How to Care for Philodendron Imperial Green

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Philodendron Imperial Green is a cultivar within the genus Philodendron, within the Araceae family. The Philodendron genus has over 400 different recognized species, which vary widely in shape and size. They make great house plants and are prized for their beautiful, lush, evergreen foliage and interesting leaf shapes.

Philodendrons originate from the North, Central and South Americas, where they grew in the understories of hot and humid rainforests. They have numerous growing habits, from huge standing plants with giant leaves to dainty trailing varieties, with lush cascades of little heart-shaped leaves. Plants of the genus Philodendron have been widely cultivated, and there are numerous variations, including Philodendron Florida Ghost, Philodendron Pedatum, Philodendron Birkin, and Lemon Lime Philodendron.

Philodendron Imperial Green

Philodendron Imperial Green is a small to medium-sized plant, with a compact, upright growing habit and large, glossy green leaves. The variety is particularly popular as a houseplant due to its attractive, vibrant foliage that lasts year-round and provides a tropical feel to any room.

They’re also relatively easy to care for and do well in most indoor environments – their temperature, humidity and light requirements are pretty close to those favored by people.

Where to plant your Philodendron Imperial Green

Location, Space, Light, Container and Potting Mix

In the right conditions, a Philodendron Imperial Green will thrive with little maintenance. Choosing the right location, giving it enough space and light, making sure it is within a comfortable temperature and humidity range is all that is required to begin with.

Thereafter, you will need to water it regularly and feed it occasionally and that is pretty much it!

Space and Location

Mature plants, grown indoors, will be 40 to 75cm high and spread up to about 65cm wide. As a fairly compact plant, it does not need a great deal of space to spread but it does need good air circulation so it is best not to crowd them with other plants.

Look for a spot where there is plenty of gentle air movement (avoid cold drafts and hot, dry drafts) and where there is good, indirect light.

Light

Philodendron Imperial Green will happily tolerate a wide range of light conditions, from low to bright light. They can even do well with only artificial light if they get enough of it. However, they will do best in bright, indirect or filtered natural light.

They do not tolerate bright, direct sunlight though. Direct sunlight will scorch leaves and damage the plant, so be sure that the plant is not in direct sun.

Temperature and Humidity

These plants like a warm and slightly humid environment. They do best in temperatures ranging between 18 and 28 Celsius (64.4 to 82.4 Fahrenheit). They can tolerate short dips in temperature, down to around 12C/53.6F, but they do not tolerate the cold well at all. Keep them away from windows and cold draughts in the winter.

Philodendron Imperial Green will do best in slightly higher humidity ranges (around 65% to 70% is perfect) but they will adapt to more or less humidity. As a general rule, they will survive at 40% and up but they won’t thrive until the humidity 60% or more.

Choosing the right container

Container shape and size make a huge difference to plant health and plant care. Containers need to the right size for the size of the plant.

When a container is too large, the medium holds more water than the plant can access and use, which leads to issues like waterlogging and root rot. When a container is the wrong shape, it can lead to rapid water loss (more surface area in a wide and shallow pot leads to rapid evaporation) or to the plant not being able to take root securely enough to support its height.

For Philodendron Imperial Green, the best pot is one that drains well, is the right size (the pot it came in will do for the first year, then go up by 4cm/2” when you repot, unless it is very root bound, then you can go a little bigger) and the right shape. These plants are standing plants and their roots grow downwards rather than spreading so look for a pot that is deeper than it is wide. Standard nursery pots work well. Make sure the container drains freely.

The right potting medium

The best potting medium for a Philodendron Imperial Green is one that drains well and has a pH level of between 5 and 8. A ‘5:1:1 mix’ made by mixing 5-parts bark, 1-part potting soil or peat moss and 1-part perlite is a good option.

How to Care for Philodendron Imperial Green

Watering, Feeding, Pruning, and Pest Control

In terms of on-going care, Philodendron Imperial Green is wonderfully easy to care for!

