How to Care for Philodendron Grazielae?

A gracious and elegant philodendron variety, the Grazielae features the iconic heart-shaped leaves that we’re accustomed to seeing on these plants; however, its leaves are wider and much glossier.

Despite these differences in features, philodendron Grazielae plants aren’t difficult to grow. They have the same general care requirements as any philodendron variety.

If you’re new to philodendrons, my tips on how to care for the philodendron Grazielae will prove to be a good primer on philodendron plants in general as well.

Size & Growth

A moderately sized philodendron, the Grazielae doesn’t get any taller than 3 feet, and it’s often somewhere between 1.5-3 feet tall.

Its leaves are medium-sized as well, which makes this plant ideal either as a tabletop plant or a hanging plant planted either in a regular pot or a hanging basket.

In my experience, however, if you allow the Grazielae to climb on a moss pole, it will not only do so quite graciously, but it will also tend to grow larger leaves.

I have found that this trick of allowing climbing philodendron varieties to climb on a structure favors larger leaf growth compared to growing the plant in a hanging basket.

Light Requirements

With many plants, it’s difficult to match their light requirements when you’re growing them indoors. With philodendrons, it can be a hit or miss as well.

Although I’ve had philodendrons that were happy to grow in dimmer light as well, some varieties needed much more light than I expected.

What’s common for all philodendrons is their propensity to scorch if kept under direct sunlight. So, with direct sunlight out of the way, bright, indirect light works best.

Some philodendrons are happy with 5-6 hours of bright light a day, others may need much more to grow better.

I recommend finding a bright spot in your home and start with that. The Grazielae isn’t fond of dimmer light conditions, and although it will survive, it will certainly not thrive.

If you find that your philodendron is doing poorly or growing thin, long stems, lack of enough light may be the problem. Try moving the plant to a different location to see if things improve.

Watering

When it comes to watering philodendrons, my advice is to go easy with the watering. Don’t water unless the top inch of the soil starts to feel dry.

If you check the moisture level of the soil each time you want to water the plant and make an assessment of whether the plant needs more water or not, the chances of overwatering this plant are significantly reduced.

Unfortunately, overwatering seems to be the number one killer of philodendrons in general. That’s because the plant’s roots will start to rot if they sit in soggy soil.

Although a bit of constant moisture in the soil is appreciated by philodendrons, soil that is constantly drenched in water will cause rotting issues.

Once the roots of the plants rot, the plant can no longer deliver nutrients to the plant. This will cause wilting, which may have you believe that your philodendron is actually drying out.

This might determine you to add more water, which aggravates the situation even further. This is why it’s important to physically check the moisture level of the soil by poking your index finger into the substrate up to the first knuckle.

When watering, water only until you see water coming out of the drain holes. When that happens, stop watering, and wait for the excess water to drain out of the pot, then empty the saucer.

Apart from the frequency of watering and the amount of water you give your philodendron, the type of soil you use when potting it is also important in reducing rotting issues.

Soil Type

The Philodendron Grazielae needs loose, well-aerated and well-draining soil. It’s also good if said substrate is rich in organics.

The plant will grow in soilless substrates, but also in soil mixes that contain peat, perlite, or other substrates — such as coconut coir — designed to improve drainage that are formulated for tropical plants in general.

Don’t plant in regular potting soil, which is too heavy for this plant and prone to compaction. The substrate you use for the Grazielae should retain only moderate amounts of moisture.

I often take the time to create my own potting mixes and the mixes that I use most often for my tropical plants, including philodendrons, are the following:

• one part perlite, one part peat moss, and one part regular potting soil, or
• 50% peat with 20% compost and 30% regular potting soil

Any of these two potting mixes will work great for your philodendron Grazielae.

Temperature & Humidity

The ideal temperature range for the Philodendron Grazielae is between 70-80 F. The plant will survive in slightly lower temperatures as well, but it should not be exposed to anything below 55 F. And that includes cold drafts as well.

