Philodendron Verrucosum

Introduction

Philodendron verrucosum is know for it’s velvety leaves and has become really in demand as philodendrons came into vogue in this recent houseplant boom. And for good reason, it is a real beauty with those colorful and soft and really veiny leaves.

The leaves are really stunning, even the back and underneath, they have a red back and the stalks (well technically the petioles, the bit that attaches the stalk to the leaf) are hairy. They are amazing looking plants.

See also: Philodendron Verrucosum Propagation In Water, Philodendron Splendid, Philodendron White Knight, Philodendron Jose Buono Care, Philodendron Hastatum and our Philodendron Propagation section.

Philodendron Verrucosum Light Needs

Give them bright indirect sunlight. They should not be in direct sunlight, but do your best to give them as much bright light as possible without actually seeing direct sun.

How Often to Water

The best way to water a philodendron verrucosum is to check the soil with your finger once a week to see if it is dry halfway down. Water if the top layer is dry. This one does not like to dry out, but at the same time can be sensitive to overwatering, so be careful.

Tip: they can get root rot if allowed to sit in soggy wet soil, so make sure you only water them when they are mostly dry. Tip out any excess water from the base after watering, so the plant is not sat in soggy soil.

Fertilizer

Feed with a balanced fertilizer once a month in spring and summer.

Philodendron Verrucosum Soil

Well draining soil is key for a philodendron verrucosum, they hate to sit in water for too long. Use a rich potting mix with plenty of added perlite to aid drainage will do well. For more on Philodendron soil see our guide on what to buy or how to make your own: Philodendron Soil.

When To Repot

Repot your philodendron verrucosum when it becomes root bound. The best time to do this is in spring before the growing season but you can do it year round if you like.

Humidity

Philodendron verrucosums, like almost all all philodendrons will do best 50% humidity or more. Most households are 30-50%, so you need to up it but be careful as the leaves can get pests or even get moldy when kept constantly wet. You can mist it regularly, but the best thing to do is not wet the leaves, then add humidity with a humidifier, or by putting the plant on pebble tray with water in it to keep the plant as humid as possible without directly wetting the leaves. You can mist them, but it just increases the chances of pest or mold so be careful with this plant. If you have a plant cabinet, this is an ideal candidate for it.

Tip: Keep them humid, aim for 50% or o in the day and they’ll be ok with a bit less at night. You can buy a humidity meter (affiliate link) to keep an eye on maximum and minimum levels.

Temperature

20°C to 25°C (68-77°F) is an ideal range for a philodendron verrucosum. Try to keep them above 10°C (50°F) at night or in the winter and avoid cold drafts too.

Philodendron Verrucosum Types

There is more than one type of Philodendron Verrucosum, there are loads to be honest! They come in a few different forms, some with darker leaves than other for example. Here is a list that was put together on the awesome International Aroid Society that includes all these types (with pictures below, also taken from that group.) My favorites are the philodendron verrucosum esmeralda, melon and tumbez varieties. You can see all their differences in the images below.

How To Propagate Philodendron Verrucosum

The best way to propagate a philodendron verrucosum is by taking a cutting with at least one node and one leaf. You should let the wounds heal over so that they are sealed and the chance of rot is much less. Leave it for a couple of hours, then put it in a jar of filtered tap water. Make sure the node is under the water and the leaves are not touching the water as this can cause rot. I would let it root for about a month and when it has a few developed roots you can move it to soil. Keep it really humid to encourage rooting and you can then treat it as a normal young plant once it starts to produce new leaf and stem growth.

Tip: we go into much more detail about propagating the verrucosum in water here: Philodendron Verrucosum Propagation In Water, with step by step instructions and pictures from propagating my own plants.

Is It A Climber Or A Crawler?

The verrucosum is a climbing philodendron.

Verrucosum USDA Zone

They can live outdoors in zones 9-11.

Philodendron Verrucosum Size

They can get up to a meter tall (just over 3 feet).

Philodendron Verrucosum Vs El Choco Red

These two plants are quite similar but can be told apart as the verrucosum has much hairier stems.

See also: Philodendron El Choco Red.

Philodendron Verrucosum Vs Melanochrysum

These two plants are relatively similar and have been combined in a hybrid (the Philodendron Splendid). The melanochrysum has much smoother velvety leaves and tends to grow straight upwards, the verrucosum tend to bunch more and has much more ribbed leaves and a much hairier stem.

See also: Philodendron Melanochrysum, Philodendron Splendid.

Philodendron Verrucosum Vs Splendid

The splendid has velvety leaves, but the verrucosum, for more, we compare the verrucosum and splendid in our guide here.

Where To Buy

Philodendrons are relatively rare, so try one of these Rare Plant Shops. Or Etsy.

Philodendron Verrucosum FAQs and Common Problems

Root rot and leaf dropping and browning are all common issues with a philodendron verrucosum, they are all due to waterlogging from overwatering or insufficient drainage. Make sure you only water is when the top layer of soil is dry and ensure the pot and soil is well draining.

Also keep an eye out for pests on their leaves.

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Additional Resources

Buy: we recommend a digital thermometer hygrometer (amazon affiliate link) to measure humidity.

Links:

• More info on the Wikipedia page.
• More info on the Kew Gardens plant page.
• More info on the Exotic Rainforest plant page.

Other Articles You Might Like

Hope you liked our guide to the philodendron verrucosum. You might also like our other articles Philodendron Birkin Care, Philodendron Xanadu Care, Water Propagation.

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