Philodendron pedatum vs Philodendron ‘Florida’

Philodendron pedatum vs Philodendron ‘Florida’

Philodendrons of all varieties have become some of the most popular houseplants in recent years, thanks to their beautiful foliage and how easy they are to grow and care for.

Because some Philodendron varieties look very similar to each other, most people have a difficult time differentiating them. Two of the varieties that are quite tricky to distinguish from one another are pedatum and ‘Florida’.

The Philodendron pedatum is actually a parent plant of the ‘Florida’, which is why they bear so many similarities. Both plants are climbers with lobed leaves, but the Philodendron ‘Florida’ is more compact and its leaves are paler and variegated.

In this article, we will discuss both the differences and the similarities between these two plants, so if you wish to learn more about either or both plants, then keep reading.

Philodendron pedatum and Philodendron ‘Florida’: Differences

Leaves

One of the main reasons Philodendrons are so popular is because of their lobed leaves. The changes that young leaves go through as they mature also keeps the owner guessing and makes these plants even more intriguing.

The Philodendron pedatum has leaves that change shape throughout the lifespan of the plant. Their leaves can start out oval-shaped and, as they mature, become the signature lobed leaves. These leaves are typically eight inches long, but they can reach a foot long in ideal conditions.

Philodendron ‘Florida’ leaves are smaller in size, and have less variety or changes in shape from young to mature. Some leaves may have shallow indentations while others may have longer lobes, but they generally maintain the same shape over the plant’s lifespan.

The amount of light to which the plants are exposed can also have an effect on the shape of their leaves. The more light the plant gets, the fewer indentations and the broader the leaf.

The more obvious difference when looking at the leaves of these two Philodendrons is their colors.

The Philodendron pedatum’s large leaves are much greener and its petioles are smoother. There is hardly any variegation on the pedatum’s leaves, and the color is generally consistent over the plant’s lifetime.

The leaves of the Philodendron ‘Florida’ are much paler in color and variegation is common. They start out lighter while they are young and darken over time. This is a trait of the ‘Florida’ variety that makes it so special for plant collectors. There are even sub-varieties of the ‘Florida’ that start out with white leaves that turn a bright green as they mature. The petioles of this variety are rougher and are a reddish color.

Bloom

Like all Philodendrons, neither the pedatum nor the ‘Florida’ variety flower in the traditional sense but, on the rare occasion, they do produce spathes. The Philodendron pedatum produces brown or cream spathes, while the Philodendron ‘Florida’ produces purple spathes.

Structure

The Philodendron pedatum prefers to spread as it grows. If the plant is placed in an area where it gets lots of light, the leaves will be broad and spread out like a fan from the body of the plant.

The Philodendron ‘Florida’, on the other hand, is a lot more compact and does not spread out as much. The leaves are arranged in a tighter cluster which gives the plant a denser look.

Both of these plants are climbers, so they can go as high as their supporting structure allows them. However, the ‘Florida’ usually stops growing vertically when it reaches about eight feet, while the pedatum can grow over ten feet high as long as there is a structure it can latch onto.

Philodendron pedatum and Philodendron ‘’Florida’: Similarities

These two plants share plenty of similarities because the Philodendron ‘Florida’ is a hybrid created by pairing Philodendron pedatum with Philodendron squamiferum.

Many of the care and growth requirements for the two plants are the same, so much so that you can simply place them right next to each other and care for them in exactly the same way.

Growth pattern

As mentioned above, both these plants are climbers as long as a structure is provided. If you have the space, you can make the plant trail or creep, but if you want to save space, a moss pole should be a sufficient structure for the plant to cling onto and climb.

Water

Despite the rainforests being their natural habitat, these plants do not like their soil to be persistently soggy. Like most plants, if the soil in their pot is always wet, they can become overwatered and eventually develop root rot. Root rot is when the roots of the plant drown in constantly-wet soil. The dead roots will begin to rot and become susceptible to opportunistic pathogens which, in turn, make the rot travel faster to the rest of the plant. If you are unable to catch the rot in its early stages, it may be too late to save the plant and it will die.

These plants, on average, only need to be watered once a week during the warmer months and as seldom as once every two weeks during the cooler months.

The best way to know whether your plant needs to be watered is by touching the top two inches of the soil. If the soil is dry to the touch, water the plant, but if the soil is still damp, wait one or two days before checking it again.

Light

The best lighting you can provide for your Philodendron plants is to simulate the light they would get in their natural habitat. In the rainforest, these plants would grow on the ground and up trees or other plants, which means that their light would be the stippled sunlight that filters through the canopy of tall trees. Place the plant in a spot where it gets bright, indirect light for several hours, followed by shade for the next couple of hours.

Do not leave the plant in a spot where it gets light all day, because it may become scorched and sunburnt. If you keep it near a window, make sure you rotate the plant every three weeks so that each side has its time in the light. This practice also prevents the plant from becoming leggy.

Soil

Because these plants are climbers, they are epiphytic, which means they prefer a looser potting mix that allows plenty of airflow. They do well in potting mixes that do not contain soil and only have coconut coir, orchid bark and peat moss.

As long as the potting mix is well-draining and includes sufficient organic matter, that should do the trick. Just make sure that, although the mix is well-draining, some moisture can still be retained.

Fertilizer

Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen, at half-strength. These plants appreciate regular feeding, especially during their growth phase in the spring and summer. Refrain from fertilizing the plants in the fall and winter because they will start going into dormancy at this time and will not need the added nutrients. Fertilizer in the soil during the fall and winter might even cause soil toxicity, and thus do more harm than good.

Diseases and pests

Both plants can get leaf spot and blight, but as long as you are vigilant and are able to remove the affected foliage in its early stages, these diseases should be easy to control. 

Common houseplant pests can also attack Philodendron pedatum and Philodendron ‘Florida’, including thrips, spider mites and mealybugs. 

You can make a cheap neem oil spray at home to effectively eradicate these pests. Mix two tablespoons of dish soap and two tablespoons of neem oil into a gallon of warm water. Transfer the solution to a garden sprayer and spray the tops and undersides of all the leaves. Do this in the late afternoon, once a week, until all the pests are gone.

Are these plants toxic?

Yes, Philodendrons are toxic to humans and animals when ingested. This can cause nausea and vomiting. If you have small children or inquisitive pets, keep these plants out of their reach.

When handling the plant, wear gloves to protect your hands from the sap as it can be an irritant. Make sure to wash the gloves and any tools you use afterwards.

Conclusion

The Philodendron pedatum and Philodendron ‘Florida’ have plenty of similarities because the latter is a hybrid of the former with Philodendron squamiferum.

The main difference between these two plants is that the pedatum grows taller than the ‘Florida’, and its leaves are blue-green while those of the ‘Florida’ can range from pale to green and have variegation. The pedatum’s spathes are cream white, and those of the ‘Florida’ are purple in color.

Despite those differences, the two plants have almost identical care instructions, with the same light, water, soil and fertilizer requirements. They also suffer from the same diseases and pests.

Both plants are toxic to humans and animals and should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Image: istockphoto.com / butterandnoodles