Philodendron Esmeraldense is a gorgeous houseplant. It is famous for its unique large size leaves. It looks nice in indoor gardens and office buildings.
Indirect sunrays are recommended for its proper growth. Fast-draining soil with some organic ingredients is best to use.
Fertilize it once a month only in its growing season. Winter is dormancy time and you may see weakness in your plant.
Further details are discussed in below parts:
About Philodendron Esmeraldense
Philodendron Esmeraldense is a foliage plant. Under ideal growing conditions it can grow up to 6 to 9 feet tall.
It is a vining plant so use a moss pole if you want it to grow toward the ceiling.
I am using a bamboo stick to support its structure.
The top surface of its leaves is dark green and the undersides are light purple. It is a fast-growing plant which means it needs lots of nutrients, water, and humidity.
Frequent pruning is required to keep it in shape. It also helps to remove dead parts of the plant and encourage new growth.
Growers often confuse it with Philodendron Caramel Marble. But there is a good difference in the size and shape of leaves.
Light Needs
To grow a healthy and thriving Philodendron Esmeraldense you need to arrange a bright light. It needs filtered light for 6 to 7 hours per day.
Remember that direct sunlight is not recommended for this plant. It is harmful and can burn its leaves.
For better health of your plant, place it near a window. So, that it can get plenty of bright light and good fresh air.
Air circulation keeps the plant fresh and disease free.
Soil for Philodendron Esmeraldense
Consistent moist soil is key to success but this can result in root rot. Root fungus is a deadly fungus.
Your main focus should be on preventing overwatering and keeping the soil moist. For this purpose, you have to use tried and tested ingredients in your potting mix.
Or buy a general-purpose well-draining potting soil.
Perlite and peat moss are the best ingredients for growing and caring philodendrons.
Choose a soil mix that contains peat and perlite.
My soil formula: Peat moss 50% + 20% perlite + 20% vermiculite+ 10% orchid barks.
Do not use normal soil because it is heavy for the philodendron. It also becomes waterlogged after watering.
Watering
Check the soil and water your plant. There is no hard and fast rule on watering plants. Their water needs depend on their growing environment.
In warm weather, philodendrons need more water. Warm weather increases the rate of respiration and this needs extra water.
In hot weather, they need more water than the warm weather.
Whereas in the cold environment due to low respiration, plants need less water. They also stop growing their leaves and stems in cold weather.
This also reduces the need for water.
Therefore, check the soil every time you decide to water your Philodendron Esmeraldense.
If the soil has moisture no need to water it. In case the top few inches of the potting soil are dry immediately give enough water to your plant.
Plant Container
In my experience terracotta or ceramic pots are an excellent choice for Philodendron Esmeraldense. They look stylish and allow fresh air to enter the root zone.
The tiny pores in pot walls also help to keep the plant protected from overwatering.
I know they are heavy and you are not going to lift them every day. These plant pots look very beautiful and stylish.
Temperature
Esmeraldense is a warm climate plant it needs temperatures between 60 degrees F to 85 degrees F. Below 55 degrees F is too cold for its roots and leaves.
To prevent cold damage, move your Philodendron Esmeraldense to a warm place in the winter season.
Place a thick mat under it and cover the pot with a cloth. Do not place it in a direct flow of hot air. Artificial hot air can make its leaves dry and brown.
Humidity
This is an important part of Philodendron Esmeraldense care. Humidity will decide the glossiness of your plant leaves.
Keep it above 45% throughout the year. If you don’t want to see brown crispy leaves on your plant.
Let it enjoy normal home humidity.
I use a hygrometer to measure my grow room humidity. When it drops to 40%, I immediately turn ON my plant humidifier.
It is an amazing device for low-humidity suffering plants.
If you don’t have one you can follow the pebble technique. Place your plant pot over the pebble tray. This is an old-school technique but effective in dealing with low humidity.
Yellow leaves with brown tips and dry soil are the common signs of low humidity. But it is best to use a device to know exactly the drop in relative air moisture.
Fertilizing Philodendron Esmeraldense
In order to grow your Esmeraldense properly. You have to use fertilizer. Because an insufficient supply of nutrients can cause slow growth and small leaves.
Nitrogen is required in high amounts for the proper development of this philodendron. Because nitrogen helps plants to make their green parts shining and glossy.
Choose any normal houseplant fertilizer that is made for foliage plants.
Then read the instructions and dilute the solution in clean filtered water. Fertilize your plant once in 25 days in spring and summer.
To prevent over-fertilization do not use fertilizer more than the recommended times. Overuse will only damage the plant and will not make any difference in its leaf size.
Pruning
Pruning is a must to do to keep your plant healthy and disease-free. In this process, we check the leaves and remove the dead and yellow leaves.
Use sterilized tools to cut the leaves. This will prevent bacterial infections.
You should use garden gloves while working on this plant.
After pruning clean its leaves with a neat cloth. Spray neem oil and you are done with pruning.
Toxicity
It is toxic to pets and humans. The ingestion of its leaves and stems can cause toxicity because the sap of this plant is toxic.
Immediately seek medical help.
Repotting Philodendron Esmeraldense
Root bound is a condition when the plant roots grow in a tight place. They have less space to breathe and spread.
This directly affects the overall health of a plant.
To prevent root bound you have to repot your plant in the new large pot after some time.
Take a 2 inches large and deep pot for repotting Philodendron Esmeraldense. Before repotting you can check for the repotting signs like visible roots over the soil surface.
Or
Roots grow throughout the drainage hole.
Philodendron Esmeraldense Propagation
Stem-cutting propagation is the technique that is best for propagating this philodendron. This technique is equally effective for Philodendron Paraiso Verde and Philodendron Birkin.
You can use water or soil as a growing medium. I choose water because you cannot see what is going on underneath the potting soil.
First of all, choose a healthy stem with healthy leaves. Cut a 5 to 6 inches long stem. Make a clean cut just below the node.
Take a glass of water and apply the rooting hormone on the edge of the stem cutting.
Dip the cutting in the glass and make sure the leaves stay above the water level. Store the glass jar in a warm and humid place.
Regularly change the water and transfer the stem cutting to potting soil when you see 1-inch-long new roots.
Troubleshooting
Root Rot
Every extra cup of water in potting soil can leads to root rot. This deadly fungus is extremely dangerous for plants.
For prevention follow the soil check method and then water your plants.
The effective treatment is to cut the infected roots and apply copper-based fungicide to them.
Take a new pot and add fresh soil then plant your treated plant in it. Give some water to add nice moisture and place it back in its place.
Yellow leaves and wet soil indicate the presence of root rot.
Pest Infestation
Pests are enemies of this plant and Aphids and Mealybugs are common. These insects suck the sap of the plant and live their life.
They lay their eggs in the soft tissues of the leaves. As a result, you see dark spots on them.
These pests build their colonies under the large leaves. They multiply their population in a few days.
To catch them on time you should inspect your plant every time you give water.
Use pest-killing soap to get rid of bugs. To prevent them use neem oil once in 30 days and also keep the plant leaves clean.
Brown Leaves
Brown leaves are triggered by two things one is overuse of fertilizer and too much sunlight. Overuse of fertilizer means giving too many nutrients to a plant in a short period of time.
The leaves will turn red and burn.
Whereas in too bright light the soil also becomes dry with yellow and brown leaves. A few leaves will turn yellow and a few brown.
Conclusion
Philodendron Esmeraldense is not a beginner’s plant. It needs less care and overwatering can kill it. Shaded bright light is sufficient to grow it healthy and disease-free.
Liquid fertilizer is recommended only once in 30 days in the active growing season.
