Philodendron Imperial Green Care Guide

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You might have heard of other Philodendrons Imperials such as the Philodendron Imperial Red, but the Philodendron Imperial Green might have gone under the radar for you. This self-heading Philodendron is like the Imperial Red but it has brighter green foliage and green stems to match. It is comparable in size and care though.

In this care guide, we go over how to care for a Philodendron Imperial Green, how to propagate one, and how to take care of some common problems that might come up if you own one of these beautiful plants.

Philodendron Imperial Green Origins

The Philodendron Imperial Green is a self-heading (meaning it is not a climber) Philodendron that is possibly related to the Philodendron Imperial Red.

The Imperial Green was discovered in 1977 among some random seeds. The parentage of the Imperial Green however is not known since it was randomly discovered in assorted seeds. A patent was filed by Paul Decoster for the Imperial Green in 1985, it expired in 2005.

Scientific Name: Philodendron erubescens ‘Imperial Green’

Philodendron Imperial Green Care Guide

Quick Overview on How to Care for a Philodendron Imperial Green

  1. Medium to bright light.
  2. Can grow up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
  3. Water once the soil feels dry.
  4. Prefers humid environments but can tolerate lower humidity.
  5. Use an aroid soil mix.
  6. Use a pot that allows for good drainage.
  7. Repot as the plant grows, going up one pot size at a time.
  8. Propagation through air-layering.
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Philodendron Imperial Green Watering

Water the soil once it feels dry. Do not keep the soil overly moist all the time.

Overwatering needs to be avoided at all costs. Imperial Green Philodendrons are susceptible to getting root rot and watering the plant too much can lead to this happening.

Do not try to stick to a watering schedule. The moisture level of the soil can vary depending on humidity levels during the day and air movement in the area you have it. This will cause watering needs to fluctuate for the plant.

Philodendron Imperial Green Light Requirements

Medium to bright indirect light is best for the Imperial Green Philodendron.

If you have the plant in medium light the foliage will be darker than one in brighter light.

Philodendron Imperial Green Plant

Soil

The best soil mix for a Philodendron Imperial Red is a mix that you can make for ariod plants:

30% potting soil
20% peat or coco coir
30% bark
10% perlite
10% worm castings

If you cannot get the ingredients above you can mix a standard potting mix with orchid bark and perlite.

You want a soil mix that drains well and won’t hold on to huge amounts of moisture.

Pots and Repotting

It is best to use a clear orchid pot when your Imperial Green Philodendron is younger, or just a rooted cutting. This will allow you can keep an eye on the root growth of the plant.

As the plant gets older and needs a bigger pot, choose one that has good drainage. The roots need to have access to oxygen, they are very prone to root rot so the more drainage available in the pot the better.

They need to be repotted when it becomes root-bound. Which can happen several times a year when you are growing them from a cutting. As they grow and mature this will slow down and you should only need to repot about once a year.

Choose a new pot that is about two inches bigger than the current pot.

Don’t select one that is a big step up in size from the current pot, this can cause issues with the roots being able to get water and nutrients sufficiently. It can also lead to patches of soggy soil in the pot that can breed bacteria.

While you are repotting your Imperial Green, inspect the plant’s roots to make sure they look healthy and don’t have any rot or damage. If you notice any, try to remove as much soil as you can from the roots and then trim off any of the rotted or damaged roots.

Temperature

Ideal temperatures for this plant are between 70°F and 85°F.

Temperatures should be kept above 65°F to avoid any detrimental effects to the plant.

Humidity

While they do like high humidity levels (60% and up). These Philodendrons aren’t as picky about humidity as other types such as the Philodendron Melanochrysum.

The Imperial Green can adapt to lower humidity levels, but try to keep the humidity above 40%.

Fertilizer

Fertilize the Imperial Green Philodendron during its active growing season (spring and summer).

An organic houseplant liquid fertilizer will work great for an Imperial Green. Our favorite to use is the Espoma Organic Indoor Plant Food or Fish Fertilizer.

To fertilize your plant, follow the directions for dosing on the package of the fertilizer and the frequency recommended for houseplants.

A popular alternative to the scheduled feeding directed by the container is to do a quarter of the dosage specified and fertilize each week when watering. This is a way to mimic what happens in nature where it will get a small amount of nutrients as it rains. And can prevent burning the plant from getting too much fertilizer in one dose.

