Do you need to give your workspace or bedroom a quick facelift? Houseplants are the easiest way to spruce up your indoor space — they give you that relaxing pop of green and purify the air at the same time.
Place a Philodendron Gloriosum or two in your home and see the space transform immediately.
Caring for this creeping Philodendron variety is extremely easy. Just follow our pro tips, and you’ll be turning your home into an urban oasis in no time.
Philodendron Gloriosum overview
If you’re into low-key gardening, this gentle Philodendron is the right houseplant for you. You won’t need to rush when you’re tending to this variety!
The Philodendron Gloriosum is a slow grower. It may take 1-2 months for a leaf to unfurl completely. When fully grown, it can reach a height of up to 0.9m.
When the leaves of the Philodendron Gloriosum finally open (much to your excitement and anticipation!), you’ll realise it’s well worth the wait.
The foliage of this plant is nothing less than eye-catching — the leaves are large and heart-shaped, and the colour of the greenest grass.
This verdant hue contrasts strikingly against the white veins stemming outward from the centre vein of each leaf.
Philodendron Gloriosum care
Some Philodendron varieties can be quite a challenge to care for. Thankfully, that’s not the case with the Philodendron Gloriosum!
When given the right environmental conditions, your plant will grow well and yield stunning dark green foliage.
The secret to huge, beautifully veined Gloriosum leaves is bright, indirect sunlight and lots of humidity.
All you need to do is position your plant near a window and make sure that the moisture content in the air is high.
Your Gloriosum houseplant is also at its best when planted in enriched, well-draining soil.
Nourish your Philodendron monthly during spring and summer with liquid fertiliser — you’ll notice the improvement in leaf production and overall growth rate of your plant.
It’s all about trusting the process — speeding up the growth rate by overwatering and overfertilising won’t get you anywhere. In fact, doing this can bring more harm than good.
Light
Bright, indirect light is your Gloriosum’s best friend. Don’t shy away from huge windows with sunlight streaming through — your plant will love it there.
In return for receiving abundant sunshine, your Gloriosum will give you lush, vividly coloured leaves.
As with the variegation of the White Princess, the Philodendron Gloriosum’s colouring depends a lot on the amount of sunlight it receives.
Avoid having the sun’s rays touch your plant directly, however. Too much sunlight can burn the leaves and damage your Philodendron.
Tip: Position your Gloriosum near the window if it looks leggy or thin. Leaves that are spaced far apart are also a sign that your plant is not receiving enough sunlight.
Soil
The roots of the Gloriosum thrive in oxygen-rich, well-draining soil.
You want to stay away from soil that retains too much moisture — this can damage your plant by causing root rot.
Watering
Much like other Philodendrons, the Gloriosum needs moist but not soggy soil. Your Philodendron may survive an overwatering incident or two during its lifetime, but frequent overwatering leads to root rot and poor plant health.
Water at least once or twice a week, depending on the conditions in your area.
To know if it’s time to water your houseplant, check if the top part of the soil is dry. That’s your go signal to give your plant baby a bath.
Tip: Drooping leaves can be a sign of overwatering or underwatering. To identify what’s causing the problem, stick your finger into the soil and check for moisture content.
Planting soil that’s dry means your Gloriosum needs water. Soggy soil, on the other hand, is your indicator that you need to cut back on your watering.
Temperature
The Philodendron Gloriosum can tolerate a fairly wide temperature range — 7-35C, to be exact. At night, check that the temperature range is between 16-21C.
Philodendrons don’t do well in frost and extremely cold weather. Bring your plant indoors when the weather is below 7C to prevent causing permanent damage to your Gloriosum.
Humidity
If there’s one thing Philodendrons love as much as bright, indirect light and well-draining soil, it’s high humidity.
A Gloriosum that’s grown in a humid environment looks plump, fresh, and bright green. That’s because humidity helps in hydrating your plant.
When your Philodendron is raised in a dry environment, it becomes lackluster and weak-looking.
This can be the case with indoor air, especially during the cold winter months.
