You have probably seen a lot of philodendron varieties with their broad leaves, but what about a smaller one? And it’s not only slightly smaller but also a very adaptable cultivar!
This cultivar from Australia is relatively new. Compared to the other philodendrons, ‘Little Phil’ is more compact and can adapt to low-light conditions.
This plant needs regular watering, about every 7-9 days. But soil needs to dry out between waterings.
This plant’s adaptability to a wide range of lighting conditions is impressive! Philodendrons generally are rather sun-loving, but Little Phile will be okay even in the shade! Outdoors, it can grow in heavy shade. However, this plant won’t mind more bright indirect sunlight.
Despite being a compact plant, Little Phill still needs fertilizer to produce lovely foliage! Balanced liquid fertilizer is a good option. You can apply it once a month during spring and summer. But don’t feed your plant in the winter.
When it comes to soil, this philodendron cultivar needs a perfect balance. Since it’s susceptible to waterlogging and overwatering, both issues can cause infections or rot root rot. Ideally, it needs well-draining and light soil to get enough aeration. But too much air can cause dehydration, which is also not good. The easiest way is to buy a potting mix for aroids. And soilless mediums with peat-perlite or vermiculite-peat are also suitable.
Sometimes its name can be misleading because Little Phill is a fast grower! So it is better to prune it often to maintain its size.
The easiest option is stem cutting, but also you can propagate your plant via root division. And the best time for it is early summer or spring.
The best temperature range for Little Phill is 60-75 F (16-23 C). And even if it is warmer, the plant won’t mind it. However, it is better to avoid 95 F (35F) since it can dehydrate the plant.
It would be best if you had a container that is 1 to 2 inches bigger in diameter than the root ball of the plant. The best containers for ‘Little Phil’ are plastic pots, hanging baskets, and glazed ceramic pots.
In Greek, the genus name Philodendron means loving (from the Greek word ‘Philo’), and the ‘dendron’ part means the tree. And such a plant naming happened because philodendrons tend to grow on trees.
