there are cultivars with white and yellow variegations as well. They are smooth and leathery to touch, with clean, straight margins.
Heartleaf philodendron plants are capable for producing flowers that have the spadix and spathe structure, typical of plants in the Araceae family like Anthuriums or Peace lilies.
The Spadix is a long, rod-like structure that contains the flowers, and is surrounded by the Spathe, which is a modified leaf to protect the flowers.
These Spathes are colorful and showy in Anthuriums, but are inconspicuous green or white in Philodendrons.
In these plants, the Spadix is usually 8-10 cm long and the Spathe is 12-15 cm long. These flowers usually do not attract many pollinators. Fruit production is very rare in house plants, and hence they are propagated through vegetative methods.
One of the beautiful variants, Philodendron Lemon Lime is a favorite among gardeners for its phosphorescent lemon green leaves.
Gardening tips
Heartleaf philodendron plants need indirect or filtered sunlight, as harsh sunlight can burn the edges of the leaves. Too much shade can make the plants long and leggy. Partial or filtered sunlight underneath larger trees or pergolas can be ideal for these plants.
They need regular watering especially during summer months, since the aerial roots need moisture to prevent them from drying out.
Placing the plant pots in a tray filled with pebbles can ensure adequate humidity for these moisture lovers. Overwatering can lead to stem rot since the stems are tender and succulent.
These plants are not heavy feeders, so fertilize once in 4-5 months with a light, water-soluble fertilizer. Pruning is needed only to remove any wayward or diseased branches.
Cultivars like Brasil with a yellow variegated line in the center of the leaves, Gabby with variegated light green and cream leaves, Lemon lime with bright phosphorescent yellow leaves, and Silver stripe with a bright silver stripe are all popular among gardeners.
These plants are also closely related to Philodendron erubescens or Blushing philodendron, and Philodendron mia or Green Princess philodendron. In fact, Philodendron is a very large genus with over 130 species in it.
Uses of Heartleaf Philodendron
Heartleaf Philodendron plants are mostly grown as ornamental plants near fences, trellises, or moss sticks, though they can also be grown in hanging baskets, their trailing stems flowing gracefully from the sides of the pots. These plants can be grown indoors very successfully near sunny windows.
Their leaves have some toxicity and hence it is advisable to keep them away from pets and small children. Philodendron plants have air-purifying properties helping to remove toxins like formaldehyde from the air, making them excellent indoor plants.
These fast-growing plants are easy to care for, since they do not require too much fertilization or attention. They can fill pots very quickly with their mass of roots, and so they should be repotted once every 3-4 years, depending on the size of the pot.
Propagation
Propagation is through stem cuttings and root division.
A piece of stem with nodes can root easily in water or in moist soil. Since houseplants do not produce seeds, propagation through stem cuttings is the most effective.
When the plant becomes too big for a pot, it can be removed and the roots gently separated to form multiple new plants.
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala
