Philodendron Ilsemanii - Teak And Terracotta

Welcome to our guide to the Philodendron Ilsemanii, covering care and propagation, including water, soil, humidity and temperature needs.

Philodendron Ilsemanii Care Summary

Light needs:	Bright indirect sunlight.
Watering needs:	Check soil weekly and only water it if the top half is dry.
Fertilizer:	A balanced feed every 3 weeks in the spring and summer.
Soil:	A chunky mix of orchid bark, perlite and potting compost.
Humidity:	60% or more.
Temperature:	21-29°C (70-85°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.
Common issues:	Overwatering, variegation reverting.

Buy this plant on Etsy

Introduction

The Philodendron Ilsemanii is a show stopping plant known for it’s patches of minty variegation as well as being super rare and super expensive..

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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Light Needs

Give it bright indirect sunlight, the brighter the better without giving full sun. You wan to encourage that beautiful variegation.

How Often To Water Philodendron Ilsemanii

Check the soil weekly and only water it if the top half of the soil is dry, make sure no water is left sitting in the saucer or external pot as it can cause water logging.

Tip: they get root rot easily, let it mostly dry out before watering again, and don’t let it sit in excess water, tip it out after watering.

Fertilizer

Feed them a balanced feed every 3 weeks in the spring and summer.

Soil

They do well in a chunky mix with orchid bark, as well as some perlite and potting compost too. See our guide here: Philodendron Soil.

When to Repot Philodendron Ilsemanii

Check them at Easter time to makes sure the roots have space and move them to a bigger pot if not.

Humidity

They are humidity loving plants, aim for 60% or more.

Temperature

A daytime temperature range of 21-29°C (70-85°F) is ideal and try to keep them above 12°C (54°F) at night.

How to Propagate Philodendron Ilsemanii

Propagate them with stem cuttings. You can start them in water and then move them to leca or sphagnum moss to root well, then you can move them to soil after a couple of months.

Is It Toxic to Cats?

It is toxic to cats if eaten, and can cause vomiting and other symptoms so seek vets advice immediately.

Is It a Climber or Crawler?

It is a climbing philodendron.

Tip: they love to climb, give them a moss pole or trellis and you’ll encourage much bigger leaf growth.

Philodendron Ilsemanii Price

They go for ridiculous prices at the moment, some are 5 figure sums!

Philodendron Imbe Vs Ilsemanii

The Philodendron Imbe is a Philodendron Ilsemanii with mottled variegation.

Why Is Philodendron Ilsemanii So Expensive?

They are so in demand at the moment, and demand is outstripping supply, resulting in sellers being able to charge huge prices.

Philodendron Ilsemanii Vs Jose Buono

They both have similar variegation on good specimens, but the Ilsemanii has more slender, pointed leaves.

Where To Buy

Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.

FAQs and Common Problems

They can revert, meaning they lose their variegation. Keep them well lit and they should not revert, but if they do, but the reverted leaf off back to the node and give the plant decent light and it should give you the best chance of getting the variegation back.