Plants have become a popular form of home decor over recent years. Their surge in popularity could be due to the health benefits they give their owners. It could be due to people wanting to feel closer to nature. Whatever the reason is, the popularity of plants is not waning anytime soon!
The Philodendron Grazielae is a beautiful vine plant with thick and beefy stems. From these strong stems grows shiny medium-green leaves that resemble a cascade of hearts raining down on their owner. These beautiful plants deserve the best care possible, and we are here to aid in that care.
In this article, we will cover how to care for your Philodendron Grazielae, from the basics to complex care needs. We will also cover other facts you need to know to ensure you provide the best care possible for this plant.
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Caring for Your Philodendron Grazielae
The Philodendron Grazielae is an easy-to-care-for plant that is an excellent choice for beginning plant owners. The Philodendron Grazielae is a moderately sized plant with a maximum height of 3ft. So if you want an easy-to-care-for medium-sized plant, this could be the right choice for you!
But before you decide, here are the guidelines for caring for the Philodendron Grazielae:
Light
In nature, the Philodendron Grazielae hides under a canopy of other plants, only receiving medium to semi-shaded light. It does this to prevent becoming burnt as this plant burns quickly in direct sunlight. So avoid placing it in a spot where the sunlight is immediate and intense.
To give your Philodendron Graziele its best chance to thrive, place it in a spot where it can enjoy bright, indirect sunlight.
If you do not have such a spot in your house, you can house it under grow lights as a good light source. We recommend LED grow lights because they do not produce much residual heat, preventing your plant from becoming damaged.
Humidity
The Philodendron Grazielae is a tropical plant that enjoys high humidity levels while tolerating average household humidity.
If you want to improve this plant’s growth, you will want to place it somewhere with 60% or higher humidity. So if you reside somewhere with high humidity during the Summer, putting it outside in a semi-shaded place will help it grow.
We understand if you would prefer to keep your plant inside to decrease the risk of sunburn or other issues. To boost the humidity indoors, we recommend using a humidifier to raise the humidity levels. Grouping plants together, misting them, or using a pebble/rock tray are other methods for boosting the humidity of a room.
And if you are privileged enough to own a greenhouse, then your greenhouse is the perfect place for the Philodendron Grazielae to live its best plant life.
Greenhouses offer the right amount of humidity, light, and other factors that plants need to thrive. So if you have one, use it. If you do not have one but are able to purchase one, consider doing so. It will help keep all your plant babies happy and also give you more space to buy plants!
Water
The Philodendron Grazielae is not picky when it comes to water. It has no special water needs or requirements. Keep it on a regular watering schedule, and it will be a happy and healthy plant!
Before giving it water, check to see if the top few inches of the soil have dried out. Though it is not picky about water, keeping its soil constantly wet can lead to issues such as root rot, fungal growth, and fungal gnats, to name a few.
You will notice as the weather changes that so does the frequency with which you need to water it. During the hot summer months, it will require more water as the heat dries out the soil at a faster rate.
During the cold winter months, you will not need to water as frequently. The cold air helps your soil keep in moisture for extended periods. However, we do not recommend placing it outside or in a freezing cold room as low temperatures can damage the plant.
Having a regular watering schedule and checking the soil moisture content can keep your plant perfectly watered and healthy.
Temperatures
As a tropical plant, the Philodendron Grazielae enjoys hotter weather. 65 to 85 degrees is the sweet spot for having a happy and healthy plant. But anything above that is fine, too, as long as they have an ample amount of water.
Any temperature below 60 degrees and your plant will not be happy. Though they can withstand a cold front or two, do not let them have too much exposure to cold temperatures to prevent the plant from becoming damaged.
Soil
Soil is an essential foundation for maintaining a healthy and thriving plant. The right or wrong soil can make or break your plant. The best type of soil to house the Philodendron Grazielae in is soil that has excellent aeration with good moisture retention and well-draining.
Though moisture is excellent for this plant, the Philodendron Grazielae is sensitive to having wet feet. So constantly being submerged in water will result in your plant developing root rot and wilting. Preventing the death of your plant is why having soil that drains well is vital to the health of this plant.
You can use regular potting soil for this plant, but if you want to add something extra to it, here are our suggestions:
- Charcoal/Coconut fiber (Removes toxins)
- Orchid bark (Makes soil less compacted, allowing for better airflow)
- Perlite (Naturally absorbent and improves drainage)
- Sphagnum peat moss (Has excellent moisture retention)
If you are unsure which natural additives to use, we recommend researching each of them and finding the one that fits your necessities and wants the most.
Fertilizer
The Philodendron Graziela is not a plant that requires heavy fertilization. You can fertilize them monthly during the growing season, which will be enough for them. However, if you observe any of the following signs, then you need to fertilize them more often:
- New leaves are fading in color.
- Leaf size is unusual/not consistent with other leaves.
- Stunted growth (or no further development at all).
Outside the growing season (Fall and Winter), you can drop down to fertilizing them every other month as they will not require as much fertilizer.
Be careful not to over-fertilize your Philodendron Graziela, as it can cause root burn and kill your plant. We recommend using half-strength or ¼ strength when fertilizing your plant to prevent over-fertilizing it.
Propagating Your Philodendron Grazielae
When propagating a Philodendron Grazielae, there are two methods plant experts recommend- stem cuttings into the soil and stem cuttings into water.
When cutting the Philodendron Grazielae for variegating, you should make cuttings just below the leaf node. Ideally, the cutting should have 2-3 leaves and be between 4 to 6 inches in length.
Depending on how quickly you want your new propagations to grow will depend on which method you choose. For quicker results, you will want to use the water method. However, the soil method is your best option if you are looking for more robust roots.
If you decide to choose the soil method, here is what you need to know:
- Plant the stem cutting in a pot of well-draining soil
- To increase humidity, cover the pot with plastic.
