Plant Species: Philodendron hederaceum var. oxycardium Brasil 

Plant Genus: Philodendron 

Plant Family: Araceae 

Native Habitat: Mexico, Honduras 

Soil Drainage: Well-drained soil is recommended, we suggest using a substrate mix composed of coco coir, perlite, vermiculite, sphagnum moss, and pumice. 

Soil pH: Acidic 

Fertilizers: Philodendron hederaceum var. oxycardium Brasil is a very easy-to-care-for plant with minimal fertilizer needs. However, for the plant's optimal development, we recommend using a bio-type fertilizer (we use the BioBizz brand for the plants we cultivate) from early March to the end of November. 

Air Humidity: This cultivar is perfectly adapted to indoor conditions, thriving well even in low humidity, down to 40%. However, it's worth noting that in such conditions, aerial roots may not develop, resulting in the plant not growing vertically like typical epiphytic plants but rather exhibiting a more trailing growth habit. 

Temperature: 18-29 degrees Celsius 

Plant Height with Pot: 20-25cm 

Pot Diameter: 12cm 

Because there are several mutations of Philodendron hederaceum var. oxycardium that have led to different but very similar cultivars in terms of colors and variegation patterns, it's important to mention them in the preamble of this text. 

There are seven known mutations of Philodendron hederaceum var. oxycardium, with differences not only in colors but also in availability on the market and plant cost. 

In the order of their availability on the Romanian and European markets (and consequently, this list should be viewed from "cheapest to most expensive"), these are: 

• Philodendron hederaceum Brasil – the colors in the center of the leaf range from yellow to light green, bordered by dark green. 
• Philodendron hederaceum Lemon lime – the color of the newly emerged leaf is entirely yellow-green (a hint of pink may appear if the plant is exposed to excessive light), which matures into a light green with a yellowish tint. 
• Philodendron hederaceum variegata – this is a classic variegation with white splashes of different shapes and sizes, without a specific pattern, which turns into light green as the leaf matures. 
• Philodendron hederaceum Silver Stripe – this is a stable cultivar, with variegation starting with a light green at the center of the leaf, bordered by a silver line separating the central variegation from the rest of the leaf, which is dark green. As mentioned above, the variegation of this cultivar is stable, with leaves being very similar to each other as the plant develops. 
• Philodendron hederaceum Cream Splash – this is a cultivar derived from Silver Stripe, which underwent an additional mutation resulting in a new color, namely cream-white, positioned between the light green at the center of the leaf and the silver bordering it. It is a relatively inconsistent cultivar in terms of variegation pattern, being able to produce almost completely cream-white leaves, followed by leaves with a thin white-silver line placed in the center of the leaf. 
• Philodendron hederaceum Rio – variegation pattern, starting from the center of the leaf, silver, cream-white, silver, dark green, available only on the US market, from the Gabriella Plants producer. 
• Philodendron hederaceum Gabby – variegation pattern, starting from the center of the leaf, light green, cream-white, dark green / light green, so the variegation covers the largest area of the leaf. This cultivar is only available on the US market, from the Gabriella Plants producer. 

Philodendron hederaceum Brasil is a common cultivar, a very easy-to-grow and maintain plant, making it a perfect candidate for a novice plant parent. 

Ideal growth conditions include an air humidity of 60-70%, but it thrives admirably even in an environment with low humidity, as low as 35-40%. 

Brasil loves full indirect sunlight (east-facing windows are the best options) and a substrate should be watered when the top two cm have dried out. 

Attention! To check the moisture level of the substrate, inserting a finger into the pot at a depth of 2 cm is the best method for measuring soil moisture.

Therefore, if you feel the substrate is moist, keep the spray bottle away from it for a day or two, and if it feels dry, water it.  

Attention 2! When we talk about watering, we must consider the pot in which the plant is planted, as well as the amount of substrate and its aeration level. That is, we don't pour a liter of water into a pot with a diameter and height of 12 cm, because we'll drown the plant's roots. It's best to discard excess water from the collector tray half an hour after watering. 

The plant can be mounted on a support pole wrapped in coconut fiber, in which case the aerial roots will attach to this support, resulting in a plant with a more vigorous stem and increasingly larger leaves. 

Also, if you're more a fan of the aesthetics of trailing plants, you can let it grow without support, and as the vines elongate, you can secure them to walls with special clips. 

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

Tags: Philodendron, Philodendron hederaceum, Philodendron hederaceum Brasil, Araceae, rare plants, unusual plants, decorative foliage plants, trailing plants, purifying plants, decorative indoor plants, office plants.