House Plants Blog

Oct 26, Philodendron Brasil Care: How to Grow this House Plant Indoors

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:08:51 -0700

Botanical Name: Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil'

Philodendron Brasil is one of the most exciting new cultivars to come along.

Part of a new generation of splashed, streaked and spotted houseplants, 'Brasil' has just stepped into the limelight, offering captivating style to an indoor garden. It looks spectacular on its own, too.

Show off Philodendron Brasil by allowing the long stems to trail. Photo ©Ida Taing

Get to Know Philodendron Brasil

Philodendrons have been cultivated indoors for generations. And for good reason. They're dependable houseplants -- shrugging off neglect now and then, and quickly responding when given proper care.

Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil' is a cultivar closely related to my long-time favorite Heartleaf Philodendron (P. scandens) and is just as easy to please, enjoying the same warm temperatures, moderate humidity and indirect sunlight.

Philodendron Brasil not only takes its place in this family of easy-care plants, but this South American native also boasts long tropical vines of lime-green splashed foliage to brighten up any room.

How big does Brasil get? Grown indoors, it climbs or trails to 4 ft (1.2 m) or more.

Whether you train this twining vine to climb, or allow it to trail, you'll love growing this variegated plant. Brasil seems custom-made to lend fresh life to the clean lines and neutral colors of today's homes.

Pinch and Prune

Want a fuller plant? Pinch off growing tips to make your Philodendron Brasil branch out. Use your fingernails or scissors to cut the stem after a leaf node (the place where a leaf is attached to the stem). Cuts made here will cause the stem to branch, giving your houseplant a lush, full look.

Prune it back anytime to keep it under control. Left to grow, stems will reach several feet long.

Philodendron Hederaceum Varieties

Want more gorgeous varieties of this easy-care Philodendron? I thought so.

New cultivars and hybrids offer captivating colors and patterns to satisfy any plant collector's penchant for the hottest trend in houseplants.

Rio, Silver Stripe, and Cream Splash are just a few. Take a look at Gabriella Plants for pictures and descriptions of variegated Philodendron hederaceum. It's a reputable resource for identifying this new wave of multi-color varieties.

Philodendron Brasil Problems, Solutions and Answers

Brown leaf tips are common on tropical plants suffering in the dry air of a heated home. See "Humidity" tips below.

Leggy stems, having several inches between leaves are caused by a lack of sunlight. Give your houseplant plenty of bright, indirect light to maintain its full, leafy appearance. Don't be afraid to cut off bare stems; this vigorous grower will quickly replace them.

Small leaves may be a sign of low light levels or lack of fertilizer.

Philodendron Brasil reverting to all green? It's not getting enough sunlight. Move this variegated plant closer to a window, but protect it from hot, direct sunlight, which can cause brown scorch marks on its leaves. Give them time, leaves may develop variegation as they age. If not, you can cut them off, if you want.

Is Philodendron Brasil poisonous? Yes, Philodendron leaves are toxic to people and pets, though a lot of leaves would have to be eaten to cause serious illness. Some people are allergic to the sap, which can cause an itchy rash in some people. If you're sensitive to Philodendron sap, wear gloves when handling this plant.

Something bugging your plant? Watch for fungus gnats that hop or crawl on the surface of the soil. They're attracted to wet, peat-based potting mixes. Also look for aphids under leaves and along stems. They suck plant juices, leaving new leaves that look wrinkled with yellow specks. Treat any infestation immediately to prevent bugs from invading your other houseplants.

Vibrantly patterned foliage make Brasil houseplant a knockout. Photo © Monikabaumbach

Wondering when to repot? If the roots are growing out of the drainage holes, or the crown of the plant is pushing above the soil, your houseplant needs repotted. Fresh, loose potting mix will rejuvenate a plant. Spring is the best time, when plants begin their most vigorous time of growth. Use a pot 1- to 2-inches larger. Don't over-pot -- a common mistake with houseplants. Why? A pot that's too big will hold too much water and may lead to root rot.

Philodendron Brasil Care

Light: Moderate to bright light. Small leaves or long spaces between leaves show that the plant is not getting enough light. Move your philodendron plant to a brighter location, but not into direct sun which can scorch its leaves. Don't have a sunny spot? Philodendron Brasil thrives under artificial grow lights.

