If you are looking for foliage plants to decorate your space. Then you must go for this Philodendron Bernardopazii.
This philodendron grows beautiful glossy long leaves. The good news is you can grow this plant in any part of your home.
Because it needs less light than most tropical plants.
Below is the complete information that you need to grow this houseplant indoors. I will also talk about my experience and the best propagation technique.
About Philodendron Bernardopazii
Brazilian tropical jungles are its natural home. There it grows more than 10 feet tall. But this height is not possible when we grow it indoors.
My Philodendron Bernardopazii is 7 feet tall and I am using the best fertilizers for good growth.
It needs some kind of support to climb, you can use a moss pole like me.
Its arrow-shaped leaves grow 12 to 15 inches long and 6 to 12 inches wide. They develop pale yellow veins on the glossy green leaves.
When the plant gets mature, its stems start turning pink (actually light pink).
Inflorescence flowers with spathe and spadix do not look appealing. Cut them and divert your plant energy to growing leaves.
For impressive foliage and faster growth arrange moderate indirect bright light for it. High humidity and constant temperature increase the production of leaves.
How to Care for Philodendron Bernardopazii?
Follow the below advice to grow a healthy and thriving Philodendron Bernardopazii plant. Keep in mind that it is hard to find in garden stores.
P. Bernardopazii is an expensive houseplant.
Light Needs
As compared to other plants in his family. P. Bernardopazii needs a moderate amount of indirect bright light.
Do not place it in direct sunshine. Its leaves cannot tolerate sun rays for a long time. They will get burned and turn into crispy leaves.
The best place will be a sunny window. Where it can get some morning sunshine for a few hours. Then for the rest of the day, bright indirect light is enough.
Glossy green leaves are able to make a good amount of plant food in moderate light.
If you want to grow it in a dark place, buy a grow light for it. An inexpensive LED grow light will be the best choice.
Choose between 150 to 250 watts for particularly this plant. Install it 20 inches above the plant.
Watering Philodendron Bernardopazii
In the warm season, I water my plant twice a week. Because in the active growing season, philodendrons start growing their leaves and stems.
For growth, they need lots of food. And to make lots of food you need to supply lots of water to your plant.
To prevent overwatering, you should check the soil every time you water your plants.
Insert your finger 2 inches deep in the potting soil for a moisture check.
If there is a good amount of moisture in the soil stop watering your plant. If the top layers of potting soil are dry.
Then give clean water to your plant.
Filtered water does not contain harmful bacteria and unwanted substances. It is safe for watering houseplants that grow in containers.
Potting Soil for Philodendron Bernardopazii
Because it grows more than 5 feet tall you need to use little heavy soil. In short, soil that can hold the weight and structure of your plant.
It must be fast draining and fertile.
I use potting soil 50%, perlite 20%, compost 20%, and orchid bark 10%.
Potting soil adds enough weight to soil and perlite holds a good amount of moisture. It does not make the soil wet and always holds some amount of water for plant roots.
Compost adds organic nitrogen but it is not enough for Bernardopazii. You have to use nutrient supplements.
Orchid barks make soil fluffy and airy.
Good aeration is a must to prevent fungal diseases.
Ideal Temperature
The normal home temperature is good for Philodendron Bernardopazii care. Use a temperature monitor to measure your grow room temperature.
If it is between 55 to 85 degrees F you are good.
In low temperatures, place a warm mat under the pot. Or shift your plant to the warm room but not in front of heat vents.
The artificial hot air turns the leaves brown and crispy.
Whereas cold winds push it into dormancy. Frequent changes in temperature affect negatively. The roots go into shock and stop absorbing enough moisture and nutrients.
Humidity
Generally, it needs high humidity above 70%. This is too much to maintain for 365 days.
Bernardopazii is an adaptive plant means it can survive in normal home humidity. It must always stay above 45%.
Measure the grow room humidity and follow the below steps to increase it.
Pebble tray:
Take a pebble tray and fill it with tap water. Place the Bernardopazii container over it. This way you can give a nice humidity boost to your lovely plant.
Keep eye on the tray water and refill it when it gets empty.
Misting Water:
If the humidity is 4% to 5% low means it is between 40 % to 45%. Use a spray bottle to mist water on its leaves.
Do not let the leaves wet for more than 24 hours. Take a paper towel and dry them.
You have to repeat this process and I know this is time-consuming and not a perfect solution.
Plant Humidifier:
Go to Amazon and search for portable plant humidifiers. It is a one-time investment and an inexpensive device.
You can use it for all types of plants. Shift all your indoor plants to a single room and turn it ON.
Pruning
Frequent pruning is not required but you have to trim it once in a year. In my experience spring is the perfect time for pruning philodendrons.
