The first noticeable attribute of the Philodendron camposportoanum plant is the leaves. When this Philodendron is mature, the leaves shine a funky pink in direct sunlight.
This small non-climber is one of the easiest Philodendron plants to care for. It needs only a bit more water than the other species. And it needs bright but indirect sunlight as well as well-draining soil.
The plants have fascinating leaves that can vary in shape. One of the most popular leaf shapes reminds you of a freshly plucked peach.
These shaped leaves are often referred to as “hammer leaves”. And we can’t forget the velvety and soft feel when you touch the leaf texture.
This is our guide to the Philodendron camposportoanum. We included everything you could need to know below so you can grow a healthy plant.
- 1 Philodendron Camposportoanum Plant Care Instructions
- 2 Philodendron Camposportoanum Propagation Steps
- 3 Common Problems with the Philodendron Camposportoanum
- 4 Tips for an Unhappy Philodendron Camposportoanum
- 5 Your Philodendron camposportoanum has brown leaves
- 6 Philodendron Camposportoanum FAQ
- 7 Conclusion
Philodendron Camposportoanum Plant Care Instructions
Like with most Philodendron plants, the Philodendron camposportoanum needs well-draining soil to thrive.
Well-draining soil prevents you from both over-watering your plant and under-watering it.
The first attribute of well-draining soil is its’ great aeration. If you over-water the plant, excess water is going to drain through to the bottom of the plant pot.
It’s not going to hold onto all that unneeded water.
You should use a plant pot with drainage holes at the bottom. This way excess water won’t sit at the bottom of the soil either and affect the plant’s roots.
But this soil still holds onto enough water to keep your Philodendron plant alive.
Porous potting soil mixes are the best for this plant. These soils not only let extra water drain through but they allow plenty of oxygen to get to the roots.
Keep in mind, the Philodendron camposportoanum’s soil needs neutral acidity. This means the pH should be around seven.
A great potting soil recipe for this Philodendron includes:
- sphagnum peat-moss
- shredded bark
Sphagnum peat-moss is high in acidity. Adding lime to the soil of your Philodendron will bring the acidity back down to a more neutral range.
Bright but indirect sunlight works best for the Philodendron camposportoanum. Like other tropical plants, light is a must for this Philodendron to do well.
But you have to be very careful when it comes to sunlight and your plant. Direct sunlight can be dangerous for the leaves.
In the best cases, the leaves of the plant will turn yellow or other strange colors. In the worst cases, direct sunlight scorches the leaves.
You can avoid direct sunlight without sacrificing bright light. Place the Philodendron camposportoanum plant in either a north or east-facing window.
The Philodendron camposportoanum plant needs a bit more hydration than other Philodendrons.
Instead of checking the first few inches of the soil before you water, you only have to feel the very top layer.
If the soil is dry to the touch, go ahead and water the plant. Just don’t get overzealous. If it’s still moist, wait a while before you hydrate it.
It’s important to keep the plant hydrated but you need to prevent over-watering too.
Over-watering any plant leads to major complications. For a Philodendron camposportoanum, the biggest threat is root rot.
When the soil of a plant sits in saturated soil, little or no oxygen can find its way to the roots. This leads to icky rotting roots.
If root rot (or wet feet) isn’t treated right away, your plant won’t survive.
The temperature range for the Philodendron camposportoanum plant should be between 60F (16C) and 75F (24C).
You shouldn’t let the room temperature drop below 55F (13C) at night and especially not during winter.
Avoid letting frost form on the leaves of your Philodendron camposportoanum.
A Philodendron camposportoanum plant loves humidity. High humidity isn’t a must-have to keep it going but it sure gives it a glow like no other.
Most homes aren’t able to create the right amount of moisture in the air for tropical plants. But humidity is easy to create by yourself.
The most common method used is the pebble tray method. All you need for this method is lots of pebbles, a tray, and some water.
Start by filling the tray to the very top with pebbles. It’s okay if the pebbles sit above the tray a bit.
Next, fill the tray with water. Make sure the water doesn’t cover up the pebbles.
And last, all you have to do is sit the Philodendron camposportoanum plant pot on top of the pebbles.
It takes time but the water will evaporate, creating plenty of moisture in the vicinity. Since your plant is right there, it’s going to absorb all that new humidity.