Water: Water Philodendron Brasil thoroughly, then allow the top 1-inch (2.5 cm) of soil to dry out before watering again. Always use tepid water for your houseplants because cold water is a shock to these tropical natives. Yellow leaves are caused by over-watering.

Humidity: Aim to maintain 45% relative humidity or higher. Indoor air can become extremely dry in winter without our noticing it. It's a good idea to use a humidity monitor near your tropical plants, rather than guess. Use a humidity tray or a cool-mist room humidifier to raise the humidity for your tropical houseplants and they'll feel right at home. Brown leaf tips are a symptom of dry air.

Temperature: Average room (65-80°F/18-27°C). Keep this South American native warm year-round. It will tolerate a minimum of 60°F/16°C. Don't expose your houseplants to cold blasts from an entryway or set them near a heat/AC vent.

Soil: Peat moss-based mix with added perlite for fast drainage. African violet potting mix is ideal.

Fertilizer: Feed once a month spring through fall with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer, diluted by half. Stop fertilizing in winter, when growth is slow.

Propagation: Take 3-4 in/7-10 cm-long stem tip cuttings (each with at least 3 leaves attached) in spring or early summer. Cut just below a leaf node (the place where the leaf is attached to the stem). Nodes contain cells that will develop new roots. Philodendron Brasil roots easily in water or lightly moist soil.

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Houseplants A-Z

Oct 20, Fall Foliage

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:36:56 -0700

The House Plants Blog shows you what's new on this site. It...

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Oct 26, 2026

Philodendron Brasil Care: How to Grow this House Plant Indoors

Discover how to grow Philodendron Brasil indoors. Train it to climb, or allow it to trail. You'll love showing off this variegated houseplant.

Continue reading "Philodendron Brasil Care: How to Grow this House Plant Indoors"

Oct 20, 2026

Fall Foliage

Shorter days and cooler nights bring on an annual show of spectacular autumn color.

But you don't have to go outdoors to enjoy dramatic foliage. The gold, orange, red and green of croton plant adds a warm, tropical feel to a room.

Don't overlook prayer plant for striking patterned foliage. Best known for its folding leaves, this rainforest native-turned-house plant is simply beautiful.

Leaf for leaf, no other plant can match coleus plant's bold patterns and vibrant colors. This garden favorite makes an easy house plant. If you can still find one at the garden center, buy it. You'll love growing this colorful gem indoors, too.

Oct 18, 2026

Flaming Katy: Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana Indoor Plant Care

Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is one of the few succulents grown just for its blooms. Get Kalanchoe plant care for potting, fertilizing, watering.

Continue reading "Flaming Katy: Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana Indoor Plant Care"

Oct 13, 2026

Florist Chrysanthemum Care: How to Grow Chrysanthemum morifolium

Florist Chrysanthemum varieties all have big, beautiful flowers crowning a mass of dark-green foliage. Find out how to grow indoor mums and keep them blooming.

Continue reading "Florist Chrysanthemum Care: How to Grow Chrysanthemum morifolium"

Oct 12, 2026

Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs

A little effort spent now will reward you in a few months with a dream garden filled with tulips, crocuses and daffs.

Whether you're a budding gardener, or totally obsessed with tulips (like me), you'll love growing your own glorious flower show.

These dependable bloomers will bring a burst of color in late winter or spring.

Forcing bulbs? Start as early as mid-October and you'll enjoy a mid-winter wonderland on your windowsill.

Oct 01, 2026

Chinese Evergreen Plant Care: How to Grow Aglaonema Indoors

Chinese Evergreen plant is easy to grow, and tolerant of low light and low humidity. Find out when to water, how to fertilize and why you shouldn't prune this plant.

Continue reading "Chinese Evergreen Plant Care: How to Grow Aglaonema Indoors"

Sep 29, 2026

Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' Plant Care

How to grow Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' indoors. Discover what sunlight, water, fertilizer Mona Lavender wants to bloom autumn and winter with purple flowers.

Continue reading "Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' Plant Care"

Sep 28, 2026

Goldfish Plant Care: How to Grow Columnea Gloriosa Indoors

Goldfish Plant care for this amazing house plant. Find out how to get the most blooms, plus how and when to prune, water and fertilize.

