Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' Indoor Care and Propagation Guide
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Philodendron Sun Red performs best in bright indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soils coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' is one of the upright, clumping Philodendron varieties whose large, oval, leathery leaves start off bright red, then burgundy or red-purple and eventually green when mature.
Philodendron Sun Red and its relatives Philodendron 'Summer Glory' and Philodendron selloum are non-climbing upright bushes which look magnificent in a pot and is a spectacular addition to any plant collection.
Botanical name: Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red'
Family: Araceae
Common name: Philodendron Sun Red
Origin
Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' is native to the tropical rainforests of South America.
Size
Philodendron Sun Red can grow to a height of 8-10 feet but when grown indoors it rarely exceeds 4-5 feet high by the same width. On account of its size and spectacular foliage, Philodendron Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' is among the best large low-light plants for the living room.
Toxicity
As indicated by National Capital Poison Center, Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' like other Philodendrons is toxic to both humans and pets. The plants contain Calcium oxalate crystals. If ingested, it can cause burning and swelling in the mouth and throat, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pains. Therefore, keep the plant away from the reach of children and pets.
Where to buy
Should you wish to add Philodendron Sun Red to your collection, you may obtain these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' Care Indoors
Philodendron Sun Red requires bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 18-260C, more than average humidity of 60-70% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose potting soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' requires regular pruning to keep the plant neat, to encourage a compact, bushy growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting for young plant is needed when it becomes pot-bound and the soil should be replenished annually for the large plants. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Watering
Water Philodendron Sun Red liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings.
Reduce the amount and frequency of watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Use water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking this tropical plant.
To avoid soggy soil, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole. Soggy soil can lead to root-rot and total loss of the plant.
Light Requirements
Philodendron Sun Red grows best in medium to bright indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching the leaves.
If the light is too low, the plant will become leggy with small-sized pale leaves and lose leaf color. Where natural light is inadequate, you may grow the plant under grow lights. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
For even growth and to prevent lopsided growth, turn the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.
Temperature and Humidity
Philodendron Sun Red thrives in average warmth within the range of 18-260C. Keep it away from cold and hot drafts to prevent extreme temperatures. Too high temperatures may cause yellowing and leaf drop while too low temperatures can result in reduced growth or even death of the plant.
Philodendron Sun Red needs a humidity of 60-70% to thrive. Low humidity for prolonged periods can result in curled leaves and brown leaf tips and edges. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity.
Once in a while, clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and to discourage pest infestation. Maintain good ventilation to prevent fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Philodendron Sun Red every 4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to promote a lush growth. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and feeding at this time can cause fertilizer burn and death of the plant.
Potting Mix
The best potting soil for Philodendron Sun Red should be free-draining and rich in organic matter to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. All purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.
Repotting
Repot the young Philodendron Sun Red at the beginning of the growing season when the plant becomes pot-bound. Use a pot that is 2 sizes larger than the current one.
Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and death of the plant. Check out these ceramic pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Replenish the top 2-3 inches of soil for large plants at the beginning of the growing season or as necessary. Take care not to injure the roots to avoid fungal infestations. The large plants can also be divided at repotting to propagate new plants if you need to increase your collection or share with friends and family.
Pruning
Pruning Philodendron Sun Red involves removal of yellow and dead leaves to maintain the plant neat and also reduce pest and disease infestations. Cutback the stems of a straggly plant to the soil level at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
Propagation
Philodendron Sun Red propagation can be done during the growing season by plant divison.
How to propagate Philodendron Sun Red by plant division
Water the Philodendron Sun Red thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment as a well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.
Carefully divide a large Philodendron Sun Red into sections while ensuring each section has enough roots.
Pot these sections into individual pots in moist, loose, free-draining soil.
Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place and maintain the soil moist until the new Philodendron Sun Red is well established after which you can begin routine care.
Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' Problems
Philodendron Sun Red problems are loss of leaf color, yellow leaves, dropping leaves, brown leaf tips and edges, rotting, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Diseases
Philodendron Sun Red is prone to powdery mildew and leaf spot disease which are promoted by overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the rest of the plants and spray it with a fungicidal solution as directed by the manufacturer. Ensure to cover the entire plant; the leaves and the stems.
To prevent future infestation, avoid wetting the foliage and water from the bottom instead. In addition, ensure that there is good air circulation for the plant to discourage these diseases.
Pests
The common pests in Philodendron Sun Red are mealy bugs, scales and aphids. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it with neem oil or insecticidal soap as recommended by the manufacturers.
Loss of leaf color
Too little light is the cause of loss of leaf color in Philodendron Sun Red as it requires medium to bright indirect light to develop the beautiful leaf color. If light is inadequate the leaves turn all-green.
Position the plant in a brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is insufficient. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Leggy growth and small pale leaves
Too little light is the cause of leggy growth and small pale leaves as Philodendron Sun Red will not thrive in shade. Move the plant to a more brighter spot where it will receive medium to bright indirect light or instal a grow light where natural light is not sufficient.
Yellow leaves
If many leaves are affected and there are signs of wilting and rotting, overwatering is the cause of yellow leaves in Philodendron Sun Red. Water the plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings.
Cut down on the amount and frequency of watering in the cold season to maintain the soil barely moist. To avoid soggy soil, confirm that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining (drains easily). Read more on how to water indoor plants the right way.
If there is no wilting and rotting, underfeeding is the cause of yellow leaves in the Philodendron Sun Red. Feed the plant every 4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced water-soluble fertilizer but do not feed during the cold season to avoid fertilizer burn. Learn how to feed houseplants.
If only lower leaves are affected and have dark spots and new leaves are dark and small, then underwatering is the cause of yellow leaves. Water the plant liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Decrease watering in the cold season but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
If leaves are pale colored and have straw-colored patches the cause of yellow leaves is exposure to direct sunlight. Shield or keep the plant away from direct sunlight as it cannot withstand direct sunlight.
Dropping leaves
As the plant ages, the lower leaves in Philodendron Sun Red will drop but if there is an abnormal leaf drop, the cause is sudden change of the growing conditions. Avoid moving the plant suddenly to a new growing position before acclimating it. Move the plant gradually to a little brighter conditions every so often over a period of time.
If the leaves turn brown and dry before they drop, then too high temperature is the cause of leaf drop. Philodendron Sun Red grows best in average warmth within the range of 18-260C. Keep it from hot drafts from hot air vents, heat sources and others. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Brown leaf tips and edges
There are two possible causes of brown leaf tips and edges in Philodendron Sun Red. One possible cause of brown leaf tips and edges is dry air (low air humidity). To fix this problem, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity for the plant. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second possible cause of brown leaf tips and edges in Philodendron Sun Red is that the plant is pot-bound. Repot the plant into a pot 2 sizes larger. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
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