Each plant is unique. Size, shape, fullness, and variegation will vary.
Philodendron Brasil |
Philodendron hederaceum
‘Brasil’
Philodendron Brasil, Philodendron hederaceum ‘Brasil’, is a variegated form of the classic Heartleaf Philodendron, a climbing aroid native to tropical parts of the Americas. Its heart-shaped leaves combine deep green with irregular bands and streaks of lime, yellow-green and sometimes cream through the center. Each leaf can develop a slightly different pattern, giving the vine plenty of variation without losing the recognizable look of a Heartleaf Philodendron.
Brasil is naturally a climbing plant, even though it is frequently sold in hanging baskets and grown as a trailing vine. Its stems produce aerial roots that allow it to attach and climb. You can absolutely let it trail, but giving it a pole, plank or other vertical support changes the way it grows. As an established vine climbs, new leaves have the potential to become larger and the plant begins to show more of its mature growth habit. A trailing Brasil generally maintains smaller, more juvenile foliage.
For natural light, start Philodendron Brasil approximately 1–3 feet from an east-facing window or 2–4 feet from a west-facing window. Philodendron Brasil prefers approximately 500–1,000 foot-candles at the leaves. Foot-candles simply tell you how much light is actually reaching your plant. Brasil can continue growing in lower light, but lower light can result in longer spaces between leaves, smaller growth and less distinct variegation. Window direction and distance are starting points. Trees, overhangs, neighboring buildings, window size, season, screens and glass can all change how much light actually reaches the foliage.
If you’re using grow lights, choose a 5000–6500K light and aim for the same approximately 500–1,000 foot-candles at the foliage. Kelvin tells you the color of the light, not its strength. Foot-candles tell you how much light is actually reaching the plant. There is no universal distance between Brasil and a grow light because fixtures vary in output and coverage. This becomes especially important with long trailing vines or plants climbing a tall support because the top and bottom of the plant may be receiving very different amounts of light.
Water when your plant needs watered. Allow the root zone to use a good portion of its available moisture before thoroughly watering again rather than watering on a weekly schedule. Brasil generally handles some dryback well, but repeatedly pushing it to a severe wilt isn’t necessary. An airy, well-draining aroid mix helps water move through the pot while maintaining oxygen around the roots. How quickly it uses water will change with the amount of light it receives, temperature, root development and how much foliage the plant is supporting.
Read the vine as it grows. Increasingly long spaces between leaves, progressively smaller foliage or a vine stretching strongly toward its light source are reasons to check how much light is actually reaching the plant. Variegation will naturally differ from leaf to leaf, so don’t judge the plant by one unusually green or highly variegated leaf. If you’re growing Brasil vertically, watch the aerial roots and new leaf size as well. Attachment to its support and progressively larger foliage tell you the plant is beginning to settle into its climbing growth habit.
Success looks like steady vines with firm foliage, relatively compact spacing between leaves and strong green and lime variegation across the plant. A trailing Brasil can create a long, full cascade, while a climbing plant can develop increasingly substantial leaves as it matures. Neither approach is wrong. The important part is understanding how Brasil naturally grows so you can decide what you want the plant to become and give it an environment that supports that direction.