Philodendron Imperial Green Propagation

Since the Philodendron Imperial Green is a self-heading type of Philodendron it is more difficult to propagate than the climbing varieties of Philodendrons. Professionals use tissue cultures to propagate the Imperial Green. But tissue cultures are not done easily by everyday home growers.

The best technique to use for Philodendron Imperial Green propagation is air-layering. This should be done in the Spring or early summer when the plant is in its growth stage.

To do air-layering you will have to locate plantlets on the base of the plant where older leaves have come off. You will see a stem and roots emerging from the area.

Once you find one you take sphagnum moss and wrap it around the roots that you found. Then moisten the moss and use plastic wrap or a plastic bag and wrap that around the moss. Keep the moss moist but don’t make it soaking wet. Inspect this part each week until you see roots in the moss.

Once you see the roots in the moss you can cut the plantlet off of the mother plant and put it in its own pot of sphagnum moss where it can continue to develop its root system.

Growth

Philodendron Imperial Green Height and Width

It can grow up to 3 feet tall and about 3 feet wide.

As the plant matures the bottom leaves will fall off and the stem will hold it upright.

Is The Philodendron Imperial Green a Climbing Plant?

This is not a Philodendron that climbs. The stem should support the plant and it will thicken as the plant continues to grow. Some people have said that as their Imperial Green has gotten larger they have needed to add some support though. If you find that yours looks like it needs something to help hold it up you can use a bamboo stick for this.

Philodendron Imperial Green Flower

Philodendron Imperial Green flower

These plants do get a long pod flower. This flower lasts about 1 month.

Pruning

Usually, you don’t need to prune an Imperial Green Philodendron much. As the plant grows you will want to remove the lower leaves as they dry up and turn brown.

Philodendron Imperial Green Toxicity to Cats and Dogs

Is the Philodendron Imperial Green toxic or poisonous to pets? Yes, they are.

All Philodendrons are toxic to pets, both cats and dogs.

If you have pets, keep your Philodendron Imperial Green up and out of reach. You can use a homemade citrus spray or a deterrent such as Bitter Apple to keep them from chewing on your plants.

Philodendron Imperial Green Price and Rarity

Is The Philodendron Imperial Green Rare?

While this isn’t a popular Philodendron to find in big box stores, it is fairly common to find online or at independent plant nurseries or plant shops.

Where to Find an Imperial Red Philodendron For Sale

The most common place that people find Philodendron Imperial Green plants for sale is through individuals that grow them and sell them online. Common places online to buy one is Etsy or Facebook Marketplace. When buying online though, make sure to check the reviews of the seller and buy from one that is known to provide good quality plants.

You can also posibly find these plants is at your local plant nurseries or plant shops. The Imperial Green is not a plant that is you normally find in big box stores.

Philodendron Imperial Green Price

On Etsy, the Philodendron Imperial Green usually ranges from about $15 to $25 depending on the seller. When buying online, make sure to check the reviews of the seller and buy from one that is highly recommended.

If you find one at a local plant store or nurseries the prices could be vastly different from the sellers online. It will depend on the local area and the ease of propagation of the plant for the grower.

Philodendron Imperial Green Common Problems and Pests

Mealybugs

Mealybugs appear as small white fuzzy bugs that you will often notice either on the nodes of the plant or on the undersides of the leaves. These are one of the common pests that plant owners hate with a passion. Use insecticidal soap or Neem oil to get rid of Mealybugs. Repeat as directed on the container.

Spider Mites

Spider mites you can often tell are on your plant by the webbing that they create on the underside of the leaves. If the infestation of spider mites continues, then the leaves will start to yellow and wilt. Using insecticidal soap or Neem oil will help get rid of spider mites.

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Most often bacterial leaf spot will show up at first as small dark spots with yellow halos, or small brown spots that become almost transparent. These are very small when they first appear, less than 1/4 inch.

Spraying a copper fungicide on the plant can help with avoiding the spread but you will want to remove any damaged leaves from your plant otherwise you will continue to have an issue.

Keep air circulation good around the plant and avoid misting the plant to help bacterial leaf spot from forming.

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