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The Philodendron Moonlight is an indoor plant that many Philodendron collectors love to add to their collection. It is a beautiful Philodendron that is known for its new leaves having a lime green color and then changing over to a beautiful bright green once they have matured. Unlike some other popular Philodendron plants, the Philodendron Moonlight is not a climber or a crawler. It is a more compact Philodendron plant that won’t need a moss pole to climb up nor need room to have hanging vines.
If you have gotten a Philodendron Moonlight or are thinking about getting one, then knowing what type of care they need is important to let it thrive in your home. In this care guide, we go over what you need to do to care for a Philodendron Moonlight plant.
Origin
The Philodendron Moonlight is a hybrid with new leaves that start out bright lemon-lime green and slowly change over time into a rich dark lime green color.
There isn’t much in the way of a history of this particular cultivar of Philodendron. As time goes on, more and more hybrids are becoming available as growers work on getting new types of Philodendrons to introduce to the market.
Scientific Name: Philodendron Moonlight
Also Called: Moonlight Philodendron
Quick Overview Of How to Care For a
- Water once the top few inches of soil are dry.
- Bright indirect light, an east-facing window is best.
- Temperatures between 60ºF and 80 ºF.
- Humidity >= 50%
- Fertilize once a month in the spring and summer.
- Use well-draining soil.
- Toxic to pets.
Philodendron Moonlight Watering
You should only water your Philodendron Moonlight once the top few inches of soil are dry. Do not try to stick to a watering schedule as changes in temperatures and humidity levels on a daily basis will affect how much the soil will dry over time.
Water the soil evenly until it drains out of the bottom of the pot.
These plants can be overwatered easily if you try to schedule weekly watering. Overwatering the plant can lead to the roots not being able to get oxygen due to water being in the soil constantly. This can lead to root rot, which is hard to get any plant to recover from.
Philodendron Moonlight Light Requirements
Bright indirect light with a few hours of morning sunlight works best for the Philodendron Moonlight. Placing your plant near an east-facing window will provide the best chance for this type of light.
These Philodendrons can live in lower light conditions, but it will affect how the plant grows and they become leggy without enough light.
Soil
A well-draining potting mix with orchid bark and perlite added to give the medium more drainage will be good for these plants.
You do not want to use soil that does not drain well. Soggy, wet soil will lead to root rot.
Temperature
60ºF to 80 ºF is the best range for these plants. Do not allow the temperature to go below 55ºF.
Philodendron Moonlight Humidity
The Philodendron Moonlight does like humidity since it is a tropical plant. Try to keep humidity levels above 50%, but do not allow long periods below 40%. If you need to increase the humidity using a small humidifier in the area where you have your plant will work well.
Fertilizer
A liquid organic fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer works well for the Philodendron Moonlight. We recommend Espoma Organic Indoor Plant Food or Fish Fertilizer.
Growth
The Philodendron Moonlight can grow up to 2 feet tall. Since they are self-heading, they are not a climbing Philodendron. While they will not grow as tall as other Philodendrons they can grow large width-wise, sometimes twice as wide as they are tall.
Philodendron Moonlight Flower
When they are mature the Philodendron Moonlight will flower when they are growing in optimal conditions. It produces a pink spathe that has a white spadix. The flowers can come at any time during the year, but most often appear during the summer months.
Propagation
Like other self-heading Philodendrons, the preferred method of propagation for a Philodendron Moonlight is via tissue culture. But trying to do tissue culture propagation in a home growing environment is next to impossible.
As a home grower, you can look for offshoots at the base of the plant and try cutting them off once roots have formed then putting them in sphagnum moss to root further.
Repotting
The Philodendron Moonlight needs to be repotted once it outgrows it’s current pot. It is best to repot the plant in the spring when it is starting into its growing season.
Usually, you will start to notice roots coming out of the drainage holes of the current pot when it needs to be repotted. Or you will see that the plant and the soil are being pushed up by the growth of the roots.
When you see that it is time to repot, pick a new pot that allows for drainage and is about 2 inches bigger in diameter than the current pot.
If you do not repot the plant when it needs it, then that will stunt the growth of the plant.
Toxicity
The Philodendron Moonlight is toxic to both cats and dogs, like all Philodendron plants.
If your pet ingests or chews on your Philodendron, contact your veterinarian immediately to see if you need to take any extra steps.
Common Problems and Pests
Root Rot
Being a tropical plant, many new owners of a Philodendron Moonlight accidentally give the plant too much water too often. Doing this can lead to root rot easily, especially if there is insufficient drainage in the soil and/or pot that the plant is in.
The first signs of root rot are yellowing leaves that look slightly droopy and soil that is not drying out. If you start to notice these signs then remove your plant from the pot and get rid of as much of the soil as you can around the roots. Repot your plant in well-draining soil and make sure that its pot has drainage.
Root rot can be difficult to get plants to recover from, so it is important to pay attention to the soil moisture levels to avoid getting it at all.
Where to Find a Moonlight Philodendron For Sale and Price Range
Usually, you will not find a Philodendron Moonlight for sale at big box stores. But they are available online and at some local plant shops or nurseries.
Philodendron Moonlight Price
Philodendron Moonlight plants online usually run around $15-$30 depending on the seller. Plants at your local shops could be priced differently.
If you do purchase one online, make sure to check the reviews of the seller before purchasing from them.
Other Philodendron Plant Care Guides:
- Philodendron Melinonii Care
- Silver Sword Philodendron Care
- Philodendron Billietiae Care
- Philodendron Dark Lord Care
- Philodendron Plowmanii Care
- Philodendron Mamei Care
References:
- Philodendrons – Self-Heading Types; University of Florida, IFAS; https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/foliage/folnotes/philo-sh.htm
- Yard and Garden: Growing Philodendrons; Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; Aaron J. Steil; https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/yard-and-garden-growing-philodendrons
- Heartleaf Philodendron; ASPCA; https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/heartleaf-philodendron
- Philodendrons; University of Vermont; Dr. Leonard Perry; https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/philo.html