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Philodendrons have a reputation for being nearly indestructible, fast-growing, and surprisingly varied. The genus contains over 600 species per NC State Extension. This guide covers six of the most commonly sold — heartleaf, Brasil, pink princess, micans, Selloum, and Birkin — plus which ones to skip and why.
The six philodendrons worth owning
If you walk into any houseplant subreddit thread on philodendrons, you'll see the same six varieties cycle through. They're the ones that ship reliably, propagate quickly, and forgive beginner mistakes. The rest are either fussy collector species (Gloriosum, Verrucosum) or expensive rare-trade plants.
Heartleaf (Philodendron hederaceum)
The default. Sold under "philodendron" with no further qualifier. Trailing vine, glossy heart-shaped leaves, grows in nearly any light. Worth knowing: commonly mislabeled as "sweetheart plant" or confused with pothos at retailers. The tell is the petiole — pothos petioles have a groove, heartleaf philodendron petioles don't.
Brasil (P. hederaceum 'Brasil')
The yellow-streaked cultivar of heartleaf. Same care, more striking. Loses variegation in low light — kept in a dim corner, it reverts to solid green. Move it to bright indirect light.
Pink princess (P. erubescens 'Pink Princess')
The Instagram famous one. Bubblegum pink variegation on dark green leaves. Same care as other erubescens — climbing, prefers a moss pole, wants brighter light than heartleaf. Will revert if pink-only leaves dominate. Cut back to a half-pink node if you see all-pink growth.
Micans (P. hederaceum var. hederaceum)
Velvet-leaf variant of heartleaf. Iridescent bronze-purple new growth. Care is the same — but micans is the philodendron most likely to dry out fast because the thin velvet leaves transpire heavily. Check its soil more often.
Selloum / Hope (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)
The big one. Tree-like with deeply lobed leaves. Floor plant, not desk plant. Wants more light than the climbers and more space than most apartments have. Don't buy one for a small space.
Quick taxonomy note: you'll still see this sold as Philodendron bipinnatifidum or Philodendron selloum at most nurseries. A 2018 paper in PhytoKeys proposed moving it to the genus Thaumatophyllum, but Kew's Plants of the World Online keeps Philodendron bipinnatifidum as the accepted name and lists Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum as a synonym. Care is identical either way.
Birkin (P. 'Birkin')
White pinstriped leaves. Mutation of the Rojo Congo. Slow grower, stays compact, ideal for shelves. The only genuinely fussy philodendron on this list — drops leaves if you let it dry out completely.
For Philodendron hastatum, see the silver sword philodendron guide.
How to water philodendrons
The textbook answer, per UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, is to water "when the top inch of soil becomes dry to the touch." How often that happens depends on your pot, soil, light, and which philodendron, so check the soil rather than the calendar:
- Spring/summer: Plants are in active growth and the soil dries faster. Micans dries out fastest because of its thin velvet leaves, so check it more often.
- Fall/winter: Growth slows and the soil stays wet longer. Keeping a summer watering schedule into winter is an easy way to cause root rot.
- The test: Stick a chopstick or your finger into the top inch of soil. If it comes out with soil clinging to it, wait. If it comes out clean and dry, water.
Water when the top inch is dry, not on a schedule. Philodendrons slow down in fall and winter, and a summer watering routine invites root rot.
For a pot too big for the finger test, such as a large Selloum, an XLUX moisture meter checks moisture below the surface.
Soil: DIY mix vs. bagged
Philodendrons want a chunky, well-draining aroid mix. Standard Miracle-Gro potting soil will work but holds too much water — you'll have to water less often, and the risk of root rot goes up. A DIY aroid mix:
- Coco coir (the base — replaces peat, sustainable)
- Orchid bark (creates air pockets)
- Perlite (drainage)
- Worm castings (slow nutrient release)
The key ingredients: Better-Gro orchid bark for the chunky structure, Espoma perlite for drainage, and Wiggle Worm worm castings for slow-release nutrition. If you want pre-mixed, rePotme's Aroid Mix is the closest commercial equivalent.
Troubleshooting matrix
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow leaves (older, lowest) | Normal aging. | Trim. No action needed. |
| Yellow leaves (multiple, fast) | Overwatering. Most common cause of philodendron decline. | Stop watering. Check roots — see root rot guide. |
| Brown crispy tips | Low humidity or tap water with high fluoride. | Run a small humidifier nearby. Switch to filtered water. |
| Drooping despite moist soil | Root rot starting. Roots can't deliver water even though soil is wet. | Unpot, trim black roots, repot in fresh dry mix. |
| Leggy stems, small leaves | Not enough light. Common with heartleaf in corners. | Move to bright indirect light near a window. |
| Brasil reverting to green | Light too low for variegated cultivars. | Move to bright indirect immediately. Cut back to a variegated node. |
| Tiny black flies in soil | Fungus gnats — usually from staying wet too long. | See fungus gnats guide. Mosquito Bits + dry-out cycle. |
Pet safety: this matters
All philodendrons contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. The ASPCA classifies heartleaf philodendron as toxic to cats and dogs. Symptoms in pets include oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. The same crystals cause the same reaction in humans if ingested.
In a home with pets, keep philodendrons out of reach, such as on a high or hanging shelf. If your pet is a chewer, skip the genus entirely.
More detail, including what to do if a pet chews one: Are philodendrons toxic to cats and dogs?
Propagating: water vs. soil vs. moss
Philodendrons root easily from stem cuttings. Water propagation is fastest to see results, but the water-rooted plants struggle when transitioned to soil. Soil propagation in damp aroid mix produces stronger plants. Sphagnum moss is the goldilocks middle — fast like water, transition-friendly like soil.
For moss: damp sphagnum in a clear container, cuttings with a node buried in the moss, lid cracked for airflow. Once rooted, transplant straight to aroid mix.