Plant Species: Philodendron burle-marxii

Plant Genus: Philodendron

Plant Family: Araceae

Native Habitat: It grows in the humid tropical biome of South America, specifically in Northern Brazil, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Soil Drainage: Moist and well-draining soil is recommended, composed of a substrate mix containing coco coir, perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and pumice.

Soil pH: Acidic

Fertilizers: Philodendron burle-marxii doesn't have high fertilizer requirements. However, for optimal growth, we recommend using a bio-type fertilizer (we use the BioBizz brand for the plants we cultivate) from the beginning of March to the end of November.

Air Humidity: It is well-adapted to indoor environments, with air humidity starting from 40%.

Temperature: 18-26 degrees Celsius (64-79 degrees Fahrenheit)

Light: Full indirect light

Plant Height Including Pot: 35-40cm (14-16 inches)

Pot Diameter: 8x8cm (3.1x3.1 inches)

Philodendron burle-marxii received its name after Roberto Burle Marx, a Brazilian landscape architect who deserves a more comprehensive presentation (or at least two paragraphs 😊), as he was the first to incorporate tropical plants into modern landscape design projects. Furthermore, his name is closely associated with an important part of the history of documenting various Philodendron species, as his collection includes over 500 different species. Additionally, Burle Marx was one of the early voices advocating for the conservation of Brazilian forests.

His legacy extends beyond the aforementioned achievements; the most significant part of it is the 365,000 square meters property on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. Roberto Burle Marx acquired it in 1949, transformed it into a garden featuring 3,500 plant species, and donated it to the Brazilian government in 1985, becoming a national monument. It's known as Sitio Roberto Burle Marx and is open to visitors.

Philodendron burle-marxii stands out due to its unusual growth pattern, distinct from the majority of other Philodendron species. It forms clusters that can reach approximately 2 meters (6.6 feet) in height and 2-3 meters (6.6-9.8 feet) in width in its natural habitat. Unlike its climbing vine-like siblings, which have visible growth nodes from which aerial roots emerge, Philodendron burle-marxii grows in clusters that emerge anywhere on the main stem, with no visible growth nodes.

Its heart-shaped, glossy green leaves have a lacquered appearance, and the long petioles give them the semblance of green heart swarms.

It is well-suited to indoor humidity conditions, thriving even at 40% humidity.

Like all Philodendron species, Philodendron burle-marxii loves full indirect light (direct sunlight can cause leaf discoloration) and should be watered when the top two centimeters of the substrate have dried.

Attention! To check the substrate's moisture level, inserting a finger into the pot to a depth of 2 cm (about 0.8 inches) is the best method. Therefore, if you feel the substrate is moist, keep the spray bottle away for a day or two, and if it feels dry, water it.

Attention 2! When discussing watering, consider the pot's size, the amount of substrate, and its aeration. Do not pour a liter of water into a pot with a diameter and height of 12 cm (4.7 inches), as it could drown the plant's roots. It's best to discard excess water from the saucer about half an hour after watering.

The plant should be mounted on a support pole covered in coconut fiber or moss. This allows the aerial roots to attach to the support, resulting in a more robust stem and progressively larger leaves.

Best of luck with caring for it! And don't forget to provide updates about your plant using the hashtag #greenmirrors and tagging @green.mirrors in your Instagram posts! We promise to share them in our stories.

Tags: Philodendron, Philodendron burle-marxii, Philodendron burle marx, Araceae, rare plants, unusual plants, decorative foliage plants, trailing plants, air-purifying plants, indoor decorative plants, plants for terrariums, terrarium plants.