Philodendron Rojo Congo Care

This philodendron needs a little more water than naturally occurring species, but never overwater it! Pinch the top soil one inch (2.5 cm) deep. If the soil is dry, the watering time has come! In summer, this usually means watering once in 3 days. In winter, water your Rojo Congo less.

This plant doesn’t need pruning. Cut dead leaves and stems when necessary.

In spring and summer, fertilize once a month with an organic slow-release houseplant fertilizer. Mulch, compost, organic manure, peat, and moss are natural nutrient-rich fertilizers. You can also use nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers.

Bright, indirect light is perfect for Rojo Congo. Excessive direct sunlight can damage the leaves.

This plant needs well-draining soil. Mix ⅔ peat with ⅓ perlite to create a suitable soil mix. You can also add coco peat and sphagnum moss to provide organic matter to your plant.

Rojo Congo is quite difficult to propagate. Botanists propagate it through a tissue culture method, which only works in laboratory conditions. One option is to propagate from plantlets, but you’ll have to rely on Mother Nature. Wait for the plantlets to grow 4-5 inches (10-12 cm) long. Choose the plantlet with aerial roots, and use an air-layering technique to grow them further before separating it from the mother plant. After that, cut the plantlet and replant it in the new soil.

Philodendron Congo Rojo is not a hardy plant. It hates temperature drops and wind drafts. Keep it in a spot with a stable temperature between 76°F - 86°F (24-30˚C).

Rojo Congo needs excellent drainage, so make sure your pot has drainage holes. Other than that, choose whatever pot you fancy.

This is not really a fun fact, but this plant is toxic to pets! Beware!