Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Philodendron

Philodendron hederaceum

A heart-leaved vine that trails from a shelf or climbs a moss pole and puts up with low light and dry air. A near cousin of pothos, it is toxic to pets if chewed.

Mature size0.3–2 m tall, 0.4–1.5 m spreadGrowthFastSunPart shadeWaterModerate

Heat: 1 of 5

Salt: 1 of 5

Drought: 2 of 5

Shade: 4 of 5

Ease of care: 5 of 5

Use in a design Get it looked after

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Philodendron behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

JJul

AAug

SSep

OOct

NNov

DDec

Avg high °C

24°

26°

29°

34°

38°

40°

42°

40°

36°

31°

27°

Steady new vine growth

Mar – Oct

Diluted feed

Apr – Sep

Prune leggy stems

Hot glass scorches leaves

Jun – Sep

Check for mealybugs, mites and scale

Apr – Oct

Growth slows

Steady new vine growth: Mar–Oct
Strongest in warm, bright rooms; slower and leggier in low light.
Diluted feed: Apr–Sep
The RHS gives April to September; excess fertiliser curls and browns the tips (Clemson).
Prune leggy stems: Mar–Apr
The RHS says spring, just as growth starts; cuttings root in a glass of water.
Hot glass scorches leaves: Jun–Sep
Keep out of direct summer sun through the window.
Check for mealybugs, mites and scale: Apr–Oct
The RHS lists mealybugs, red spider mites and scale insects.
Growth slows: Dec–Feb
Water slightly less often; do not feed.

Heartleaf philodendron holds its trailing or climbing form all year indoors, so its calendar is a matter of pace. From around March to October, warm rooms and longer days push steady new growth, and the RHS gives April to September for feeding with a general houseplant fertiliser. Spring is the time to prune leggy stems back just as growth starts, and to repot. In July and August check that hot glass is not scorching the leaves, and watch for mealybugs, red spider mites and scale. From December to February growth slows, so water a little less often and skip feeding.

Meet the plant

Meet the Philodendron

Meet the heartleaf philodendron, pothos's close cousin and a plant that softens hard edges. Each leaf is a slim heart on a thin stem, and a single plant trails or climbs in long, relaxed lines from a shelf, a bookcase or the top of a wardrobe. The name is Greek for 'tree-loving', and it fits: in the forests of tropical America this plant scrambles up tree trunks, gripping with aerial roots.

That habit shapes how it grows indoors. NC State says it can survive long periods in extremely low light and tolerates dry air, though it prefers moderate humidity and a moist soil. Given a moss pole it climbs, and given a high shelf it trails, and the RHS recommends the smaller-leaved climbing forms like this one for exactly that high shelf or hanging basket.

The mood is relaxed and domestic. It does not demand a bright window, so it can bring a trailing line of green to the dimmer parts of a Dubai home, such as a hallway shelf or a bedroom bookcase, where bolder plants would sulk.

Philodendron is a large genus of aroids from tropical America. This entry covers Philodendron hederaceum, the heartleaf, which the RHS describes as one of the most popular species, with heart-shaped leaves on long trailing or climbing stems. The same genus includes much larger plants, such as the tree philodendron, whose deeply lobed leaves reach up to a metre long (RHS).

Bright, indirect light suits it best, but it tolerates low light; the RHS notes it becomes leggy with fewer, smaller leaves when the light is too low. It copes with the lower humidity found in most homes, so air conditioning is less of a threat than for fussier tropicals. Keep it out of direct summer sun through glass, which scorches the leaves, and away from cold draughts, and above about 15°C. The RHS also suggests wiping the leaves occasionally to remove dust, which matters in a city where fine dust settles on every surface, and says a plant can usually stay in its original pot for a couple of years.

Water once the top of the compost has dried, and never leave it standing in water; saturated compost causes root rot (RHS). Feed with a general houseplant fertiliser from April to September, diluted, since Clemson notes excess fertiliser curls and browns the leaf tips.

Pruning is easy and rewarding. Cut back leggy stems in spring, just as growth starts, for fuller leafy growth (RHS), and root the cuttings in a glass of water in a couple of weeks. Climbing forms trained on a moss pole eventually root into it if it is kept moist. NC State distinguishes it from pothos by its free stipules on new growth and its rounded, ungrooved leaf stalks.

