Philodendron Eva is a plant that grows beautiful long green leaves. It needs minimal care to grow and you can grow it in dark corners.
Just use 250 watts of grow light and grow it anywhere you want.
The main issue with this plant is its delicate leaves. They cannot tolerate sharp light so keep it away from direct sunlight.
To keep its leaves shining green keep the humidity above 45%.
About the Philodendron Eva
Philodendron Eva is a short-height plant. It only grows 1 to 2 feet tall with less than 2 feet in width. Its lime green shining leaves need moderate bright light.
Eva is prone to root rot and to prevent it you have to learn the soil check technique. I use a soil moisture meter to measure the percentage of available moisture in the soil.
Add this outstanding philodendron to your plant collection. It is easily available in garden stores and is not an expensive plant.
If you are a beginner, you should start plant gardening from this plant. It needs minimal care and less maintenance.
Moreover, you can grow it as a tabletop.
To prevent pest problems, keep the plant and its surroundings neat and clean. Water it less frequently to prevent overwatering.
Also, use a plant pot with bottom drainage holes. They allow the extra water to drain out of the pot. This mechanism of pots helps to prevent root rot due to overwatering.
Light Needs
If you want your plant to grow more vibrant leaves. Then you must expose your Philodendron Eva to indirect bright light.
Because Eva needs a good amount of warm light to produce its food. Direct sunlight is too intense for this plant.
Whereas the filtered light is less bright and less sharp. In short shaded light is warm and it goes deep into the leaf cells. Where it is converted into plant glucose.
This glucose is used to grow leaves and stems. This clears that light energy is an important growth factor for this philodendron.
The best place for your plant will be near a sunny window. Where your plant can enjoy morning sunlight for 1 or 2 hours. Then indirect bright light for an entire day.
The light range should in between 250 FC to 380 FC.
Potting Soil
When choosing potting soil for Philodendron Eva. You should look for two important things. One is a fast-draining capability and the second is good airflow in soil.
Because heavy and dense soil holds too much moisture in it. This huge amount of moisture leads to root rot.
So, to prevent root rot and other moisture-related diseases. Use peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and Coco chips in your soil formula.
My soil mix:
50% peat moss + 20% perlite + 15 % vermiculite + 15 % coco chips.
I use this soil formula and you can make your potting mix if you have good knowledge of potting soil ingredients. Otherwise, just go to the nearest garden store and ask for philodendron soil or soil for tropical plants.
Watering Philodendron Eva
Philodendron Eva needs moist soil for its entire lifetime. It dislikes waterlogged soil and dry soil. So, you have to make a good balance of moisture in the potting soil.
This plant cannot stand in dry soil and saturated soil.
To make a good balance of moisture always check the soil conditions before watering.
To do so use a soil moisture meter or poke your finger in the potting mix. If there is enough moisture don’t water.
But in case the top 2 inches of the potting soil is dry. Give sufficient water to your plant.
Which Water is Best to Use:
In my experience filtered water is best for watering Eva Philodendron. Because the tap water in my area contains a high amount of chlorine.
It is added by the water authorities to kill harmful bacteria. But the problem is chlorine is not required by the plants to grow.
It is not a nutrient and when you use such water. The chlorine gets collected at the base of the plant.
This disturbs the root functions and your plant becomes weak and droopy.
Ideal Temperature
The ideal temperature for Eva Philodendron is above 55 degrees F and Below 90 degrees F. You will be happy to know that our normal home temperature stays in this ideal range.
This means your plant can easily adjust itself in any part of your home and office.
Just protect it from direct cold winds and hot air.
Cold winds decrease the plant temperature and it goes in the dormancy time. They also reduce the reparation and transpiration rate of a plant.
This slows down the normal growth and use of water.
Whereas the hot winds increase the respiration rate and also double the use of water. Which can lead to dehydration.
So, use a thermometer and maintain grow room temperature within the recommended range.
Humidity
The ideal humidity range is 65% to 80 %. But the good news is this plant can survive in moderate home humidity (45% to 60%).
So, you don’t have to worry about the humidity of your grow room. But in case your hygrometer shows air moisture less than 45 %.
