Philodendron Choco

Philodendron Choco Care

Philodendron luxurians 'Choco'

What is the plant

This gorgeous evergreen creeper is a challenge for any plant parent. Its high-maintenance nature pays off in its unmatched beauty and uniqueness.

This plant is a cultivar of the Philodendron Luxurians, although some consider it simply a mislabeling and not a cultivar or any other type of variety or clone. The confusion comes from the origin of this species, Choco in Colombia, which is believed to be the reason for the labeling of “choco” instead of “chocolate” sometimes.
But the cultivar Philodendron Luxurians ‘Chocolate’ differs from the original specimen mainly in darker deep-green leaves with the species’ characteristic and easy-to-identify velvety texture. This is a high-maintenance plant that tends to survive no more than a year in indoor conditions.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

13°C - 18°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Hard

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water when the soil feels slightly wet and watering should be done by saturation until the water leaks from the drainage holes. Make sure to always discard excess water. Lack of humidity will cause the tips and edges to become brown, so pebble trays, misting, or humidifiers are good solutions for lack of humidity.
Pruning
This plant doesn’t require pruning, just the removal of damaged and dead parts.
Fertilizer
This plant should be fertilized once a month during spring and summer with an all-purpose liquid houseplant fertilizer. Make sure to cut the strength in half.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Bright indirect light is ideal, although this plant can tolerate shade and low-light environments. Artificial glow lights are a solution for darker settings. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can lead to sunburn and scorching.
Soil
It requires a substrate that can retain water without sogging. This means loose, well-drained soils rich in organic matter are ideal.
Propagation
It can be propagated by stem cuttings, division, and seeds, although seeds are rare to find. Propagate in spring and early summer.

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Temperature
Philodendron Luxurians ‘Chocolate’ can’t tolerate frost or extremely cold temperatures. The ideal range is between 65-85 ºF (18-29 ºC). Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes; temperatures should never drop below 55 ºF (13 ºC).
Container
This plant requires a container with drainage holes.
Fun fact
Due to the similarities of the names, it is often confused with Philodendron rubrijuvenilum El Choco Red, but they’re different species and have very different appearances and characteristics.