Continue reading "Goldfish Plant Care: How to Grow Columnea Gloriosa Indoors"

Oct 18, Flaming Katy: Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana Indoor Plant Care

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:31:40 -0700

Botanical Name: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Flaming Katy is one of the few succulents grown just for its blooms. Bright clusters of tiny red, orange, yellow, white, purple or pink flowers last several weeks. Flowers may be single or double.

Give Kalanchoe plant lots of sunshine to make it bloom. Image by Tinix

Get to Know Flaming Katy Houseplant

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana has glossy, green leaves with scalloped edges that can become red-tinged when exposed to full sun. Although the thick leaves seem sturdy, they are actually quite brittle. Handle flaming katy with care because the leaf tips easily break off.

When you're buying a Kalanchoe plant, choose one with bright, fresh-looking leaves and plenty of unopened buds -- sure signs of a healthy plant.

How big does flaming katy get? Mature plants will reach a height of 8-15 inches (20-38 cm).

Did you know...

Kalanchoe is part of the Crassulaceae family of plants and is made up of more than 100 species. Many make good houseplants, including Panda Plant and Mother of Thousands.

Kalanchoe care is easy -- providing you can give Kalanchoe blossfeldiana plenty of sunlight and the right amount of water. Resist the temptation to overwater flaming katy. Like other succulent plants, it stores water in its thick, fleshy leaves and can suffer from root rot if it is overwatered.

Caring for Flaming Katy Plant - Problems and Solutions

Deadhead spent blooms. You'll get the most flowers by deadheading during the flowering season. Cut off flower stems after the blooms have faded to encourage more blooms. Cut them at the base of the plant to keep flaming katy looking its best.

Wondering whether to repot...or not? It's not necessary. Never repot a plant while it's blooming because it stresses the plant and may cause its flowers and flower buds to fall off. If you want to cover up a plain nursery pot, just slip it into a cachepot -- a decorative pot without drainage holes. It's a good idea to put small rocks in the bottom of the cachepot to keep the inner pot above drainage water.

Wilted leaves? You overwatered. If you've been watering regularly and the leaves are soft and limp, the plant is likely suffering from root rot. Slip the plant out of the pot and take a peek at its roots. Are they soft and mushy? If so, you can toss out the plant -- it likely won't recover. If flaming katy is wilting for no apparent reason, it may be infested with root mealybugs. (See "Something bugging your plant?" below).

Yellow, wrinkled leaves are caused by dry soil. Cut off any affected leaves. Water thoroughly to ensure all roots are moistened, then empty drainage tray.

Something bugging your plant? Few pests bother flaming katy. Mealybugs are the most common invaders. Watch for white, fuzzy patches near the leaf axils and under the leaves. Root mealybugs could be the cause of a wilted plant. Ease the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots for these pests. Treat any infestation as soon as you see them to prevent pests from invading your other indoor plants. If it's badly infested, get rid of it. It's easier to replace your plant.

Flower Power! Hybrids can produce several clusters of up to 50 small, long-lasting flowers.

Although this compact, little house plant is easy to grow, getting it to re-bloom can be a challenge.

How to Get Flaming Katy to Bloom Again

Long, sunny days followed by shorter hours of daylight are needed to set flower buds.
If you move the plant outside for the summer, keep it in the shade. Morning sun is fine.
Beginning in early October, keep the plant in a dark room for 14 hours each night for 2 weeks, and give it moderate light during the day.
Water it minimally and don't fertilize during this time. Shriveled, yellow leaves are a sign that it's too dry.
Flower buds will appear in about 6-8 weeks. Then you can resume with normal care. Flowering may be erratic, but the foliage will still be attractive.

Photo AYImages/istockphoto

Flaming Katy Plant Care Tips

Light: Bright light to full sun.

Water: Keep the soil mix barely moist. Take care not to overwater Kalanchoe, which will cause leaves to wilt and may lead to root rot. Use a pot with drainage holes; water thoroughly, then allow the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil to dry out before watering. Don't allow the soil to dry out completely, however. Dry soil will cause the leaves to shrivel and turn yellow. Water sparingly after it stops flowering.

Humidity: Average room (around 40% relative humidity).

Temperature: Average room temperatures 65-80°F/18-27°C

Soil: 2 parts all-purpose potting mix and 1 part horticultural sand or perlite.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly from late spring to early fall with balanced water-soluble fertilizer.

Propagation: Take stem cuttings in late spring.

