The philodendron imperial is a brilliant houseplant. This glossy, green, and lush leafy plant brings just a little bit of Mother Nature’s beauty to your home.
If you’re looking to get one, or already have one in your home, this philodendron imperial green care guide is about to become your best friend.
This non-vining philodendron plant is great for beginners who are still getting comfortable with keeping plants alive. It’s inexpensive and quite easy to find. Not to mention the beauty that it brings to any spot in your home needing a bit of green.
The following guide explains how to care for your imperial green, the plant’s needs when it comes to water, temperature, and light, as well as problems you may encounter.
What is a Philodendron Imperial Green?
Just one of the many varieties of philodendrons that you can find, the imperial green is a luscious plant. It’s easy to take care of and looks absolutely amazing all year round.
The plant stands up straight, not vining out or drooping down, but its large, glossy green leaves do fan out into wondrous foliage.
This plant doesn’t need very bright light, so will do well in a bathroom, bedroom, or taking center stage in the living room. Place it in a neutral-colored pot or basket and it will delight anyone lucky enough to enjoy its presence.
How to Care for a Philodendron Imperial Green
If you’ve just brought home your very first philodendron imperial green, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed at the thought of not just keeping this plant alive but making sure it thrives.
It’s not as hard as it may seem, though, and you’ve chosen a brilliant plant to live in your home.
The imperial green is a simple plant, asking only for your love and care, and not nearly as finicky as some other plants (have you met the fiddle leaf fig?).
So, take note of the following care guidelines and you’ll enjoy many years of having a beautiful plant.
Philodendron Imperial Green Light Requirements
Imperial greens can tolerate surprisingly low light environments. But with low light comes slow to no growth and a plant that survives but doesn’t necessarily thrive.
Ideally, you’ll want to give your imperial green lots of bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight will be too harsh, so avoid placing them in the way of any hot sun rays.
Philodendron Imperial Green Temperature Requirements
As long as you keep your plant in steady room temperatures of 18-28°C, it will do perfectly fine. Any colder and you’ll see a decline in growth, and if there are extreme drops or rises in temperature, your plant could suffer from shock and damage.
Be sure to keep imperial greens away from doors to avoid them being hit by draughts that could harm them.
Philodendron Imperial Green Fertilization
Fertilizing your plant is a great way to keep it healthy and growing. But this should only be done during summer and spring since these are the growing seasons.
Using a good indoor plant food or fertilizer every two weeks is ideal for imperial greens – as well as most philodendron varieties.
Soil for a Philodendron Imperial Green
When planting and repotting philodendron imperials, it’s important to make sure you have nutritious soil for your plant to live in.
These plants prefer a potting mix that drains well but still manages to retain moisture. A peat-based soil is ideal.
Philodendron Imperial Green Humidity
Philodendrons originate from tropical environments, so they like their living spaces to be humid. Around 40-60% humidity levels are best, but you can keep these plants in drier conditions.
Pebble trays, misting the leaves, and keeping a humidifier in your home will all help create an ideal humid space.
Watering Philodendron Imperial Green
These plants like to stay moist, but do not tolerate being overwatered at all. It’s better to let the imperial green dry out a bit before replenishing it. You should only water your plant when the top 1 – 2 inches of the soil starts to feel dry.
Imperial Green Leaf Care
Another plant parent’s responsibility is to make sure that the leaves are clean, shiny, and free of dust. This is for more than just visual appeal, the dust prevents your plant from soaking up all of the good light, which they need for photosynthesis.
Simply use a damp cloth and wipe away any dust that has collected on the leaf.
Repotting a Philodendron Green
Your philodendron has the ability to grow quite fast, especially in the correct environment. But this means that it can quickly outgrow its pot.
So, when you see the plant starting to get too big for the pot, or if you see roots starting to grow out of the drainage hole, it’s time to repot.
This should be done in late winter or early spring and will usually happen every year or so – depending on how speedily your plant is growing.
When selecting a new pot, make sure it isn’t more than 1 – 2 inches bigger than the old one, or you run the risk of overwatering your plant.
Philodendron Imperial Green Propagation
Philodendron imperial greens are relatively easy to propagate and can be grown from either tip or stem cuttings.
Once you have a good cutting (around 6 inches long), you can place it in water or soil. You should start to see roots forming in about 3 weeks.
Pruning Your Imperial Green
These plants are quite low-maintenance and don’t require much more than a good place in your home, adequate watering, and some loving words as you pass them by.
So, you won’t need to worry about pruning the plant, unless you find dead or dying leaves. Any leaf that isn’t looking healthy should be taken off to promote healthier growth in the plant.