Then mist some water on its leaves. This will give instant comfort to dry leaves.
Don’t spray too much on its leaves it is not a permanent solution. Wet leaves and a warm climate invite many fungal diseases.
To fight low humidity, use the pebble tray technique. And place your plant over a pebble tray filled with water.
The next option is an electric humidifier. Because grouping plants cannot make any huge difference in hygrometer reading.
Place your plants close with at least 2 feet apart. Turn On the humidifier and take the next reading after 30 minutes.
Pruning
You will be surprised to know that you can encourage your plant to grow bigger and tall by pruning. Because when you trim the dry and dead parts. You are stopping the wastage of plant energy (glucose).
Now your plant has enough glucose to grow more leaves and to grow tall.
Eva is a moderate grower and it does not need frequent pruning. Its pruning needs are the same as Philodendron Gloriosum and Philodendron Bipinnatifidum.
I use a sterilized knife for trimming my philodendrons.
Use rubbing alcohol to sterilize your pruning tools.
Fertilizing Philodendron Eva
A limited amount of nutrients is required for Philodendron Eva care. Nitrogen is the main element that is responsible for its green shining leaves.
Fertilize your plant only in spring and summer. Because these are the active growing seasons. Plants produce leaves and stem at this time.
So they need a high amount of fertilizers.
To prevent overfertilization, you should follow the instructions on the nutrient bottle. Only use the recommended quantity.
Because overuse of nutrients can burn your plant leaves.
Toxicity
Unfortunately, it is toxic to humans and pets. Ingestion of its parts can cause toxicity. Because the sap of this plant contains calcium oxalate.
Skin redness, skin irritation, stomach pain, sore throat, etc are toxic signs.
Immediately seek medical help.
Repotting Philodendron Eva
To repot your Philodendron Eva plants gently unpot them. Careful take your plant out of its pot and remove the soil.
Do not use sharp tools in this process.
If it is necessary, you can wash the roots with clean water. Take a large pot and a fresh bag of potting soil.
Add fresh soil to a new pot and plant your Eva in it. After planting add some water and place it back in its place.
Philodendron Eva Propagation
Use water and stem cuttings for propagation. Do not use soil if you are new to propagation. Because you cannot see what is going on underneath the soil.
Propagation Process:
- Select a healthy stem and cut 5 to 6 inches long stem.
- Make sure the leaves on selected stems are healthy and disease free.
- Make a clean cut right under the node (1 inch below the node).
- Apply rooting hormone on the edge.
- Take a glass jar filled with filtered water and place the stem in it.
- Store the jar in a warm and bright place. Protect it from direct sunlight.
- Regularly change the water.
- Transfer it to potting soil when the new roots grow more than 1 inch long.
Troubleshooting Philodendron Eva
Pest Infestations
Philodendron Eva is a strong plant. If you keep its surroundings clean you will not face pest infestations.
Because pests attack unhygienic and weak plants.
Also, use neem oil spray once in 20 days to keep your plants insect free.
In case you see tiny insects on your plant. Immediately use rubbing alcohol and wipe each leaf. If they are present in huge numbers then use pest-killing soap and rinse your plant.
Decaying Roots
Decaying roots is an indication of fungal disease caused by overwatering. Therefore, to protect yourself from fungal diseases water them carefully.
Check the soil and then decide about watering sessions.
Waterlogged soil, yellow leaves, and rotten smell from soil indicate root rot. In this condition, unpot your plant and cut the infected roots with a sterilized knife.
Take a new pot and fresh soil to replant the treated plant.
Add some water to add moisture to the soil.
Place it in bright light to speed up the healing process.
Brown Leaves
Lack of water in other words dehydration triggers brown leaves. To heal your plant give it a sufficient amount of water.
Also, cut the brown and dead parts. Because the brown leaves will never turn green again.
By cutting them you can save your plant and divert it to grow new leaves.
Conclusion
Philo. Eva is a unique and beautiful houseplant. It needs basic care to grow into a thriving plant. Light and water are important growing needs.
Fertilize it occasionally for best-growing results.
