Care guide
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum / Philodendron scandens
Perfect heart-shaped leaves on fast, forgiving trailing stems — the classic starter plant that still earns its place in every collection.
At a glance
tap for detail ↓Just arrived?
Welcome home! A little settling-in is completely normal — here’s what to know in week one.
- Drooping or leaf drop can have several causes. Check the compost, drainage and growing conditions rather than assuming it is only travel stress.
- Keep a healthy plant in its nursery pot while it settles. If it keeps wilting, the compost stays waterlogged or roots look damaged, check the cause rather than waiting a fixed number of weeks.
- Follow the watering advice for this plant below. Check the compost first and let excess water drain before returning the nursery pot to its cover.
Light
Bright shade to medium indirect light — it’s one of the most shade-tolerant trailers, keeping its deep green gloss where showier plants fade. Direct sun yellows the hearts.
Watering
Check weekly, water when the top few centimetres are dry, drain well. It signals thirst with a slight all-over droop and forgives the occasional lapse graciously.
The dipstick check
Slide a wooden stick or skewer a few centimetres into the soil.
Pull it out and look: damp soil clinging on means hold off.
Use the watering advice for this plant to decide whether it is ready for a drink. When you water, let the excess drain.
Humidity & temperature
Ordinary humidity is fine; more brings bigger leaves. Keep above 15°C and away from cold draughts.
Feeding
Monthly balanced feed through the growing season.
Repotting & size
Pot up a size every couple of years in spring in standard peat-free mix. Pinch growing tips regularly for a full plant, or run it up a pole or along a shelf — it’s equally happy climbing or trailing.
Something wrong?
Most problems are fixable — find the symptom below.
Yellow leaves
Cause
Overwatering, or too much direct sun.
Fix
Let it dry further between drinks and pull it back from harsh light.
Leggy, sparse growth
Cause
Low light stretching the stems.
Fix
Brighter shade plus regular tip-pinching thickens it up.
Brown tips
Cause
Dry air or erratic watering.
Fix
A steadier routine; trim tips if they bother you.
Drooping
Cause
Thirst — its standard signal.
Fix
Water thoroughly; recovery is quick.
Small new leaves
Cause
Hunger or a rootbound pot.
Fix
Feed in season and check the roots each spring.
No aerial roots taking to a pole
Cause
Air too dry for them to grip.
Fix
Mist the pole to encourage attachment — or just let it trail instead.
Meet the plant
Philodendron
- The perfect heart-shaped leaf has made it a beloved houseplant for generations.
- It’s often confused with pothos — the giveaway is the thinner, softer, perfectly heart-shaped leaf. Like pothos, it’s toxic to pets if chewed.
- Like pothos it transforms when climbing, producing larger leaves the higher it goes.
Shop this plant
Seasonal care tips, four times a year
What to change as the light changes — no spam, ever.
The sign-up form is not available right now. Browse our care guides for plant advice without signing up.
