Where Do You Put A Philodendron? (Ideal Spot+Factors To Consider)

Philodendrons are tropical plants that are great for both beginners and advanced gardeners. You will get both climbing and non-climbing varieties of philodendrons, but if you don’t find the right spot, they will not get the correct living conditions.

This can lead to different problems that will result in yellow leaves, droopy leaves, brown foliage, and leaf drop. Therefore, you must place the philodendron correctly. But where do you put a philodendron for ideal growth?

Keep your philodendron in a well-lit spot that gets sufficient indirect light all day long. Make sure the plant is away from intense sun and cold drafts. If your philodendron struggles with humidity, you can place it in the bathroom, kitchen, or basement to help with the humidity.

If you don’t place your philodendron in a suitable spot, the plant will face challenges even when you water and fertilize them correctly. If the placement is wrong, the plant might be exposed to too much light or insufficient light. The temperature levels might not be ideal, and the humidity can be too low for your philodendron’s liking.

Read this article to understand the relevant factors that will help you find the ideal spot for your philodendron.

Factors determining the placement of philodendron

The three main factors that determine the placement of the philodendron are light, humidity, and temperature. Let’s understand the requirements of philodendron.

Light

You can grow philodendrons both indoors and outdoors, but they need appropriate lighting to thrive. Philodendrons can adjust to low light conditions, but it will not help them grow fast.

Philodendrons require bright and indirect light to thieve and grow fast. But direct light can be highly harmful to the plant.

You can place your philodendron near a window or any corner of the house that receives sufficient indirect light. If you don’t get enough light in your house, you can use grow lights or keep the plant beside a lamp that gives enough light with low intensity.

If the window gets direct sunlight, you can cover it with curtains to filter the light or keep the plant some feet away from the window to protect it from direct sunlight and the damages due to the direct sunlight.

If your philodendron is growing outdoors, you should consider the option of keeping it away from direct sunlight.

You can place the philodendron under any shade or under a big tree to save it from the harsh and direct sunlight.

If the philodendron has pale leaves, brown spots, and sunburn, you need to move it away from its spot and place it somewhere else where the lighting is less intense.

Also read: What Kind Of Light Does A Philodendron Need? (Light Requirements)

Humidity

Philodendrons love humidity. These plants come from tropical regions where they get a lot of humidity. A humidity level between 60-70% is ideal for philodendrons.

Philodendrons can bear with low humidity but not for long. It will affect the growth rate of the plant but the plant can survive low humidity levels.

But if you want to see your philodendron in good health and see more growth in it, you must try to maintain high humidity levels.

Make sure that the airflow is good when the humidity levels are high to avoid fungal and bacterial infections.

You can use a humidifier to increase the humidity levels or place the philodendron near an aquarium. Place the philodendron on a pebble tray. The water will evaporate from the pebble tray and add moisture to the plant.

Mist the philodendron every few days to add some moisture to the plant or group it with other plants who love moisture.

Also read: Do Philodendron Like To Be Misted? (+Ways To Boost Humidity)

Temperature

Philodendrons prefer high-temperature levels. You must maintain temperatures between 70-80ºF for these plants.

Before you select a spot for your philodendron, check the temperature levels in the surrounding areas. If the temperature levels are ideal, the philodendron will grow at its full potential.

During the winter, the philodendron might develop problems if exposed to low temperatures. It can happen if you live in a cold region. You can place the philodendron near the furnace or heater to increase the temperature levels.

Keep the plant at a distance to prevent any leaf burn due to the excess heat from the heaters. The philodendron can get stressed if you keep it in low temperatures for a prolonged period.

You can relocate the philodendron according to the seasons and the weather changes to keep the ideal temperatures around the plant. You can expose the philodendron to direct sunlight during winter to maintain high temperatures.

Where should I put my philodendron?

There are several options for the placement of the philodendron. We have discussed some common ones below.

Near a window

If you place your philodendron near a window, the plant will show fast growth.

Sufficient bright and indirect light will pour in through the window and stimulate the plant’s growth. The window will filter the harsh light from the sun and make the intensity ideal for the philodendron.

But if the light’s intensity is too high, you can keep the philodendron some feet away from the window to prevent sunburn or brown spots on the plant.

