Variegated Philodendron: Philodendron ilsemanii variegata

Training an Air plant which has the scientific name of Philodendron ilsemanii variegata, or commonly known as the Philodendron variegata, is relatively easy and doesn’t require much effort on your part. These plants are very popular among houseplants as they don’t require much care or attention to thrive in any environment, making them perfect plants for beginners who want to grow indoor plants but don’t know where to start from! Here are a few steps you can follow to train your own Philodendron ilsemanii variegata!

Watering
There is very little information about when and how to water a Variegated philodendron, so here are some basic rules. First, only water once it starts to dry out. Second, make sure that it does not sit in any water after watering. Third, if you see yellow or brown leaf tips or edges then you have over watered your plant and you should allow it to dry out more before watering again.

Fertilizing
In nature, Philodendron grows on trees, typically in rainforests. There is no need to fertilize potted philodendrons. In fact, over-fertilizing will kill them. Instead, water thoroughly and then allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering again. To test for moisture, stick your finger about 3 inches (7.5 cm) into moist soil. If it feels wet a half inch (1 cm) beneath the surface then don’t water; if it feels dry at that depth then you can water a little bit at a time until it reaches that depth again–but don’t get carried away! Do not let plants sit in standing water.

Pruning
Variegated philodendrons need pruning to maintain their beautiful appearance. During late spring and early summer, it’s important to pinch back stems that have more than three sets of leaves on them. Pinching back stems prevents them from getting too leggy, helps get rid of any dead growth and keeps your plant looking healthy and vibrant. If your plant gets leggy in winter, you can choose to cut some stems down to a basal stem (new leaves will grow out of it) or you can leave everything alone until new growth starts up again in spring. Your philodendron will bounce back nicely with a little TLC; simply keep it well-watered throughout the year, provide consistent light and prune as needed.

Indoor Light Requirements
Indoor philodendrons require bright indirect sunlight. If you are unable to provide bright sunlight, supplemental lighting can be used. A room with a window that gets at least four hours of direct sun is ideal for growing your philodendron. Other rooms with good indirect light will work as well, but to keep it short and sweet, we’ll say between four and eight hours of indirect sunlight per day is great for maintaining a healthy philodendron plant. If you live in an area that has dull winter days or overcast weather in general, use artificial lighting as needed to give your plant proper light exposure through fall and winter months.

Outdoor Light Requirements
Full sun to partial shade (the more sunlight it gets, the greener and brighter its leaves will be). However, you should still give it some afternoon shade if you live in a particularly hot area or during periods of extreme summer heat. While it’s safe to leave p. ilsemanii outside year-round in frost-free zones and areas with mild winters, you should bring it inside if temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night. If night temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees F, you can leave your plant outdoors year-round without worrying about any issues related to cold temperatures—just make sure there is good air circulation so that mold does not develop on its leaves.

Indoors vs. Outdoors
If you’re thinking about growing a philodendron, you should think about whether you want it inside or outside. Philodendrons can live for up to two years in full sun and soil that is dry, but it will look better if you provide it with bright light and filtered sunlight. However, they do not thrive outdoors year-round; when temperatures drop below freezing (32 degrees F), your plant may die back completely. If that happens, move it indoors until spring. While both indoor and outdoor plants will benefit from daily misting of their leaves, outdoor plants need more frequent watering than those kept indoors because they are subject to losing some water through transpiration as soon as sunlight hits their leaves.

Additional Tips
Philodendrons are best grown in containers, as they’re quite tall and can easily overpower a space. They love humidity, so place them on pebble trays with water (or have a humidifier nearby) and keep them out of drafts. If you like your plants to cascade down your walls or furniture, use a mix of soil that drains well but holds moisture well. It’s a good idea to feed your philodendron every two weeks with liquid fertilizer or dilute fish emulsion. And because they can drop their leaves if there isn’t enough light (too much sun can burn them as well), rotating it every few months is important.