As far as humidity goes, the Grazielae enjoys moderate to high humidity. If humidity levels are low in your home, a humidifier or a humidity tray will increase humidity to a level that’s optimal for your philodendron plant.

Fertilizing

You can skip fertilizing the Grazielae, but I found it’s best to feed it on a monthly schedule during the growing stage.

I feed my philodendrons in winter too but cut back on the frequency and fertilize on a 6-8 weekly schedule.

What’s very important to remember about fertilizing the philodendron Grazielae is not to use full-strength fertilizer. Depending on how my plant is doing, I use either half-strenght or ¼ strength, but never full strength.

Because philodendrons aren’t heavy feeders, they can’t take up so much fertilizer, so you’ll just end up burning the roots of the plant.

Stick to diluted fertilizer and use on a monthly schedule in spring and summer and a bi-monthly schedule during the winter months.

Potting & Repotting

The Philodendron Grazielae isn’t a fast-growing variety, so repotting it isn’t usually a pressing matter.

You’ll first need to repot the Grazielae, after the first 2 years of its life, and after then usually only every 2-3 years.

Even if the plant doesn’t outgrow its pot, repotting it every 2-3 years can have beneficial effects on the plant, especially because when you’re repotting, you also replace the potting mix.

Make sure to choose a pot that’s only about one or two sizes bigger than the current pot. I don’t recommend oversizing the pot. If the pot is too large, it can take the potting mix longer to dry.

How to Propagate Philodendron Grazielae?

The philodendron Grazielae can be propagated from stem cuttings. These cuttings can be harvested throughout the growing season.

Ideally, cuttings should be around 4-6 inches in length, should feature 2-3 leaves, and the cut should be made just below a leaf node, so that the leaf node is kept on the cutting.

Stem cuttings can be rooted in water or directly in moist potting mix. Roots can take 2-4 weeks to emerge, after which the plant can be transferred to its final pot.

Rooting philodendron Grazielae stem cutting in water is faster than in moist potting mix, but the roots of philodendrons rooted in the potting mix are said to be a bit stronger.

Philodendron Grazielae FAQs

Here’s a quick look at some of the most frequent questions I get asked about the Grazielae:

– Why is my Philodendron Grazielae wilting?

As I explained in the section of this article dedicated to watering the Grazielae, both overwatering and underwatering can cause the wilting of your philodendron.

Apart from watering issues, temperature shock and even over-fertilizing can cause wilting. Depending on the source of the problem, you can help your philodendron by changing its watering and fertilizing schedule and ensuring optimal temperatures.

– Why are the leaves on Philodendron Grazielae turning yellow?

Leaves on philodendrons can turn yellow also because of under or over-watering issues, but also because of nutritional deficiencies, pests, low light conditions, or shedding of leaves.

If you notice leaves turning yellow, assess your watering routine and soil moisture levels. Next, check to see if your plant is getting enough light. If not, move to a brighter location.

If you’re not fertilizing your philodendron, start it on a weak fertilizer solution on a monthly schedule to see if it gets better.

However, if only a few lower leaves are turning yellow, it’s also that the plant is shedding old foliage, which is completely normal.

– Is Philodendron Grazielae toxic?

Unfortunately, yes. The philodendron Grazielae is toxic to pets and humans. Keep pets away from the plant and seek veterinary care should you notice a pet eating any part of the plant.

Wear protective gloves when handling the plant to prevent irritation of the skin and eyes.

The toxic compound in the plant is called calcium oxalate and it can be found in the sap of the plant.

Wrapping Up

An endearing philodendron variety, the Grazielae behaves like any other philodendron variety. It needs good light, warm temperature, well-draining soil, and humidity to thrive.

I am confident that you’ll do a great job managing the requirements of this philodendron variety. And once you do so, you’ll be rewarded with a healthy plant and steady growth.

Despite these differences in features, philodendron Grazielae plants aren’t difficult to grow. They have the same general care requirements as any philodendron variety.