Philodendron Florida Beauty
Philodendron Florida Beauty
Philodendron 'Florida Beauty'
❦ ❧ ❦
Difficulty — Advanced CollectorThe jewel of the Florida clan, the Beauty wears her variegation like splashes of golden paint — each multi-lobed leaf marbled and speckled in cream, butter, and green, no two ever quite alike. She is among the more demanding plants in my notebook, but for the collector who covets her painted foliage, no substitute will do.
Notes on Cultivation
☀Light
Bright, indirect light is non-negotiable for her variegation; the more cream she carries, the more light she needs to sustain it. In poor light she reverts toward green and loses the very thing that makes her precious.
❦Water
Water when the top inch or two dries, keeping her evenly moist but never soggy. Her variegated tissue is prone to rot, so free drainage and a careful hand are vital.
☁Humidity
She wants humidity of 60 percent or higher to keep her delicate variegated leaves from crisping. A humidifier beside her is, in my experience, money well spent.
✵Temperature
Keep her warm and consistent, 65 to 85 Fahrenheit, never below 55. Cold and abrupt change distress her variegated constitution.
❧Soil
A chunky, fast-draining aroid mix of bark and perlite is essential. Her finer, variegation-stressed roots cannot abide heavy, water-retentive soil.
❀Fertilizing
Feed every four to six weeks in the growing season with a balanced, diluted fertiliser. Moderation is wise; her variegated tissue is easily overfed.
✿Propagation
Propagate from stem cuttings with a node, choosing cuttings with a good share of green so the new plant has the means to grow. Keep her warm and humid, and be patient — she is slow.
Field Observations
Watch for fully cream or all-green leaves: a wholly white leaf cannot feed itself and may exhaust the plant, while reverted green growth, if left unchecked, will overtake the variegation. Prune to keep her balance.
She is the most demanding of the Florida trio and a true advanced specimen — but place a well-grown Florida Beauty in good light and she is, quite simply, one of the loveliest plants one can keep.
— faithfully recorded by Mr. Phileas Plant