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Oct 13, Florist Chrysanthemum Care: How to Grow Chrysanthemum morifolium

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:11:34 -0700

Florist Chrysanthemum has big, beautiful flowers crowning a mass of dark-green foliage. Known botanically as Chrysanthemum morifolium, this flowering houseplant will stay fresh for several weeks. With this guide, you'll discover what type of light, how much water, what temperature it wants, and more.

Photo: aprilrainstudio / istockphoto

Get to Know Your Indoor Chrysanthemums

Native to China, this is a member of the Asteraceae family, along with daisies, sunflowers and marigolds.

Chrysanthemum gets its name from the Greek words chryos, meaning gold, and anthemom, meaning flower. These "golden flowers" are now available in shades of pink, purple, red, burgundy, white, and yes -- golden yellow.

How big does this indoor Chrysanthemum get? It's typically at a height 12-24 in (30-60 cm) tall; however, commercial growers treat plants with chemicals to stunt their growth, keeping them compact.

Florist chrysanthemums are not hardy for growing outdoors in cold climates. Tender potted mums sold in florist shops want to stay indoors with you.

Choose a plant with plenty of buds that are just beginning to open. If your florist chrysanthemums came with a plastic covering over the pot, remove it. Your mums need plenty of air circulation. Plus, you don't want to block the nursery pot's drainage holes.

Green Thumb Tip

The secret to keeping blossoms fresh for several weeks is to keep mums in a cool place and well-watered.

You can cover a plain nursery pot by slipping it into a cachepot -- a decorative pot without drainage holes. I put pebbles in the bottom of cachepots to keep the pot above the drainage water.

Growing Mums Indoors: Problems, Solutions and Answers

Buds won't open? Give your plant plenty of sunshine to ensure blooming. Flowering plants may look cheerful near an inside wall or in a sunless hallway, but they won't bloom well there. Give them light.

Wilted plants are likely thirsty. Florist mums are often root-bound -- their pots are packed with roots, with little soil to hold water. You can revive dry roots by setting the pot in a pan of water for at least 30 minutes, allowing it to drink up, while also watering from the top. Keep a close eye on mums; you may need to water every day or two.

Something bugging your plant? Aphids sometimes arrive with a newly purchased plant. Green and wedge-shaped, they are tiny and difficult to spot, but they can do a lot of damage. Look for them along the stems and undersides of leaves. Treat any infestation right away to prevent them from invading your other houseplants.

Are mums toxic? Yes -- Chrysanthemum leaves are poisonous. Keep out of the reach of children and pets that may play with or ingest this plant.

Instant Style for Your Home

Lend any room fresh, seasonal color with a potted mum. Or group a few pots for a big splash of color.

Florist chrysanthemums are also a stand-out among your green houseplants. Those bright bunches of blooms are even more showy when surrounded by big-leaved dieffenbachia, split-leaf philodendron and monstera. Contrasting sizes, forms and textures complement each other when displayed together.

Temporary Houseguest

Give your plant a cool, bright location, and you can expect blooms for about 6 to 8 weeks.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to get mums to rebloom, so it is treated as an annual and tossed out after the blooming season is over. You can put your plant outdoors in the spring to possibly get another season of blooms, but it will never look as good. Don't feel guilty about discarding your plant when it's past its prime.

Photo: Angela / istockphoto

Beautiful Air-Cleaners

Although temporary houseguests, beautiful florist chrysanthemums work hard at removing air pollutants found in homes caused by the chemicals in upholstery, paint and carpet.

Florist mums are one of the best flowering plants for purifying indoor air of formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia. Find out more about air-cleaning house plants.

Florist Chrysanthemum Care Tips

Light: Bright light. Flower buds may fail to open without enough sunlight. Direct morning light is fine, but keep your mums out of direct afternoon sun because they can't take the heat.

Water: Keep soil evenly moist at all times. Foliage will wilt and flower buds won't open if the roots are too dry. Flowering plants are thirsty, so check the soil often.

Humidity: Average room (around 40-50% relative humidity). If indoor air is dry, try one of these easy ways to increase humidity for your houseplants.

Temperature: Cool temperatures 55-65°F/13-18°C; Flowers may not last as long if kept in a warm room.

Soil: Peat moss based potting mix

Fertilizer: N/A

Propagation: Stem cuttings

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Houseplants A-Z

Oct 12, Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:03:51 -0700