Philodendron Gloriosum Plant Care Guide

Velvet Philodendron or Philodendron gloriosum is a member of the Araceae family and belongs to the Philodendron genus. It is native to South and Central America.

Philodendron gloriosum is referred to as the Velvet Philodendron because of its velvety leaves.

There are around 3,750 species of the araceae family, and the philodendron genus has 621 accepted species.

Velvet Philodendron at a glance.

🪴 Appearance of Velvet Philodendron

The Velvet Philodendron is known for its dark green, heart-shaped leaves. The veins and stems are a lighter green.

This plant is more of a crawler so it grows more horizontally as opposed to reaching upwards.

The rhizome is a reddish colour.

☀️ What Light Does Velvet Philodendron Need?

Velvet Philodendron thrives in indirect, medium light. They prefer to be in the middle of the room with a regular-sized window. Early morning or late evening sun is fine, but they don’t want direct sun for the majority of the day.

I keep my Velvet Philodendron in a southwest facing window, but in the middle of the room.

🌡️ Temperature & Humidity 🌫️

Velvet Philodendron prefers a temperature between 18-29 degrees celsius (65-85 degrees Farenheit).

They also prefer humidity over 50%, but will tolerate average household humidity of 40%. Since they come rainforest regions, they prefer moist air. I keep my Philodendron closer to my Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier (LV600HH).

I use my humidifier to ensure the humidity levels in my apartment stays between 40% and 60%. Since I live in Canada and the winters can be very dry, and the humidity can drop below 30% humidity, so its helpful to set the humidity at about 45% or 50% in this season to keep all of my plants helpful.

🌱 How Does the Velvet Philodendron Grow?

On average, Velvet Philodendron can grow up to 2.5 feet.

New foliage grows from the rhizome of the Velvet Philodendron. The leaf grows up straight out of the rhizome and when wrapped looks a bit more red/purple.

The Philodendron Gloriosum is a slow grower. It can take a month for one leaf to unravel.

🌸 Does the Velvet Philodendron Bloom?

The Velvet Philodendron can bloom, but it rarely flowers indoors. It’s flowering period is May to June.

✂️ How to Propagate Velvet Philodendron?

The easiest way to start a new Velvet Philodendron is by rhizome cuttings.

Velvet Philodendron propagation is a bit unique. To propagate you will have to look at the underground stem of your plant.

The section you plan on cutting should have a 3-6″ stem, few leaves growing out of it, and roots.

Place the cutting into an appropriate potting medium for Philodendron, water, and place in indirect light.

Patience is key with propagation. Give your new plant time to settle into its environment. This can take three to four weeks.

💧 How Much Water Does the Velvet Philodendron Need?

The Velvet Philodendron likes to be water when the top quarter of the soil is dry (likely once a week, depending on your environment). To determine if your plant needs water, you can stick your finger in the soil (1 to 2 inches) and if it is dry, its ready for water!

If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can use a moisture meter.

I typically bottom water my Velvet Philodendron through the drainage hole of the nursing pot on a base tray. It’s the easiest way to know if your plant is thirsty or not. Overwatering can lead to fungus gnats, root rot, or the death of your plant.

You can top water your Philodendron, but it’s best to do so in a pot with drainage until water is flowing out of the hole. If your pot doesn’t have drainage, you might accidentally drown your plant or make some fungus gnats very happy.

You should top water from time to time to make sure any built up minerals can wash through the plant. The water should drip out of the bottom of your drainage hole.

🪳 Pests & Problems 😔

Velvet Philodendron can face the following pests and problems.

🪳 Pests

Aphids: Aphids are small, insects that cluster under leaves and stems. They can appear white, brown, black, gray, light green or yellow. If you see distortion, wilting or yellowing leaves on your Velvet Philodendron, this can be a sign of aphids. You should be able to spray them off with a strong stream of water or using insecticidal soap.
Spider Mites: If spider mites have taken to your Velvet Philodendron, spray them with a mixture of neem oil, dish soap and water (or you can buy an insecticidal soap). You will know you have spider mites if you see webbing and leaf damage. Learn how to get rid of Spider Mites here.
Fungus gnats: Spray your Velvet Philodendron with a mixture of neem oil, dish soap and water. I also let the soil dry out and add dryer sheets on top of the soil so the gnats can’t sense the moisture on the soil.

😔 Other Common Problems

Drooping Leaves: If the leaves of your Velvet Philodendron are drooping, the most common reason is incorrect moisture levels. Other reasons could be its thirsty, or its overwatered.
Yellowing Leaves: If you have a new leaf coming in, your Philodendron is likely fine. Plants pull energy from older leaves to support new growth. But it can also indicate over- or under- watering or lighting issues.
Overwatering: Root rot happens from overwatering your Philodendron with insufficient drainage. You can improve the drainage of your Philodendron by ensuring your plant is potted in a planter with a drainage hole and using a well draining soil (something with a decent amount of perlite). You can also end up with fungus gnats or fungal disease from overwatering.
Underwatering: Even though plants prefer to be underwatered over overwatered, you still have to remember to water it on a consistent schedule. Signs of underwatering can include leaves becoming shrivelled, discoloured or dry.
Browning Tips: If your Velvet Philodendron is subject to too much sun or the humidity levels are too low, the Velvet philodendron can get brown tips.

☢️ Are Velvet Philodendron Toxic?

Velvet Philodendron is moderately toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Velvet Philodendron Quick Care Guide

Scientific Name	Philodendron gloriosum
Nickname	Velvet Philodendron, Anthurium Gloriosum
Origins	South and Central America
Light	Indirect, medium light (in the middle of a room that has a regular-sized window)
Temperature	18-29 degrees celsius (preferred)
Humidity	Medium-high humidity (50%+ preferred, 40%+ will be tolerated)
Height	Up to 2.5 feet
Blooms	Yes, but rarely indoors
Propagate	Stem cuttings
Water Frequency	When top quarter is dry (likely once or twice a week)
Pests	Aphids, Spider Mites, Fungus Gnats
Common Problems	Overwatering (root rot), underwatering, brown tips, drooping leaves, yellowing leaves
Toxicity	Moderate (not safe when ingested)