The conditions in your home, in the location you have chosen for your plant, the climate and the season will all affect the care routine to some extent. Keep an eye on your plant and adjust as you see fit, but the following is a general guideline you can start with.

Watering

Water regularly and aim to keep the soil moderately moist. The top 25% of the soil can dry out but it’s best not to let it dry out completely. Check the soil by sticking your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle (about 2.5cm deep) – if it is dry, you can water the plant. If it is wet, let it dry out a little more before you water it.

If you have a moisture meter, a reading of 3 (bottom end of the moist range) usually means it needs watering. Avoid extremes – too wet and too dry are both not ideal conditions. Overwatering will lead to root rot and plant death.

Pruning

As a perennial, evergreen plant you do not need to prune Philodendron Imperial Green in the traditional sense. You can neaten it up and remove any leggy stems at the beginning of the growing season (spring) and you can clip away any dead or unhealthy leaves at any time of the year. Remember to use a clean, sterilized blade whenever you cut them to avoid any infections.

Feeding

Feed once or twice a month in spring and summer, using a balanced liquid fertilizer, which contains a more or less equal ratio of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (look for equal NPK numbers on the bottle). Dilute the mixture to half the recommended strength and water the base of the plant or mist the leaves with the diluted solution. Do not feed in winter as the plant won’t utilize the nutrients and they can build up in the soil, which will damage the plant.

Philodendron Imperial Green – Pest and Disease Treatment

Philodendrons are prone to some pests and diseases. Keeping plants healthy, clean, and correctly watered will usually be enough to prevent most pests or diseases but promptly identifying and treating any problems that do occur can save the plant.

Look out for the following:

1. Erwinia blight (Fire Blight) is possibly the most common problem seen on Philodendron plants. It is a bacterial infection that manifests as wet lesions, which ooze and produce a bad smell. The infection spreads quickly and can kill a plant in just a day or two. Controlling it is difficult but you can prune off any affected parts and disposing of them away from other plants. It spreads very easily so make sure you sterilize your tools, isolate the plant and water from the base.
2. Xanthomonas Bacterial Leaf Spot is another common problem on Philodendrons (and all large leaf house plants). The spots appear on the leaves as dark lesions, which sometimes have a yellow halo around them. They can appear anywhere on the leaf. Treatment is tricky but copper fungicides and bacterial sprays can work. The best method to use is to cut away affected leaves as soon as the lesions appear to prevent the spread of the bacteria. Dispose of the infected leaves away from other plants and sterilize your tools.
3. Root Rot will occur in overly damp conditions. Make sure the plant dries out between watering and that the soil drains well. If the plant isn’t looking well and there are no obvious pests or infections, pull the root ball and soil away from the pot and check to see how wet the soil is at the bottom of the pot. If the soil is wet, check the roots to see if any have rotted and died. Cut these away and re-pot the plant. Water it once and allow it to dry out completely.
4. Mealybugs, Scale, Aphids, and Spider Mites – These pests are commonly found on most foliage plants. The best way to treat these is by cleaning them manually off the leaves with a damp cloth and warm, soapy water. Natural remedies, such as Neem Oil, are another safe and effective method. Spray the leaves and stems with the Neem Oil mixture and then wipe them down gently with a washcloth to remove the insects.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Philodendron Imperial Green a beautiful, evergreen, perennial foliage plant. It makes an ideal houseplant and adds a touch of gorgeous, lush, tropical greenery to any room. It is easy to care for and it tolerates a wide range of light conditions and thrives in the temperature and humidity range of an average home, in a warm climate. Overall, it is a great option if you’re looking to add some greenery and some form to any indoor space!

It must be noted that Philodendron Imperial Green is toxic to humans and animals – keep it out of reach of pets and children.

Where to Buy Philodendron Imperial Green

The Philodendron Imperial Green is available for sale from Amazon and Etsy.

Click here to check the price on Amazon.

Click here to check the price on Etsy.