Is not it always a good idea to harmonize bookshelves or wooden texture desks with indoor plants that take up not much space? Philodendron Birkin is a unique choice with its dark green leaves with stripes in colors that vary between creamy-white and yellow. The plant became the choice in interiors for houseplant lovers for being compact, and easy to care for. Now it is time to get to know this beautiful houseplant closer.
General Information
The discovery of the plant came true in 17. Century in Brazil’s rainforests. Philodendron actually means “tree lover” in Greek. Philodendrons is a large and highly diverse genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family. The family is made up of 489 species, most commonly grown in tropical, humid regions. So Birkins love the environments that mimic their homeland’s features. Its growth is relatively slow. It does usually reach 50-60 cm in height. They are toxic to pets and humans. So it’s best to keep this beautiful plant away from kitties, puppies, and other pets.
How to Care for Philodendron Birkin
Sunlight
This houseplant loves the light yet it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Keep in mind that: Direct sunlight possibly damages the leaves or causes the plant to dry out. It does its best grown in medium indirect sunlight. So placing the plant in shaded spaces works well. Apart from sunlight, both fluorescent or LED lights are other options for this plant to thrive.
Watering
When it comes to watering, the best is to water the plant twice a week from spring to autumn, and once a week in winter. If the top surface of the soil is completely dry, it means that it needs to get watered again. Just like most of the other plants in the philodendron family, it is sensitive to overwatering. So the recommendation is to let it dry out completely between waterings.
Humidity and Temperature
Another point to highlight is humidity. Remember that: Philodendrons are originally from the rainforests, so they grow best in the most possible humidity. It has evolved as a houseplant, so an average humidity will be sufficient for it to thrive. If your environment has particularly dry air, the solution is as simple as moistening the leaves by spraying occasionally in winter and regularly in summer. Putting them on a pebble tray filled with water is another recommendation to keep their humidity level up. The plant directly benefits when the water evaporates. Additionally, this keeps excess water out of the soil. Lastly placing a small humidifier nearby possibly helps to boost the humidity in the environment as well.
When it comes to temperature, this plant prefers warmer temperatures. So during the day in springs and summers, the ideal temperature is 18C – 24C. In winters, on the other hand, a minimum of 16 C is necessary.
Soil Type
The soil type is another important part and should be looked over for the care of this plant. Botanists recommend nutrient-rich soil that retains moisture for Birkins. Without waterlogging the roots, good peat-based soil will absorb moisture and boost aeration. Another point is drainage: A well-draining potting mix is ideal. If the soil that you chose retains too much water, peat moss or perlite can help avoid root rot by absorbing excess moisture.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing is an important point and has a role in the growth of Birkins as well. There are basically two groups of fertilizers for indoor houseplants: Water-soluble, liquid quick release, and granular, slow-release fertilizers. A well-balanced liquid fertilizer is ideal for this plant. The micronutrients calcium and magnesium should be present in this liquid fertilizer. For these plants, they are two of the most critical nutrients. The best is to fertilize this plant once a week. However, you only need to fertilize once a month during the winter. Lastly, it is important to be moderate while fertilizing. Too much fertilizer can cause root damage in the long run.
Propagation
Philodendron seeds do not genetically flower so it’s impossible to grow another plant straight from the seeds. This means propagation can be done through cuttings. The best time to take cuttings is in the spring months. Because the plants are growing and are at their strongest. Stem cuttings are the best way to cultivate these houseplants.
Common Problems
Spider mites are one of the most common pests seen on this plant. These spooky mites are reddish-brown in color and extremely little and hard to recognize. They basically consume all of the nutrients in the plant until nothing remains. Biting the leaves and leaving light dot-shaped imprints is how they do it. The leaves of a plant that they have been feeding on for a long period of time possibly dry up and fall off. To get rid of spider mites, start by trimming the leaves and regions where they have set up residence.
Thrips are another stealthy insect that likes philodendrons. They, like most other plant bugs, like sucking up all of your beloved plant’s nutrients. The bugs are little and have wings, making them difficult to spot unless you’re looking for them. They come in two colors: pale yellow and black. They prefer to eat in big groups. When they attack your plant, it will become pale and splotchy in color. This can tragically result in the demise of the plant. The owners of this plant can also use insecticidal soap to gently clean your plant to get rid of these bugs. Any region that is overly infested should be completely eradicated.