When this happens, you can try any of these methods to improve the humidity in your home:
- Indoor humidifier. The most convenient way to increase the moisture level in your home is to use an indoor humidifier. Not only is it good for your own skin, it also does wonders for the leaves of your Gloriosum houseplant! Don’t worry if you don’t have one, though. There are other DIY options that are just as effective.
- Misting. Mist your Gloriosum’s foliage by using a spray bottle filled with water. Do this regularly to moisten the leaves of your plant and keep them plush and thriving.
- Pebble tray. This DIY gardening trick can easily be done by placing pebbles on a tray and adding in water. It creates a humid micro-environment for your plant when the weather is particularly dry. Place your plant on the tray and watch your sad-looking Gloriosum turn bright and cheery again.
- Grouping plants together. Another way to increase the humidity for your Philodendron is to place it together with other plants in your home. When plants ‘huddle together’ like this, they copy the same mechanism that makes rainforests (their natural habitat) a moist environment. An added advantage is, plant clusters also look fuller and more eye-catching!
- Place it in the bathroom. If you’re an indoor plant lover with a busy schedule, the quickest way to remedy low humidity is to put your Gloriosum in the bathroom. The moisture in this area is relatively higher than in other rooms of your home. Your plant will be able to soak in much-needed moisture while you shower, and you won’t even have to lift a finger.
Fertilising
An undernourished Philodendron Gloriosum has a slower growth rate and produces smaller leaves.
Give your Philodendron Gloriosum plant the nutrients it needs by feeding it with a liquid fertiliser.
Do this monthly during spring and summer, and use half the prescribed amount on the package instructions. During autumn and winter, fertilise every 2 months.
Pruning
Prune your Philodendron when you see dry or yellowing leaves, or when you want to manage your Gloriosum’s size and shape.
Cutting back leaves and stems is also a great way to encourage new growth from nodes.
When pruning, make sure to cut at the base of the stem. Water your plant after pruning to help it regain its strength.
Potting
A pot with plenty of drainage holes is the ideal planter for your Gloriosum. This prevents the soil from getting waterlogged and provides great aeration for the roots as well.
When you start to see roots come out of the drainage holes, it’s time to transfer your Philodendron to a container that’s one size bigger than its current pot.
Propagating
Propagating a Philodendron Gloriosum is pretty straightforward.
Simply follow these steps and you’ll have plenty of baby Gloriosum plants to decorate your home with:
- Cut off a 7-15cm long stem from the main stem. Pick a stem that looks strong and healthy, and one that has leaves and roots.
- Plant it in a prepared planting mix. Make sure that the soil is well-draining.
- Place the potted plant near a window where there is plenty of bright, indirect sunlight.
- Water your plant as needed.
Common problems when growing a Philodendron Gloriosum
Yellowing leaves
Heart-shaped dark green leaves are the trademark of the Philodendron Gloriosum.
Imagine your dismay if your plant baby’s leaves start to become yellow — it’s not what you signed up for!
Luckily, there are two possible solutions to it: decrease the watering frequency (as overwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow), or position your plant closer near a window where there is bright indirect sunlight.
Your Gloriosum will be back to its lively self before you know it!
Root rot
Root rot is a common problem among plants, including Philodendrons. This happens when the soil gets waterlogged due to overwatering. Potting mix that has a high clay composition is another possible cause of waterlogging.
To prevent root rot in your Gloriosum, make sure that your potting medium is well-aerated. Soil that has low clay density is ideal. Loosen up dense soil material by adding in perlite, orchid bark, or pumice to the mix.
Pests
Similar to its Heart Leaf Philodendron cousin, the Philodendron Gloriosum isn’t easily infested by mealybugs, aphids, and fungi.
When this happens, however, simply swab a cotton ball dipped in isopropyl alcohol onto the infected area to eradicate the pesky insects.
Protect your Gloriosum plants naturally by spraying them with a solution of water mixed with a few drops of neem oil. Do this fortnightly to keep your plants healthy and free from pests.
Tip: For more severe cases, it will help to call your local gardening service. Not only will they treat the root cause of the infestation, they will also make sure that the infection doesn’t spread to other healthy plants in your home.
