Philodendron Splendid (aka Philodendron Verrucosum x Melanochrysum)
Philodendron Splendid is, well, rather splendid! The great news is that it is a relatively easy to care for plant as long as you keep it humid and look out for a few issues….
Philodendron Splendid Summary
| Light needs: | Bright indirect sunlight. |
| Watering needs: | Water when top half of the soil dry, check once a week. |
| Fertilizer: | High nitrogen feed once a month in summer. |
| Soil: | A loose, rich and well-draining soil. |
| Humidity: | 60% |
| Temperature: | 18°C to 25°C (64-77°F). |
| Where to buy: | Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy. |
| Common issues: | Root rot from overwatering, fungal issues on leaves. |
Introduction
The philodendron splendid is a hybrid plant that is a cross between the verrucosum and the melanochrysum. It produces big and bold velvety and veined leaves (the velvet leaf texture is from the melanochrysum with the big bold veins of the verrucosum). It is an absolute stunner! They are relatively fast growing which is great as they are often sold as small plants or node cuttings due to their rarity.
For more on the verrucosum you can see our guide here: Philodendron Verrucosum. For more on the melanochrysum see: Philodendron Melanochrysum Care.
See also: Philodendron Verrucosum Propagation In Water, Philodendron Burle Marx Care, Philodendron McDowell, Philodendron Ring Of Fire Care, and our Philodendron Propagation section.
Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.
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Philodendron Splendid Light Needs
Philodendrons love bright but indirect sunlight. Don’t let them get direct sunlight, as it can burn, but give them as much indirect as you can to encourage those beautiful leaves to grow.
How Often to Water
Let the top half of the soil dry out before watering again, check it with your finger once a week. You want to give it as much water as it needs without letting it sit in waterlogged soil so that it grows as healthily as possible but does not get root rot. Avoid overly wet soil, this plant does not like a soggy bottom!
At watering time, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for pests like Fungus Gnats.
Tip: underwater this plant rather than overwater it, they must not sit in soggy soil as they get root rot easily. Check the soil and only water if mostly dry, and make sure you don’t leave the pot sat in any excess water.
Fertilizer
Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen once a month in the summer months to nourish the foliage. Nitrogen content is ideal for leafy plants like this.
Philodendron Splendid Soil
A loose, rich and well-draining soil is a great home for a philodendron splendid. They hate to sit in wet soil, I use a mix of orchid bark, perlite and normal potting compost in equal parts, which give them a chunky and well draining medium. For more on Philodendron soil see our guide on what to buy or how to make your own: Philodendron Soil.
When To Repot
Repot in spring if root bound. Then the plant can adjust to the new size over the following growing months. You don’t want plants to get root bound as tight roots can stop water draining out of the pot which can lead to root rot., you want to give the roots space to grow, so the plant can in turn grow well.
Tip: give the plant a moss pole, they are not just to keep the plant’s growth tidy, they can encourage bigger leaf growth too.
Philodendron Splendid Humidity
60% and above humidity is best for splendid. Leafy philodendrons like this will do well with a humidifier that takes them over the normal household humidity range. If you don’t have one, then a grow tent or cabinet with a open jar of water in it will help a lot.
We recommend getting a humidity meter to monitor the temperature and humidity (they give maximum and minimum read outs so you know if they are falling off at night). They’re really cheap these days, under 20 euros / dollars.
Temperature
18°C to 25°C (64-77°F) is a good range for the day time. so your splendid will do well in most household temperatures. I would try to keep it above 12°C (54°F) as a minimum at night and avoid cold drafts.
See also: Philodendron Black Cardinal, Philodendron Sodiroi, Philodendron Tripartitum Care.
Is It Toxic To Cats?
They are toxic to dog and cats if eaten, causing sickness and oral irritations, makes sure you contact a vet straight away if you think your pet has eaten any.
Where To Buy
Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.
Other Names
Philodendron verrucosum x melanochrysum (it’s a hybrid of these two plants).