Design

Where to use it

Shelf trailerHanging planterMoss-pole climberHallway or bedroom

Heartleaf philodendron is the plant for parts of a Dubai home that get a little daylight but not much: a hallway shelf, a bookcase, a bathroom with a small window. Let it trail from a high shelf or hanging basket for a soft cascading line, or give it a moss pole near a brighter window. Keep it out of the direct sun of an afternoon window, and away from the cold stream of an AC vent. Keep trailing stems well out of reach of pets and children.

Monstera

Monstera's huge, cut leaves share the same aroid leaf shape as philodendron's small hearts, so a trailing philodendron fits naturally at its base.

Snake plant

Snake plant's stiff upright blades contrast with the soft, trailing stems of philodendron in the same low-light corner.

Peace lily

Peace lily's broad leaves and white spathes pair with philodendron's slender trailing vines, and both like similar moderate light and moisture.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering: Summer: Water once the top of the compost has dried, often every 7 to 10 days in a cool AC room; never leave it standing in water.
Winter: Water a little less often as growth slows, perhaps every 10 to 14 days.
Soil: A loose, free-draining potting mix that is slightly acidic (RHS); choose a pot only a few centimetres wider than the root ball.
Feeding: A general houseplant fertiliser from April to September (RHS), diluted, since excess fertiliser curls and browns the leaf tips (Clemson).
Pruning: Prune leggy stems in spring, just as growth starts (RHS); cut just below a leaf joint, and root 10 cm cuttings in a glass of water.
Planting: Repot every couple of years in spring when roots are dense (RHS); give it a moss pole to climb, or let it trail from a shelf or basket.
Pests: MealybugsRed spider mitesScale insects

Avoid these

Common mistakes

Watering on a fixed schedule. The RHS says overwatering or poorly draining compost causes root rot, yellowing leaves and eventually collapse; let the top of the compost dry first.
Leaving it in a very dark spot. In too little light it grows leggy with fewer, smaller leaves (RHS); a brighter spot restores fuller growth.
Never pruning. Straggly stems get bare at the base; the RHS says cutting back in spring encourages fresh, leafy growth.
Putting it in direct hot sun through glass. The RHS says direct summer sun can scorch the leaves.
Hanging it where pets or children can reach the trailing stems. All parts are toxic if eaten (Clemson), and the sap can irritate skin.

Extra notes

Good to know

The ASPCA lists heartleaf philodendron as toxic to dogs, cats and horses because of insoluble calcium oxalates; NC State adds that it can cause contact dermatitis.
It is easy to confuse with pothos. NC State distinguishes it by the conspicuous stipules on new growth and its non-grooved leaf stalks.
The name 'split-leaf philodendron' is also applied to Monstera deliciosa, which NC State says is not actually a philodendron.
Climbing forms trained on a moss pole eventually root into it if it is kept moist (RHS).

Toxicity: Toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA: insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting (not horses) and difficulty swallowing. The RHS says the sap can irritate skin, so keep it out of reach of children and pets.

Pros

Tolerates low light and the lower humidity of most homes
Trails from a shelf or climbs a moss pole: two looks from one plant
Fast-growing; cuttings root in a glass of water in a couple of weeks
Heart-shaped leaves on slender, cascading stems soften shelves and edges

Cons

Toxic to cats, dogs and horses if chewed (ASPCA); sap can irritate skin
Turns leggy with small leaves in very low light
Roots rot if the compost stays wet
Needs regular pruning to stay full rather than straggly

FAQ

Common questions

What is the difference between philodendron and pothos?

They are close relatives and look alike. NC State says heartleaf philodendron has conspicuous stipules on new growth and rounded, ungrooved leaf stalks, whereas pothos has grooved stalks. Care is very similar.

Why is my philodendron leggy with small leaves?

Too little light. The RHS says it becomes leggy with fewer, smaller leaves in dim spots. Move it to bright, indirect light and cut back long stems in spring to encourage fuller growth.

Can philodendron grow in a low-light Dubai flat?

Yes. NC State says it can survive long periods in extremely low light, and the RHS says it is happy in the lower humidity of most homes. Growth is slower and leggier than in bright, indirect light.

Is philodendron safe for cats and dogs?

No. The ASPCA lists heartleaf philodendron as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Chewing causes mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting, so hang it out of reach.

How do I propagate a philodendron?

The RHS says to remove a 10 cm stem piece, cutting just below a leaf joint, strip the lower leaves and stand it in a glass of water; roots form in a couple of weeks, and it can then be potted up.

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