How to Care for Philodendron Panduriforme?

Just one look at the Philodendron Panduriforme and you’ll immediately notice how different it is from the classic heart-leaf philodendron. That’s because the leaves of the Panduriforme are more similar to the leaves of an oak tree than that of a heartleaf philodendron.

This philodendron variety also shows similarities with the Philodendron bipennifolium, but the top lobe on the leaves of the Panduriforme is much more rounded.

In terms of plant care recommendations, the Panduriforme responds well to the general plant care regimen for philodendron plants.

Philodendron Panduriforme Care

To get you up to speed on the plant care requirements of the philodendron Panduriforme, check out my plant care guide below.

Size & Growth

A climbing vine, this philodendron variety can grow up to six feet tall if given a structure to climb on. I recommend using a moss pole to help your philodendron grow taller and produce larger leaves.

The size of the leaves can reach 10-15 inches in length, but only if the plant is well looked after. And my recommendations below will help you achieve just that.

Light Requirements

Philodendrons are known for not being fussy about their light requirements. And while that’s partly true, they do need bright light to grow lush foliage.

Therefore, if light in your house is on the dimmer side, your philodendron Panduriforme will do fine, but it won’t thrive as well as it would if kept in a bright spot.

If you do have the possibility to ensure optimal light conditions for your philo, you should aim for bright but indirect light.

Direct sun exposure should be avoided, especially during the time of day when the sun is the strongest. It doesn’t take a long time for the leaves of the plant to get scorched under the strong rays of the sun.

Avoid positioning your philodendron in a dark spot. Not only will the plant’s leaves get discolored with time, but the plant will also stop growing. Or, when it does grow, it produces long, thin stems without leaves or with very small leaves.

Luckily, philodendrons take well to growing under artificial lights as well. Whether it’s LED grow lights or fluorescent lights, artificially supplementing light indoors will have a beneficial effect on the growth and development of your philodendron panduriforme.

Watering

The Panduriforme philodendron enjoys uniformly moist soil, but not soil that is soggy. You need to be careful with your water schedule.

Too much water, given too often will cause rotting roots. Too little water, given infrequently, will cause wilting.

To make sure you’re watering correctly, follow the tips below:

• Water your panduriforme only when the top one inch of the potting mix starts to feel dry (poke your index finger into the potting mix up to the first knuckle and check)
• Water the soil uniformly until you notice water percolating out of the bottom of the pot
• Allow excess water to drain/empty the saucer if you’ve allowed water to pool in the saucer

With this watering schedule, you should be able to avoid excessive watering and underwatering. The key is to check the moisture level of the soil every time.

Because the signs of overwatering and underwatering are often the same (wilting, drooping leaves), it’s easy to mistake overwatering for underwatering and make things even worse by adding more water.

Once the roots have started to rot, it can be difficult to nurse a philodendron back to health. One thing I can recommend is to repot your philodendron in a fresh potting mix and remove any rotting parts of the roots.

Soil Type

All philodendrons need a well-draining potting mix that’s nutritious but won’t hold on to excessive moisture, nor is it prone to compaction.

You can buy potting mixes formulated for tropical plants. These will usually contain peat and other well-draining substrates such as perlite, coconut coir in different combinations.

Because I have a lot of plants and I constantly need to be changing substrates, I like to create my own potting mixes.

A good recipe for a philodendron potting mix is the one part peat, one part perlite and one part regular potting soil. You can even add a bit of compost to the mix, just to get more organics into it.

When the soil drains well, chances of root rot are greatly reduced, especially if you also follow my philodendron watering recommendations.

Temperature & Humidity

The Panduriforme enjoys average indoor temperatures. Usually, its ideal range is between 60-75 degrees F.

Temperatures below 60 F will trigger temperature shock and tissue damage, so avoid exposing your philodendrons to temperatures below 60 F.

Never place your philodendron in a spot where it would get hit by cold drafts or near strong sources of heat or cold.

It’s easy to meet the plant’s temperature requirements, especially indoors, where temperatures will stay above 60 F all year round.

Humidity levels may be a bit more difficult to nail down since the Panduriforme enjoys moderate to high humidity. If humidity levels in your home are low, you’ll need to increase humidity.

Use either a humidifier or a humidity tray to up humidity levels when the air in your home becomes too dry.

Fertilizing

To help your philodendron panduriforme grow dense foliage, you’ll need to put it on a feeding schedule. Because they’re not heavy feeders, it’s enough to fertilize this plant on a monthly basis.

Reduce the frequency of fertilizing during the winter months, when you should switch to a 6-8 weekly fertilizing schedule.

Don’t use full-strength fertilizer because the plant doesn’t need it and you may even end up burning its roots. For best results, make sure to dilute the fertilizer to half-strength.

Although most plants don’t need to be fertilized during the winter, in my experience, the philodendron is the exception to the rule. Granted, you’ll need to fertilize less often. The plant will benefit from feeding every other month during winter.

Potting & Repotting

When the Panduriforme starts to get too big for its pot, you may get away with keeping it in the same pot for a while longer, but only until the roots start poking out of the pot.

When choosing a bigger pot, don’t go for a much larger size, pick one that’s one size bigger. Repot as needed and as the plant grows or every 2-3 years to refresh the potting mix.

Schedule repotting to the beginning of the growing season so as not to disturb the plant in its winter slumber. If you can’t repot in early spring, the next best time is throughout the growing season.

How to Propagate Philodendron Panduriforme?

One thing I greatly enjoy about philodendrons is that they’re easy to propagate. Simply harvest stem cuttings with a couple of leaf nodes on the stem and root in water or moist potting mix.

If you choose to root in water, make sure that there are no leaves below the water line. Also, make sure that at least one leaf node is below the water line. Replace the water often, keep it in a bright location out of direct sunlight, and you should see roots forming within 2 weeks or so.

The same requirements of warmth, light and moisture apply for rooting in potting mix as well. Don’t allow the potting mix to become soggy, but also don’t allow it to completely dry out.

Rooting in potting mix can take a bit longer, but the roots are usually stronger.

Because philodendrons lend themselves easily to propagation, you can create new plants to give away or simply to increase your own collection.

Still, have some burning questions? See if I covered them in the FAQs below:

– Why is my Philodendron Panduriforme Plant Wilting?

A wilting plant can be a sign of dehydration. But also, of root rot caused by overwatering. The easiest way to tell is to check the moisture level of the soil.

If the soil is bone dry or compacted, your philodendron isn’t getting enough water. If the soil is soggy and smelling badly, your philodendron is overwatered.

– Why are the Leaves of Philodendron Panduriforme Curling?

A number of things can cause the leaves of philodendron plants to curl including pest problems, extreme underwatering, dry air, and even temperature shock.

Check on all these aspects to see which may be causing the leaf curling problem and remedy the situation.

– Is Philodendron Panduriforme Toxic?

Yes, all parts of a philodendron are toxic, and all philodendron varieties are toxic including the Panduriforme. The plant is toxic to cats, dogs and humans too.

Keep pets away from the plant and seek the help of a vet should your pet chew on any parts of the leaf.

Wear protective gloves whenever pruning or repotting your philodendron.

Conclusion

Caring for a philodendron panduriforme is not difficult, especially if you’ve grown a philodendron or other tropical plants before.

This plant isn’t needy, but it does have specific requirements when it comes to watering, soil type and lighting.

The plant adapts well to indoor conditions, although humidity levels may need to be adjusted to keep the Panduriforme happy.