Philodendron Splendid Propagation
The best way to propagate your splendid is with sphagnum moss. Take a cutting of the stem with a leaf on it and a node, then bury the node in a cup of wet sphagnum moss. Put the cup under lights or an area of bright indirect sunlight until they root. Be careful to keep the moss moist but not too wet to keep the chance of rot as low as possible.
You can do the same with node cuttings, just bury the small section with the node in some moist sphagnum moss and wait for it to root. A good idea is to put leca under the moss so that any excess water can drain off, as node cuttings are most susceptible to rot.
You can also propagate these plants in water alone, leca or soil. I prefer moss, as you get air to the roots and less rot than you get with soil. But these other methods are also good. Whatever method you use, try to keep the cutting humid as it encourages rooting, but also allow some air to get in and out, so an open topped terrarium or even an open plastic bag around the cutting will help with this.
For more on philodendrons see our philodendron category with all our philodendron care guides.
Philodendron Splendid Growth Rate
They grow fairly fast for a houseplant, but moderately for a philodendron.
Philodendron Splendid USDA Zone
Zones 10-11. They don’t like cold temperatures and do best indoors.
Philodendron Splendid Vs Melanochrysum
The main difference is the philodendron splendid has bigger leaves due to it being a hybrid of both a verrucosum and melanochrysum. Both the philodendron splendid and the melanochrysum have similar velvety leaves.
Philodendron Splendid Vs Gloriosum
There are a few differences and you can tell these plant apart relatively easily. Firstly they grow in different ways: the splendid is a climbing philodendron and the gloriosum is a crawler. The splendid has thicker and more defined veins on it’s leaves too, and the newer leaves get that burgundy verrucosum hue to them (as opposed to pink in the gloriosum).
Philodendron Splendid Vs Verrucosum
The splendid and verrucosum are very similar plants as the splendid is a half verrucosum hybrid, but you can tell them apart as the splendid has the velvety leaf texture of the melanochrysum, the verrucosum does not. They both have the big bold veins on heart shaped leaves.
Philodendron Splendid Vs Glorious
Both the splendid and the glorious are hybrids of melanochrysum. for mor on the difference see this guide here: Philodendron Glorious Care.
Philodendron Splendid Vs Micans
The micans can easily be told apart from the splendid as the micans is a vining plant that will trail down. The splendid is a climbing philodendron, with much bigger leaves.
Philodendron Splendid Vs El Choco Red
The el choco red has a reddy brown underside to it’s leaves and has more pronounced ribbed leaves. The splendid has green on both sides of its leaves.
FAQs and Common Problems
Be careful with root rot from overwatering, as well as fungal issues on the leaves. Both of these issues will show on the leaves, if you get yellowing it is normally a sign of overwatering.
Is Philodendron Splendid A Climber Or Crawler?
The splendid is a climbing philodendron, and will climb upwards naturally. You may need to give it some support, and stake it as it gets bigger.
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves occur when the plant’s care needs are not met. It is usually due to over watering. But can also be due to underwatering, pests to too much sun. Check the plants soil each week and only water it if it is starting to dry out, and make sure the plant is not sat in water. It is a good idea to check the leaves for pests weekly too.
Drooping
Drooping happens to to too much or too little water. Again, make sure you are watering the plant well and not over or under doing it. Check the soil weekly and make sure it is mostly dry before watering again,
Can it grow in leca?
They grow well in leca. It’s a good idea to use a semi hydroponic feed, always over dilute if unsure as the plant can survive on water alone but can be burned by too much fertilizer.
Can it grow in water?
They can grow in water alone if you take a cutting and root it in water it should develop water roots and then can live there ongoing as long as you don’t get rot (cloudy water is a sign of rot, so change it immediately and remove any foliage form the water).
Additional Resources
Links: Our articles on The Splendid’s ‘parents’: Philodendron Verrucosum and Philodendron Melanochrysum. See also our guide to Philodendron Soil.
Buy At Amazon (affiliate links):
- Humidity meter (a cheap way to monitor humidity and temperature levels)
- Humidifier (to maintain humidity levels)
- Compost / potting mix (Miracle Grow)
- Perlite (to add drainage to soil mixes)
- Moss pole
- Plant Pots
- How Not to Kill Your Houseplant (book)
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