During winters, when the intensity of the light is low, the window’s glass remains moist and starts to freeze. Keep the philodendron away from the window during such conditions to protect the leaves from getting dry and developing brown spots.

Check the window’s direction while placing your philodendron. If enough light comes from the window, it will brighten the space around the plant and help it grow.

Keep away from your pets

If there are pets in your house, you need to be careful with the placement of the houseplants. Some plants can be harmful to your dogs, cats, or other pets that you have in the house.

Philodendrons have a poisonous sap, which can be very toxic for pets.

If your pets touch any part of the plant, they can have skin irritation. And in case of ingestion, the pets can vomit, have oral irritation, or face digestion problems or diarrhea. In such a case, you must consult the veterinarian immediately.

Keep away from the children

Philodendrons are considered toxic for humans and children, so you should keep them away from the kids in the house. These plants can be poisonous if ingested by you or your children.

Philodendrons contain toxic calcium oxalate that causes oral irritation, swelling in the mouth, lips, and tongue. This toxic element can even cause eczema skin irritation if it comes in contact with the skin.

So, keeping your philodendron away from your child is the best thing to do as it will save you from unwanted stress.

Avoid placing your philodendron near a fireplace

Avoid keeping your philodendron near a fireplace as it might catch fire as the leaves are flammable. The flying sparks coming out of the fireplace can burn your philodendron leaves.

Philodendrons prefer high humidity, and the fire from the fireplace will absorb all the moisture from your plant way fast that will damage the plant from within. Soon you will notice the symptoms through brown spots, droopy leaves, yellow foliage, and stunted growth.

Keeping your philodendron near a fireplace is not the best idea as the heat can be too much to handle, and philodendrons do not enjoy too much heat. The leaves will wilt or fall off, or the philodendron can die due to the excess heat.

If you still want to keep the philodendron near a fireplace, you must find a spot where your plant will not receive the excess heat from the fire. You can check this by placing your hands in front of the philodendron and feel the intensity of the fireplace’s heat.

The temperature of your room

The philodendron adjusts in a wide range of cultural conditions that you place it in, but it performs the best in temperatures between 70-80ºF.

The philodendron can survive in temperatures below the above-prescribed level, but anything below 50ºF will damage it.

This is the reason behind avoiding freezing conditions for the philodendron.

To avoid leggy growth and dryness issues, you must also avoid keeping the plant near heating vents or the direct sun.

Philodendron in the bedroom

Philodendrons can look great in your bedroom. The philodendron plant adds a touch of nature to your bedroom. Philodendrons can even purify the air by removing harmful chemicals from the air.

Ensure that your room is well ventilated so that the plant can breathe.

Do not keep your philodendron opposite to the AC. The AC’s dry and cold air will reduce the air’s humidity levels and make the soil dry.

Ensure that your bedroom doesn’t get direct sunlight and gets filtered light through the curtains or blinds on the window.

If you plan to place the philodendron beside you, keep it near a lamp so that the plant gets indirect light but make sure that the light is not too intense.

Philodendron in the bathroom

You can place the philodendron in your bathroom and use it as a piece of décor.

Philodendrons can survive low light, but it will be great for the plant if your bathroom gets enough light. The high humidity level of the bathroom is ideal for the philodendron’s growth.

Philodendrons enjoy warm and humid climates like their native rainforests, and your bathroom might be able to mimic those natural conditions.

Keeping the philodendron in the bathroom will remind you to water the plant as you notice it every day.

If your bathroom has a window, you can place the philodendron near that window or hang it, and this plant will also help purify the air of the bathroom.

Tips on the placement of philodendron

Few tips to help you decide on the correct placement of your philodendron are:

• Place the philodendron in a spot that gets at least 6-8 hours of medium to bright indirect light.
• Increase the humidity level for your philodendron by placing it near a humidifier.
• Wipe the leaves of your philodendron with a cloth and remove the dust from them so that they can absorb moisture, breathe properly and photosynthesize well.
• Provide more light to the philodendrons that come with unique color and variegation.
• Prune the philodendron occasionally to keep it in shape.
• Avoid exposing your philodendron to low temperatures and frost in winter.

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Ref: Evaluation of Different Species of Philodendron Under Indoor Conditions, University of Florida, University of Vermont, ScienceDirect, Academia, Wikipedia, Britannica.