Common Philodendron Problems
Even though these plants are incredibly easy to care for – making the best beginner plants – they do occasionally come across problems that can worry any good plant parent.
The good news is that most of these issues are easily fixed, and philodendrons are hardy plants, able to come back from almost anything.
At some point in your plant’s life, you may notice it looking strange. Perhaps the leaves have changed from a dark green to a strange yellow or brown.
Or maybe the plant is drooping over and looking more like a sulky teenager than a vibrant houseplant. Don’t worry – we have the fixes for these problems.
Root Rot
This is one of the most common problems, not just for imperial greens but for any and all houseplants.
Root rot affects the roots, and it can be very hard to cure the plant once it has this disease. The best way to avoid your plant dying from root rot is to prevent it from getting it at all.
Root rot mostly comes from plants growing in very wet soil. In other words, overwatering is the biggest cause of rot in plant roots.
So, it’s important to make sure that you’re checking the soil and only watering when the top part of the soil is already dry.
Drooping Leaves
If your Philodendron is looking a little sad, there are a few things you can check on. Leaves will start to droop if the plant is not getting enough water. But you may also see sagging leaves if it has been overwatered.
Another cause of drooping leaves is temperature. If your plant is in a spot that is too hot, too cold, or exposed to extreme drafts and winds, this can also cause droopy leaves.
Leaves Turning Yellow (Also Known as Chlorosis)
If you notice that your philodendron imperial leaves are turning yellow, it could be an early sign of overwatering – which has the potential to turn into the dreaded root rot. This is especially likely if you notice the bottom leaves turning first.
If you’re sure that you’ve been watering the plant correctly, yellow leaves could also be caused by too much light, especially if it’s direct sunlight. It is also possible that the plant has cold stress, or it is simply acclimatizing to its new environment.
Brown Spots
Brown spots on your imperial green leaves can also be a sign of incorrect watering. But the catch is, it could be either too much or too little watering. The only way to know is to check how wet the soil is and take note of your watering schedule.
Other causes of brown spots could be stress prompted by cold or new environments. Low humidity may also be the reason your plant has brown spots on its leaves.
Pests, Insects, and Bugs
Philodendron imperial green houseplants are not prone to bugs and pests, thankfully. But it’s always a good idea to check your plant for spider mites, mealybugs, and scale bugs.
If your plant does have an infestation, it can cause stress to the plant and leaves may start to look distressed.
Philodendron Imperial Green Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have a burning query about your imperial green philodendron? Here are some questions that are often asked about philodendron toxicity, size, and other interesting information.
If you have any more questions or interesting philodendron imperial plant facts, reach out and let me know.
Is Philodendron Imperial Green Safe for Cats?
All philodendron plants contain calcium oxalate crystals in their leaves. So if your cat or dog were to take a big bite out of one, it would not be a very pleasant experience.
These crystals cause uncomfortable and often painful sensations in the mouth, which can travel to the stomach and intestines if they are swallowed.
Eating the plant can cause diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, pain and swelling in the mouth, tongue, and lips, as well as excessive drooling. The animal should be taken to the vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
How Big Does a Philodendron Imperial Green Get?
These plants will grow fast, if they are well taken care of and placed in the right conditions. Repotting once they get too big for their pots, pruning when needed, and the correct soil and water should see your imperial growing at around 10 cm per week during the growing season.
Inside, your plant is likely to stop expanding once it reaches a spread of around 90 cm, and about 75 cm in height.
Are Coffee Grounds Good for Philodendron?
If you’re a caffeine queen, you’ll be happy to know that you may just share your love of coffee with your houseplants. Of course, they won’t drink the coffee but can benefit from the grounds mixed in with their soil.
If you are going to use your coffee grounds to fertilize your philodendron, you only need a small amount – about a tablespoon for a small plant. You can simply sprinkle a thin layer of grounds on top of the soil.
Do Philodendron Plants Like to be Misted?
Your philodendron needs high levels of humidity in its living area for it to grow to its best potential. If you live in a dry climate, there are ways to increase humidity for your plants. Keeping a humidifier in the room is a good way, but misting the plant also helps increase humidity.
Keeping Your Imperial Green Philodendron Happy and Healthy
As you can see, the imperial green philodendron is a magnificent plant to own. Not only does it offer a gorgeous display of greenery to brighten up your home, but it’s also so easy to take care of. Even if you’ve never believed that you have a green thumb, this plant is sure to change your mind within no time.
Ideally, you should give it a good spot to sit in, with preferably good indirect light, water it as needed (not too much or too little) and keep the room a steady temperature with plenty of humidity.
Follow those guidelines and your plant will continue to grow and thrive, providing you with a cheerful plant friend to share your living space with.
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