The Philodendron is Back!

Once upon a time, just about every American household had an oven that was used almost every night (translation, home-cooked meals); a rotary telephone that would not consume hour upon hour (translation, no Internet surfing because there was no Internet, and hence no need for "smart phones"); and attractive indoor greenery in the form of houseplants such as the Philodendron. That time was not so far in the past. But, my, how things changed!

There is no need to recount the changes that occurred. Having had my share of nights with take-out pizza, I certainly know some of the changes. Surely you do too. But the pendulum is starting to swing.

The lure of home cooking is getting people back into the kitchen and away from their “t.v. dinners”; the Internet has an unavoidable draw, but most of us are now aware that we need to limit our screen time. And a once-forgotten houseplant is coming back on the scene with style, in varieties that make it more exotic and desirable than ever before. The Philodendron is back!

So, where did it go? Well, even though many think of the Philodendron as the quintessential houseplant, I personally noticed that it seemed to fall out of favor for a while. That is not to say that plant lovers no longer sought out Philodendron plants. But other houseplants became chic and took center stage. Peperomias began to get prime billing. Calatheas became desirable, despite their demanding nature. And the Philodendron, though kept in countless homes, faded from plant talk. In that sense, this houseplant slipped a few rungs on the “favorite plants” ladder. 

That slippage affected me. I must admit that when I heard a friend talk of her colleague’s love of the Philodendron, I thought, “oh, how traditional”. Now, that could mean something nice, but “traditional” in this case equated to “expected” and maybe even a little “dull”. But there is nothing dull about the Philodendron. In thinking more about this “all-American” houseplant, this green beauty should actually have all other plants green with envy, for the Philodendron has a lot to offer and should surely fall somewhere at the top of the list of desirable houseplants. 

Aside from the fact that the Philodendron must be kept away from pets to avoid causing them upset if they ingest it, this plant is a welcome sight in the home. It can endure sporadic watering and not look as though it has suffered at all. However, the best Philodendron growers keep a good eye on hydration. Still, it is worth noting that a worse shortcoming than forgetting to water a Philodendron is to overwater it.

Beyond basic watering, the most a Philodendron will need is periodic dusting to ensure the nice sheen on its leaves will show well. With good soil drainage and positioning in bright indirect light, it will do well, with no need for extraordinary measures of care. Yes, the Philodendron likes warmth and humidity. (It’s actually not “all-American” at all, but instead has tropical roots.) But the average home temperature can be just fine for it. This plant won’t keep you hopping when trying to care for it. And I am sure that is a good part of the reason it was so well-loved in the past.

There is Philodendron squamiferum, with lobed leaves that start out pretty and become even more decorative as they mature. There is also ‘Pink Princess Marble’, which has pink marbling on darkest green leaves. And then there are the impressive beauties that are what I think brought this plant back into the favorite-houseplants conversation: These are the Monsteras, big and bold and proud to show off the decorative cut-work they display when their leaves mature. Varieties abound, and just about every home can have a Philodedron that suits its taste… a plant to add life to the room when those home-cooked dinners hit the table.

This whole train of thought—that these plants became slightly forgotten and are now getting a lot of interest again—might be completely off-base. Maybe the Philodendron remained a favorite and stayed perfectly in style, and I just didn’t know it. Wrong or right about the recent history of this plant, I tell you that I am now a big fan of the Philodendron, and I don’t find it to be a commonplace plant at all. Instead, it is a desirable tropical houseplant, with enough cultivars to ensure that there is one for every person’s home décor, one for every mood.

That ol' pendulum… I’m glad it has swung back to the “in-favor” side for the Philodendron. It is a wonderful houseplant, unfailing, easy to care for, and attractive.