Philodendron Pedatum: A Complete Guide for Beginners

philodendron pedatum

The philodendron pedatum is also known as Oak Leaf philodendron, philodendron Quercifolium and philodendron Laciniatum. The foliage of pedatum makes them so unique and famous among house planters. These plants come from the Araceae family, and these oak-shaped deep green leaves love to grow in humid areas. So, if you grow them indoors, you might need to provide humidity to these plants.

Philodendron Pedatum
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You can also grow them outdoor in your back yard or front yard if the weather is suitable for these plants in your area. Hardiness zones between 9 to 11 would be recommended for outdoor planting. They look similar to philodendron Florida ghosts, and often people get confused between them. 

Philodendron pedatums can grow tall, they have smooth green petioles with lobed leaves, and they are hardy climbers with broad. Mature leave is often heavier than young leaves ranging from deep blue-green to brilliant green color. The leaves of these plants are capable of taking different forms which depend on their age.

How to Take Care Philodendron Pedatum?

These philodendron pedatums require proper care for their proper growth. However, they do not require any complications or tricky demands. Taking care of these plants is very easy if you can understand the single they give when they need something. In addition, they are highly adaptive; they try to adapt to the environment in which you keep them. So if you are a beginner, these plants would be ideal for you to plant these philodendrons. 

For their healthy growth, you should also mimic their natural process, such as open and airy areas. They are naturally grown in forests, so they usually enjoy natural surroundings. 

Light Requirement

Temperature requirements around 60 to 75 degrees are often considered a good temperature range. Make sure you don’t raise your temperature above 85 degrees Fahrenheit because it can slow down their growth, or don’t let the temperature go below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. After all, the low temperature can make leaves turn yellow.

Indoor planting needs less care because room temperature is always good for these plants. So if you plant your philodendron pedatums inside your house, you don’t have to worry about light problems.

Direct sun will make soil dry more quickly and make leaves scorched. Direct light does not affect these plants in any way, but it can make your plant look dull and unattractive. They require only need indirect sunlight for around 5 – 8 hours a day. Apart from this, you can provide them with dappled shades by making holes in your window. Never put your plant under direct sunlight.

One of the best things to provide light to your plant is giving them artificial sunlight. Of course, it is not good as a natural phenomenon, but it is still very effective. If you have planted your philodendron in your basement, these lights might be the best friend for your plants. Artificial light is made by a mixture of fluorescent and incandescent lights.

Water Requirement

Philodendron pedatums do not require too much water, so potting mixing must be moist, not so wet. You should not water your plant until half of your soil gets dry. Watering must be done according to the weather.

You should water your plants once a week during spring and summer because, during this season, your plants are in the growing stages. Make sure to dry out your soil completely. On the other hand, you should water your philodendrons once in 10 – 15 days because, in winters, plants also absorb water from the atmosphere and fog. Some water can be very effective in watering these plants, such as Lukewarm water or Stagnant rainwater.

Tracking the moist soil level is recommended before watering your plants again; you can do that by putting your finger in the soil at least 2 inches deep in your plant’s pot. If your soil feels dries, then you must water them, but if your soil is still wet, then you should not water them. You can also use some tools in your plant to check the moisture level of your soil. 

Overwatering or water logging can cause conditions like root injuries. Because if roots spend a lot of time in the water, it can rot the root of your plants, which can lead to leaves turning yellow and starting to fall off. 

There are some symptoms by which you can know about when your plants need more water. 

  • Leaves turning brown 
  • Leaves becoming loose or droopy 
Philodendron Pedatum
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Soil Requirement

A common potting soil would be enough for your plants because growing plants indoors do not require extraordinary soil. You can use perlite, sphagnum moss, coconut coir fiber, and peat to make your potting mixture. However, philodendron pedatum prefers moist soil. Some perfect mixtures suggested by some agriculture experts are as follow.

  • Use some coir 
  • Few perlites for extra drainage for your plant
  • You can also use orchid bark to increase the soil’s acidity, and orchid barks also provide aeration to your soil.
  • You can also use parts of horticulture charcoal to increase the porosity level in your soil, and it also decreases impurities.
  • Use some worm casting for nourishing your plants because worms are rich in nutrition.

Temperature Requirement

Like other philodendrons, the philodendron pedatums also require a temperature around 55 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They are not able to adapt to winter weather and temperature. So make sure to put these plants in a warm and humid place where too much clod does not affect your plant. The minimum temperature at which these variegated plants can survive is 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Humidity Requirement

One of the best things about this Philodendron pedatum is that they can adapt themselves to every humid level. But still, if you want your plants to grow perfectly, you might require at least 60 % humidity. On the other hand, this level of humidity can keep your plant’s foliage looking good.

Fertilizers Requirement

Philodendron pedatums are heavy eater plants, so they must be fed regularly with rich fertilizers based on nitrogen for healthy growth. Do not use specialized fertilizers for these plants because simple house plant fertilizers once a month would do the work. In addition, you must not feed fertilizers to your plants in winter because only summer is the growing month for these plants, and fertilizing in cold weather can damage your plants.

The perfect quantity of fertilizers can be decided according to various factors like size and light availability in your plant. For example, plants grown in low light conditions might need a very less quantity] of fertilizers. But on the other hand, plants grown in high lighting conditions require fertilizers in high quantities. 

NOTE: If your plant is growing very slow or the foliage has less life, then this is a sign that your plant needs nutrients.

Philodendron Pedatum
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Potting and Repotting

Potting is necessary to process to grow your variegated plant, and re-potting is also an essential part of plating because it is vital for the further growth of your plant.

Potting – Potting is a very easy process; you only have to select ingredients and materials which are required for potting your philodendron pedatum. Make sure to use a good quality pot with drainage holes in it; if you don’t have drainage holes, you can make it with the help of a sharp tool. 

