Philodendron Gloriosum

Philodendron gloriosum belongs to the Araceae family and is a terrestrial plant. It is within the Philodendron genus and is a crawling Philodendron with heartleaf shaped green velvety foliage and pale to striking white veins.

By crawling we mean creeping on the ground. Its stem grows horizontally along the surface. Philodendrons are either climbers or creepers. This one is a creeper.

The plant is native to Colombia and other tropical parts of the world. Apart from Colombia, it is found in Mexico, Central America as well as Peru, Ecuador, the western parts of Brazil and Venezuela.

Soil

Well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter is your best choice when it comes to the Philodendron gloriosum. You can make use of an orchid potting mix and add in peat and perlite to lighten up the soil and create better aeration. Oxygen is very important for the roots.

A further ingredient in many aroid mixes is horticultural charcoal. It is said to sweeten the soil and to remove toxins.

One may ask why on earth a plant would appreciate having charcoal in its soil. The reason is quite simple. You should always try to imitate the natural habitat of the plant you are growing as well as possible.

Forest burn down naturally from time to time caused by wildfires. Charcoal, the product from burned down trees, is therefore present in the natural habitat of Aroids.

If the soil is dense, it may cause the roots of the Philodendron gloriosum to suffocate and might cause root rot .

A soil pH level between 5-8 is best.

Light

Philodendron gloriosum prefers bright indirect light. There is a big debate in the aroid collectors world whether shade, semi-shade or a bright spot leads to the better growing conditions for your Philodendron Gloriosum.

Based on our experience these plants grow the best close to a window with bright indirect light. Too much direct sunlight will lead to yellow leaves and will damage your plant.

It is said that in perfect conditions in nature shade is best but to be honest if you are growing a Philodendron Gloriosum you will not even come close to conditions that are perfect for your Gloriosum. Let’s therefore stick with bright indirect light.

Long leggy leaves, as well as big distances between leaves, can be indicators that your plant is not getting enough light. Place your plant closer to a window but make sure that the sun rays do not touch the leaves directly.

Watering

Keep the soil damp but not soggy. Philodendron gloriosum is a plant that prefers to have slightly moist soil but you should definitely not overdo it as this can lead to root rot.

Read our guide about how to treat root rot in case you are spotting signals such as mushy roots or yellowing leaves caused by overwatering.

If you overwater your plant, the roots might not be able to intake any more water. The leaves of your Philodendron Gloriosum will droop.

If you do not water sufficiently, this plant will also indicate it by dropping leaves. The best indicator will be to stick your index finger into the soil in order to know which one is the cause.

Temperature

The best temperature range for a Philodendron gloriosum is 45°F  to 95°F (7°C – 35°C). Night te