Heartleaf Philodendron
Heart-shaped leaves on vines that will trail six feet from a shelf or climb a pole. As tough as pothos, a little more elegant, and happy in lower light than almost anything else that trails.
People confuse the heartleaf philodendron with pothos, and the care is nearly identical. The difference is in the leaf: thinner, softer, more perfectly heart-shaped, on a vine that stays a little daintier.
It is the trailing plant for a dim room. Give it a hook or a high shelf and forget about it for a week at a time.
Light
Medium to low indirect light. It keeps its colour and leaf size in a north window or a few feet from an east one, and it survives an interior room with a lamp. Bright direct sun yellows the leaves. The Brasil variety with its lime stripe wants the brighter end of the range or it fades to plain green.
Water
Let the top inch or two dry, then water. Roughly weekly in summer. It droops slightly when thirsty and perks up fast. Yellow leaves with wet soil mean too much water.
Soil and potting
A standard potting mix with some perlite. It is not fussy. Repot every 18 months or when it is clearly root-bound; it tolerates being snug.
Feeding
Half-strength feed monthly through spring and summer.
Propagation
Cut below a node, drop it in water, and roots appear in a week or two. Plant several rooted cuttings back into the parent pot for a fuller plant. This is the best way to fix a leggy vine.
In a hot, dry home
Untroubled by dry air. It is one of the few trailing plants we grow that does not brown at the edges in summer. Keep it out of direct sun through glass; a north or east spot is perfect here.
Heartleaf Philodendron varieties
Same care, different look. These are the named forms you will see for sale.
- Cordatum
The plain green heartleaf. Fastest and most shade tolerant.
- Brasil
Green leaves with a lime-yellow stripe down the centre, like the Brazilian flag. The most popular form.
- Neon
Solid chartreuse leaves. Also sold as Lemon Lime.
- Silver Stripe
Brasil with an extra silver band alongside the lime one.
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The velvet-leaved form with bronze and red tones. Has its own profile.
Full profile
Problems and fixes
Yellow leaves, soil wet
Likely cause: Overwatering
Fix: Let the top two inches dry. Check for drainage.
Long bare stems with small leaves
Likely cause: Low light and age
Fix: Trim the vines back and root the cuttings in the same pot. Move nearer a window.
Brown crispy edges
Likely cause: Underwatering or direct sun
Fix: Water more consistently and move out of direct light.
Heartleaf Philodendron questions
What is the difference between heartleaf philodendron and pothos?
Philodendron leaves are thinner, more heart-shaped, and the new growth comes wrapped in a little sheath. Pothos leaves are thicker and waxier with a grooved stem. Care is almost the same.
Can heartleaf philodendron grow in low light?
Yes. It is one of the best trailing plants for a north window or a room with only a lamp. Growth slows and leaves stay smaller, but it keeps going.
Is heartleaf philodendron toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Like most aroids it contains calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth. Keep it hanging out of reach.
