Grow Philodendron Hope to add brightness to your flat-looking living space. Hope philodendron is also called beginners philodendron. Because it does not have much care and attention.
Anyone can grow it without any special gardening skills. Just take care of its basic growing needs and it will thrive for 365 days.
If you are not familiar with tropical plants, no need to be worried. I have included all the necessary information in this post about this plant.
Follow the described caring routine and grow a happy philodendron hope plant in a few days.
Limited light exposure, moderate watering, and occasional fertilization is the secret to success.
About the Philodendron Hope
Give proper care to your hope plant and it grows more than 5 feet tall and spread 4 feet. A healthy growing plant has large 3 feet leaves.
The problem with this plant is it tends to grow outwards not straight upwards.
To make it grow upwards you need to support it with a moss pole or bamboo stick. Then it will hold the pole and move in an upward direction.
I cut the leaves of my hope plants and use them in decorative pots. But they only remain fresh for up to 25 days. I also change the water of the glass pots once every week.
To grow it in regular plant pots, read the below guide and follow the steps.
Light Needs
As I said moderate light is required to grow it indoors. Because tropical plants get limited light in their natural habitat. They need the same amount of light outside their native land.
Direct sunlight can burn the plant leaves. Also, it pushes the plant to grow faster. This created nutrient deficiencies in plants.
To prevent this condition, you need to use organic fertilizers. They release nutrients at a slower rate which creates a continuous supply chain.
Find a place in your home where your Philo hope can only get indirect bright light for a maximum of 4 to 5 hours. After that low bright light is enough for the rest of the day.
Because it does not need much sunlight. You can easily grow it in dark spaces with the help of a grow light. A 300 watts LED grow light will be the best choice.
Potting soil
Many professional gardeners recommend garden soil for Philo hope. But I have a very bad experience with it.
It will not work with tropical plants that do not like to live in wet or soggy soil.
These plants need soil that is rich in organic matter and has excellent draining abilities. Such soil can prevent root rot in Philo plants.
You need to choose a soil with excellent draining power, lightweight, and good aeration. It is best to use a soilless mixture rather than amending your garden soil with different ingredients.
Note: Soilless mix or Sphagnum moss mix for Philo hope.
You May Also Like: Philodendron Cobra Care Guide
Watering
These plants are water-sensitive which means they do not need much water. To water, your hope plants let the top 2 inches of the soil dry.
Then use a watering can to pour water directly into the base of the plant.
Do not spray water on plant leaves this will result in leaf fungal disease.
For watering philodendron hope, use clean water that you use for drinking. Dirty water or hard water can damage the plant roots.
So, choose good quality water for watering your indoor growing philodendron plants.
No doubt rainwater is best for plants but it is not possible to always have rainwater for plants. Filtered water is another good option.
Fertilizing
As I said earlier in this post these plants need occasional fertilization. Because they are not heavy feeders.
Secondly, in case of bright light exposure, your plant grows fast than normal. This increases the demand for nutrients.
In both cases, you need to fertilize your plants with high-quality liquid organic fertilizer.
Foliage fertilizer is recommended because hope philodendron has beautiful green leaves. To produce them it needs a good amount of nitrogen.
Foliage fertilizers are a rich source of organic nitrogen after composting.
To protect your plants from over-fertilization, use the supplements only in the spring and summer.
Temperature & Humidity
65 to 80 Degrees F is the ideal temperature range for philodendron hope plants.
The good news is this is the general home temperature in the USA. So, this plant will not face issues regarding temperature.
For extra safety of the plant, place it is away from the direct flow of heating vents or AC.
Both hot and cold air have negative effects on its health and your plant can go into a deep stress state.
In its native place (South America) it grows in high humidity. You also need to keep it on the higher side. Use humidifier or pebble tray method to keep it above 50%.
On dry days you can mist water on plant leaves but before that clean them with a cloth to avoid plant diseases.
Repotting
For repotting, spring and summer are the ideal time.
Repot it if the plant roots are visible to you or if they come out through the bottom hole.
Use 2 inches wide and deep pot for repotting the plant. Also, use fresh soil for the better growth of your Philo hope.
You may need first repotting just after the first 25 months.
At this time, also inspect the plant roots. If you find any sign of damage, take sharp shears and cut the infected roots. Then plant it back in the same pot but use new soil.
If the soil we use has all the nutritional value, then sterile it at least once.
Propagation
It is best to propagate it with stem cuttings. It should have a few nodes on it.
I prefer water instead of soil. Because in the glass of water you can see the development of new roots.
Take a glass of clean water and place the cutting in it. Then place it in a highly humid place and away from direct sunlight.
Within a few weeks, you will see new white tiny roots developing. Once these roots are 1 to 2 inches long then you can transfer them to its pot.
Conclusion
Dappled light and high humidity are the real secrets of the successful growing philodendron hope plant. Avoid overwatering and use fresh drinkable water for good health.
Well-draining and aerated soil is required for healthy growth.
It is a beginner’s plant you can start indoor gardening by growing these plants in containers.