Because in summer they can re-grow their new parts.
Use sterilized shears to cut the dead and yellow parts of your plant.
After pruning uses a soft cloth to clean its leaves. Cleanliness encourages plants to grow healthily.
Toxicity
This plant is toxic to humans and animals. To prevent its toxicity, grow it away from the reach of your children and pets.
Ingestion of its leaves and stems results in toxicity.
Wear garden gloves for working on your plant.
Sore throat, vomiting, excessive drooling, stomach pain, and skin irritation are common signs of toxicity. Call the doctor for help.
Fertilizing Philodendron Bernardopazii
It comes under the category of large houseplants. Large plants more than 3 feet tall need lots of nutrients to grow.
Use general-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Dilute the solution in clean water and pour it onto the soil.
Do not use powdered fertilizers they are a bit slow.
Use nutrient supplements only in spring and summer. Once in 20 days is enough if you are using 10-10-10.
20-20-20 or above concentration is good to use once in 30 days.
To prevent fertilizer burn, properly dilute the nutrient solution in water. Do not exceed the amount of fertilizer mentioned on the bottle.
Repotting Philodendron Bernardopazii
Repot it once a year for its good health and tall size. Use a fresh bag of soil in repotting. Over time potting soil loses all its nutritional value.
Adding fertilizers doesn’t make any difference.
For repotting:
- Choose a 2 inches wider and deep pot than the current pot. There must be 2 inches of space between the plant roots and the container.
- Unpot your plant and check its roots, cut the damaged roots with a sterilized knife.
- Add fresh soil to a new pot and place your philodendron in it.
- Add some water and place it back in its location.
- Throw the old potting soil or mix it in your outdoor garden.
- Wash the old pot with soap and use it to grow a new plant or store it for future use.
Philodendron Bernardopazii Propagation
You can propagate Bernardopazii by rooting its stem in water or sphagnum moss. This method has more success rate than others.
Below is the complete process of propagation:
- Use sharp shears and cut a 5- to 6-inch-long stem. Make sure the stem has 2 nodes on it. Make a cut 1 inch under the last leaf node.
- Dip it in a liquid rooting hormone.
- Take a glass of water and dip stem cutting in it. Make sure the leaves stay above the water.
- Place the glass jar in a warm location in moderately bright light.
- Keep it protected from direct sunlight.
- To prevent fungus build-up, cover the bottom of the glass with newspaper.
- Regularly change the water of the glass.
- Within a few days, you will see 1-inch-long new roots.
- Shift the plant into potting soil and container.
Troubleshooting
Pest Attacks
Sap-sucking pests like aphids and spider mites are common on this plant. They only attack unhygienic houseplants.
To prevent his problem, keep your plant pot and its surroundings clean. Prune the dead parts on time.
Use sterilized potting soil and garden tools.
Use neem oil spray once in 20 days for pest protection. If still your plant gets infected then use rubbing alcohol to kill the pests.
Or
Use insect-killing soap to get rid of ugly pests. Keep the plant separate for 10 days.
Cracked Leaves
The high amount of moisture in the potting soil and sharp light results in cracked leaves. Measure the light energy with a light meter and find out the cause.
If your light meter shows more than 250 FC. This confirms that light is the real issue behind cracked leaves.
Move your plant to a less bright place and your plant will heal its leaves.
But if its leaves are cracked and brown from the tips then you have to trim them.
Yellow Leaves
Waterlogged soil results in yellow leaves of P. Bernardopazii. When roots sit in too much moisture for a long time.
The warm weather and high humidity give birth to root fungus.
This fungus starts eating roots and your plant becomes weak. Yellow leaves are the early warning sign of root rot.
For treatment unpot your plant, cut the damaged roots and plant it in the new pot and new soil. For prevention follow the soil method of watering philodendrons.
Brown Leaf Tips
Lack of water causes brown leaf tips. When leaves lose their stored moisture, their tips turn crispy brown.
Whenever you see brown tips of leaves, immediately check the soil moisture.
If it is dry then give clean water to your plant.
Place it in a water tub for 10 minutes, then take it out and let it drain extra water.
Dark Spots on Leaves
Dark black spots on its green leaves mean your plant leaves are infected by a bacterial disease. Wet leaves and warm weather results in bacterial leaf disease.
To heal your plant spray copper-based fungicide on its leaves.
To prevent this disease, wipe your plant’s leaves with a soft cloth after misting water on them.
Conclusion
Philodendron Bernardopazii is a good plant for home decoration. Moderate bright light is enough with moderate water.
Propagate it with stem cutting technique and repot it once a year.
Liquid fertilizer helps to keep it thriving.