A normal potting mix would be ideal for these plants are they are highly adaptive; after planting your philodendron pedatum in a pot, waters them slowly with their need and try to put your plant in indirect sunlight because they do not need direct sunlight.

Repotting – You should re-pot your philodendron pedatum when they are fully grown up in its previous pot. Re-potting should be done for the future growth of your plants. The best time for repotting is in the spring season. Follow a few steps for re-potting.

  • Take your plant out of the previous pot. 
  • Select a pot bigger than the previous one because it is necessary for their growth.
  • Plant it in your new pot with a new potting mix with the drainage layers.
  • Finally, when re-potting is done, water your plants gently and place them in indirect light.

Pests and Diseases

Philodendron pedatums can resist many problems on their own, but still, they can be attacked by pests and diseases. The most common pests and diseases are mentioned below.

Pest – There are many types of pests, but the pets to which these plants are prone to are Mealybugs, thrips, and spider mites. They can cause several problems to your plants. Try to remove these pests as soon as possible with pest controls before they damage your plants. 

Diseases – Diseases are very dangerous for your plants because they can make them dead if you won’t do anything before they attack. The most dangerous diseases are Fire blights and leaf spots. You can remove them with the help of alcohol. 

Height and Growth Rate

Philodendron pedatums are fast-growing plants, and they can grow very big. They can grow up to nine feet and spread almost around one foot which can be more than one or less than one. The length of the leaves of these plants can grow up to 14 inches.

Does Philodendron Pedatum Have Flowers?

It is very rare to find flowers in these plants. Plants which are grown indoors or by human beings are not capable of producing flowers. In contrast, plants grown in their natural habitat can produce flowers when they become fully matured. It can take 15 – 16 years to get mature; after that, the flowers may grow from May to July. Flowers are also signals of plants that they are ready for reproduction.

How to Propagate Philodendron Pedatum?

Propagating the philodendron pedatum is very easy, just like other philodendron plants. Using some common methods like seeds, stem cutting, and air layering can be helpful for propagation. 

Propagating by seeds – This process of propagating is very easy but time-consuming; you would require at least 6 to 7 months for a little grown-up plant. The process of seed propagation is given below.

  • Plant your seed around 1 inch deeper in your soil, and during this, your seed should be dry.
  • Mist your soil after that to prevent moisture loss.
  • You should keep your setup under indirect light, and the temperature should be around 20 to 30 degrees C.
  • Spray your soil very lightly with water because seedlings can also drain away with soil.

Is Philodendron Pedatum Poisonous?

These plants contain calcium oxalate crystals and raphides, which can be responsible for the formation of fibers that contain toxins similar to asbestos. So, yes, they are poisonous, and these plants can be dangerous for kids or pets in your house. If you have pets or kids, ensure to keep Philodendron pedatum out of their reach so that they cannot even touch them.

How Much Is Philodendron Pedatum Worth?

These plants are rare and exotic; they are hard to find. Some philodendron pedatums are simple and cost around $ 100 to $ 200 US dollars. On the other hand, some of these variegated plants are very rare and cannot be found easily, so those types of plants are very costly. Their price ranges vary from $ 1000 to $ 4000 US dollars which is quite costly but worth spending money on.

Compared to Other Similar Plants

You might be interested in knowing about similarities or differences between the other philodendron because they look similar to each other.

Philodendron Pedatum vs. Philodendron Florida

These plants are identical to each other; from leaves to growing habits, these plants are almost the same. The main difference between them is that they have different textures of leaves. Pedatum offers smooth leaf stems, while Florida has a bumped texture. The color of their stems is also different, pedatum has normal green color while Florida has dark brown colored stems. 

Philodendron Pedatum vs. Quercifolium/Glad Hands

The Philodendron quercifolium is one variety of pedatum. Some people also call these plants pedatum narrow form or glad-hands. These two plants are almost identical and have no difference. 

Leaves look exactly the same, and the growth of their leaves and the height of these plants are also the same.

Philodendron Pedatum vs. Squamiferum

Pedatum plants have larger dark green colored leaves with smooth green petioles. At the same time, Philodendron squamiferum has red-colored petioles, stalks, and stems in the leaves. Leaves have a rough texture in these plants. They are completely different plants from each other. 

Philodendron Pedatum vs. Bipennifolium

These plants are also identical, and it is very hard to differentiate between them when they are in their growing stage. Leaves of bipennifolium are more elongated as compared to pedatum because they are less elongated.

The morphology of leaves in these plants is almost the same; that’s why it is hard to tell the difference; the tips of the leaves are blunt. Pedatums have slightly more shaper profiles than bipennifolium.

Some Common Problems

Just like other house plants, philodendrons are also prone to some common problems like water logging, improper lights, and many more common problems. Some of the effects of common problems are as follows.

Leaves Are Turning Brown or Yellow

Changes in the leaf colors are the most common sign of water logging in plants. So make sure not to overwater your plants. Instead, check the moisture of the soil before watering them again by putting your fingers 1 – 2 inches deep in the soil. 

If your plant’s leaves are still turning brown, it might be a sign of root rotting. To prevent this, you need to cut down the roots which are already damaged so that they cannot damage your plant further.

Dropping or Bending of Leaves

If your plant’s leaves are curling or falling on the ground from the stem of your plant is a sign that your plants need water. It can happen due to low temperature or dryness in the air. You can use tools like a humidifier to provide humidity to your plants.

Final Words

These plants are the best-looking plants for your house’s interior design. They belong to the Araceae family and originated from the philodendron genus. The plants are found in the tropical rainforest of Brazil. These plants are very popular plants for house plantings. Caretaking is very easy, so if you are new to house plating, Philodendron pedatum would be ideal for you.

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