Native to the rainforests of Brazil, this tropical species is actually on an endangered species list because of habitat destruction – so getting this plant for your home really is an act of service in some ways.
Philodendron hastatum is a vine in the popular Aroid family, which means it comes with all the usual advantages of simple care, easy propagation and multiple ways to grow it.
In its native jungles of Brazil, this tropical vine enjoys moderate to bright indirect light as it weaves around under the rainforest canopy.
In the home, we can best recreate this environment with a North or East-facing window.
Just try to avoid direct sunlight where possible as it can fade (or even scorch) the beautiful foliage.
Thankfully, it’s very easy to avoid as this Philodendron handles everything down to lower light conditions pretty well. You should be totally fine positioning this plant a little farther from a light source into a room.
As you might expect from an epiphytic tropical vine, the Philodendron hastatum has evolved to thrive in moisture.
Regular watering is welcome so long as its roots are aerated and not sitting/suffocating in water.
Using a pot with a drainage hole is the easiest way to prevent this from happening. Simply water until you see the excess water drain out the bottom and then you’re done!
That being said, the Silver Sword is one of the few Philodendron that can withstand the occasional overwatering. Which is part of what makes this species such a good candidate for terrarium life.
The Philodendron Silver Sword is what’s known as a hemiepiphitic plant.
Meaning it begins life as a terrestrial plant with a typical root system in the soil, but later becomes an epiphyte as it climbs nearby trees to reach the sun above the rainforest canopy.
Care:
Bloom: None
Light: Bright indirect light to medium light
Moisture: Allow top 2 inches of soil to dry out before next watering
Humidity: Enjoys humidity above 50% but will tolerate lower
Fertilizer: Twice a month during the growing season.
Mature Size: Indoor environment, Mature vines reach 10ft, in the wild they grow much taller.
Habit: Trailing/Climbing with support. The length of leaves when trailing is 4-7 in. When Supported by a pole leaf get up to 3 ft.