Philodendron Red Emerald - Expert Tips

Welcome to our philodendron red emerald care guide. The key is to not let them sit in heavy wet soil, so don’t over water them and keep them in a well draining soil mix.

Philodendron Red Emerald Summary

Light needs:	Medium to bright indirect light
Watering needs:	Check once a week and water if top 50% of soil is dry.
Fertilizer:	Use a balanced feed once a month in spring and summer.
Soil:	A well draining potting mix.
Humidity:	50%.
Temperature:	18°C to 25°C (64-77°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.
Common issues:	Overwatering.

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Introduction

The philodendron red emerald is known for its red stems and heart shaped green leaves that start off a yellowy-green at the top before maturing. It’s a relatively easy to grow houseplant.

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

Medium to bright indirect light is great. They’ll be fine back from the window in a bright room. They’re not especially fussy as long as they’re not in a really low light area of your home.

How Often to Water A Philodendron Red Emerald

Check once a week and water if top 50% of soil is dry. They mustn’t sit in soggy soil so don’t be tempted to overwater it, less is more!

Tip: they are susceptible to root rot, so make sure you tip out any excess water after watering and do not leave the plant sitting in it, which can lead to water logging and root rot.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced feed once a month in spring and summer to encourage growth. If you don’t feed them, they will do fine but can grow faster if you do.

Philodendron Red Emerald Soil

A well draining potting mix is recommended as they do not like to sit in soggy soil, which can lead to root rot. You can add perlite. For more on Philodendron soil see our guide on what to buy or how to make your own: P hilodendron Soil.

Tip: an really easy way to make a philodendron soil is to add 1 part perlite to 4 parts potting compost, to give a well draining mix that they like. If you want to go further then give them a mix of equal parts potting compost, perlite and orchid bark for a really chunky and airy well draining mix. For more on philodendron soil see our guide: P hilodendron Soil.

When To Repot

Repot it in when it outgrows it’s current pot and roots grow out the bottom. It’s a good idea to check the roots for crowding at about Easter time so you can make sure they have plenty of space for the coming warmer months when they will do most of their growing.

Humidity

50% is ideal, which is the high end of normal households. You can mist them occasionally too if you cannot meet their humidity needs otherwise.

Philodendron Red Emerald Temperature

18°C to 25°C (64-77°F) is a good daytime temperature range, they’ll be ok a bit above and below too. Try to keep them above 10°C (50°F) as a minimum in the winter and at night.

Philodendron Red Emerald Propagation

They can be easily propagated with a stem cutting with one node and one leaf. Just follow these steps:

Take a stem cutting that has at least one node and one leaf.
Let the cutting heal for an hour or two so the open wound callouses over.
Put the cutting in a jar of water, pre-soaked leca or sphagnum moss.
Put it in a warm and bright spot and keep it moist and humid.
It should start to root in under a month, then over the next month or so it should develop a full root system.
Once the roots are established the top part of the plant will start to grow quicker. At this point you can pot it up into a bigger plant pot.

Philodendron Red Emerald Vs Imperial Red

It is a climbing philodendron but the imperial red is a self-heading variety. So the imperial red is shorted and bushier with leaves closer together. See also Philodendron Imperial Red.

Philodendron Red Emerald Vs Rojo Congo

The rojo congo is bigger, with wider, slightly rounded, darker leaves. The red Emerald has thinner and longer, greener leaves that go sharply to a point. See also: Philodendron Red Congo.

Philodendron Red Emerald Vs Dark Lord

The dark lord has dark purple stems than the red emerald, which has red stems. They are both cultivars of the philodendron erubescens. For more on these two plants see Philodendron Dark Lord.

Red Emerald Vs Green Emerald

They are easily told apart as the green emerald has green stems and cataphylls, where the red emerald has red stems.

Philodendron Red Emerald USDA Zone

Zones 10-12.

Where To Buy

Support your nearest plant store if you’re lucky enough to find one of these locally. If not try Etsy or our list of Rare Plant Shops.

Other Names

It’s scientific name is: philodendron erubescens ‘red emerald’.

FAQs and Common Problems

As with all philodendrons, be careful of drooping and even root rot from overwatering, do not let it sit in soggy soil.

Philodendron Red Emerald Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves can occur for a few reasons, the most common being overwatering and root rot. It can also be from underwatering. And also any stress to the plant like sun damage can cause leaves to yellow. So make sure you check the soil each week but only water the plant if it has dried out by more than 50%. Also tip out any excess water from the bottom of the plant a few minutes after watering to avoid waterlogging. Also avoid any direct sun on the leaves.

Is It Toxic To Cats?

Yes, they are toxic to cats, as philodendrons contain calcium oxalate, which can cause irritation and/or vomiting if ingested, so seek vets advice if your cat eats any.

Additional Resources

Links:

More info on the RHS plant Page.