- Place the pot in a bright, warm spot with plenty of indirect sunlight.
- Keep soil moist.
- Wait 2-4 weeks for roots to emerge.
- Place the plant into its final home.
If you decide to choose the water method, here is what you need to know:
- Place the stem cutting in a jar or glass filled halfway or less with water.
- Remove potentially submerged leaves from the cutting before setting them in the jar or glass.
- Place the jar or glass in a bright, warm spot with plenty of indirect sunlight.
- Wait 2-4 weeks for roots to emerge.
- When the roots are half an inch or inch long, remove the plant from the water.
- Place the plant into its final pot filled with well-draining soil.
The best time to variegate the Philodendron Grazielae is during the Spring.
Philodendron Grazielae Vs Microstictum
The Philodendron Grazielae and the Philodendron Microstictum might appear similar at first glance, but these two plants are very different from one another.
As we learned in an earlier section of this article, the Philodendron Grazielae has heart-shaped shiny medium-green leaves. These leaves have a leathery feel and range from 3.7 to 4.3 inches. The leaves are also stiff with no flexibility, so if you bend a leaf, it will break off in your hand.
The Philodendron Microstictum has semi-glossy dark green leaves shaped like broad ovals with a tightly rolled tip. The leaves have a sub-leathery feel and can grow as large as 11.8 inches long by 8.5 inches wide. The leaves are more flexible and can bend without creasing.
Another difference between these two is their tolerance to sunlight. As we know, the Philodendron Grazielae cannot withstand bright, direct sunlight. However, the Philodendron Microstictum can withstand direct sunlight. In fact, it prefers direct sunlight!
These two philodendrons also grow at different rates. While the Philodendron Grazielae takes its time developing, the Philodendron Microstictum grows like a weed. So you will need to spend more time pruning the Microstictum than you would the Grazielae.
Other differences include their petioles and their inflorescences. The Microstictum’s petiole is longer and sheathed to almost half the length and is equally as long as the lamina. There is a dark green ring where the petiole and leaf blade meet.
The Grazielae’s petiole is slightly shorter than its leaf blade. It does not have a dark ring where the petiole and the leaf stake meet. The leaf stake is halfways the length except on leaves that have flowers. Those stakes are only 0.4 inches in length.
The Grazielae’s inflorescence occurs in small pairs with a short peduncle. They have cream-white spathes except at the base, which is pale green.
The Microstictum’s inflorescence has one long and large peduncle. The spathe is dark green on the outside with a pale green inside the blade part.
So next time you go plant shopping, use these identifiers to determine whether you are purchasing a Philodendron Grazielae, a Philodendron Microstictum, or another member of the philodendron family!
FAQs About The Philodendron Grazielae
So now that you have the basic knowledge to care for the Philodendron Graziela, how to propagate it, and how to identify it against other members of its species, it is time to dive into some frequently asked questions you might have about this plant.
Q: What should I do if my Philodendron Grazielae’s leaves are turning yellow?
A: Yellow leaves indicate that your plant is experiencing some issues. The leaves could be turning yellow due to over or underwatering, improper light conditions, pests, or a nutritional deficiency.
At the first sign of yellowing leaves, evaluate your watering schedule and the soil’s moisture levels. Make adjustments as needed.
If your plant is not getting enough bright light, move it to a sunnier location or under grow lights.
To help with nutrition issues, fertilizer your philodendron with a weak fertilizer solution once a month to see if that helps. If you already have your plant on a monthly fertilizer schedule, you can most likely rule this out as an issue.
Lastly, if you have had your philodendron for some time, the yellow leaves could be old foliage that is ready to be shed. You can do nothing about this except dispose of the old leaves before any pets can chew on them.
Q: Is the Philodendron Grazielae toxic?
A: Yes, the Philodendron Grazielae, like all Philodendrons, are toxic to humans and animals. All philodendrons have calcium oxalate crystals, which are in the plant sap.
We recommend wearing gardening gloves to prevent skin and eye irritation while handling this plant.
If your skin or eyes become irritated or your pet has eaten even the smallest amount of the plant, seek immediate medical and veterinary assistance.
Q: What size is a mature Philodendron Grazielae?
A: As we mentioned earlier in this article, this plant does not grow past 3ft tall. So a mature Philodendron Grazielae will be between 1.5 and 3 ft tall.
Q: Is the Philodendron Grazielae prone to pests?
A: The Philodendron Grazielae is not known for getting pest problems. As long as you keep this plant in good health, this is one stressor you can avoid.
However, this does not mean your Grazielae is immune to ever having any pest problems. If you notice your healthy philodendron suddenly turning sickly, pests could be the problem.
The most common pests attracted to philodendrons are aphids, mealybugs, and scale. These annoying pests suck the sap out of your plant. Since the sap is what holds the nutrients your plant needs, losing those nutrients can harm your plant significantly.
If you come across any pests, an insecticidal soap or neem oil are excellent remedies for treating your pest problem.
We also recommend moving your philodendron away from other plants to prevent the spread of pests.
Q: Is the Philodendron Grazielae a rare plant?
A: Yes, the Philodendron Grazielae is a rare plant. You will not locate it at your local plant nursery or Home Depot. To acquire one of these plants, you will need to peruse online shops or find an exotic plant grower in your area. Check out the links at the end of this article to purchase from Etsy.
Conclusion
The Philodendron Grazielae is a rare and easy-to-care-for plant that will make an excellent addition to anyone who collects plants.
Though it might take some research to find one, you will be glad you did once you do.
We wish you and your plant baby a long and thriving life together!
Where to Buy Philodendron Grazielae
The Philodendron Grazielae is available for sale from sellers on Etsy.
Click Here to Check Price on Etsy