But the pebble tray method isn’t your only option to create humidity. You can also invest in a humidifier. This is the best option if you live in a climate with dry air.
Another method used often is spritzing the leaves of the Philodendron. Like the tray method, the water evaporates and goes right to your plant.
A Philodendron camposportoanum plant enjoys a fertilizer that’s slow-release. It makes it so you don’t over-fertilize or under-fertilize your plant.
While your plant is growing, you’ll need to fertilize it once a month during the warmer months.
You can cut back on fertilizing during winter since the soil holds onto it longer.
You can use an all-purpose fertilizer but make sure it has a high amount of nitrogen in it.
The nitrogen ensures the leaves in your plant grows to be lush and a gorgeous shade of green.
The easiest way to propagate a Philodendron camposportoanum plant is through stem cuttings. Your other option is to propagate the plant by the air layering method.
We’ll walk you through both methods down below.
The Philodendron camposportoanum plant isn’t very big compared to other Philodendron plants.
They grow to be about a foot to a foot in a half in height. The leaves grow to be between two and eight inches in width.
You need to re-pot a Philodendron camposportoanum when the roots stick out of the drainage holes.
That’s the simplest way to tell when your Philodendron plant is getting too small for its current plant pot.
When you do go to re-pot the Philodendron, you should aim for spring or summertime. It makes it easier for the plant to adapt to its’ new home.
Move the Philodendron camposportoanum to a pot that’s only a bit bigger than the original. Philodendron roots don’t adapt well to too much space.
This extra space stresses the roots out. A stressed plant is more susceptible to diseases and even irritating plant pests.
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Philodendron Camposportoanum Propagation Steps
The main method of propagating a Philodendron camposportoanum is by planting stem cuttings.
But you don’t have to propagate your plant using this method. Another common method is through air layering and by wounding your existing plant.
And the best time to propagate this Philodendron is during summertime. You can propagate during early summer or even late summer.
Using Stem Cuttings
You need to get a decent Philodendron camposportoanum stem cutting to propagate. This stem cutting should be around three or four inches in length. Make sure you cut right below a leaf node and make sure there are at least two leaves still attached. Before you make the official cut, make sure you’re using sterilized pruning shears. You can use 70% isopropyl alcohol to sterilize your shears before you use them. Once you’re done with that, it’s safe to get your stem cutting ready.
Now it’s time to let the stem cutting cure for a while. Curing is when you let the stem cutting sit out in a warm environment for about a week. This allows the cut end to callous over. A calloused end allows for easier rooting.
While you’re waiting for the calloused end to form, you can get everything ready for planting time. Get a plant pot with drainage holes. Use the appropriate soil in the pot.
Once the stem cutting is cured, you can go ahead and plant it. Start by placing a finger into the soil up to your big knuckle. This is about two inches deep and the perfect depth for the cutting. It allows you to leave an inch of the stem cutting out of the soil. Pack the soil around the stem cutting so it stays sturdy and strong.
Sometimes the soil won’t be enough alone to hold your Philodendron stem cutting up. You can use a cut straw to fix this. Tie the stem cutting to the straw until it can stand on its own.
Now all you have to do is nurture the cutting like you do the original Philodendron. It needs watering and it needs adequate sunlight. Again, a north or east-facing window is the perfect place to put your new plant.
Using Air Layering
The first step of air layering involves wounding your original Philodendron camposportoanum plant. It sounds worse than it is. The wound you create needs to be about two inches deep and two inches in length. It should be towards the top of the plant to make it easier to remove when the time comes. To make the wound, you need to sterilize a knife first. You can use 70% isopropyl alcohol to sterilize it. Then go ahead and make the cut.
Some wounds won’t stay open and you need it open for the sphagnum peat-moss. You can push a toothpick through the top of the wound and bottom of the wound to keep it open.
Now that the plant’s wound is open, you need to spread sphagnum peat-moss in and around it. The peat-moss needs moistened so it’ll stick to the wound.
If the sphagnum peat-moss still won’t stay stuck, you can try tying a string around the wound to help.
Now it’s time to wrap plastic wrap around the wound and stem. You have to be careful not to wrap too tightly or too loosely. The sphagnum peat-moss needs to stay on the wound but it also needs to breathe so it can root out. Duct tape will keep the plastic wrap stuck to the stem of the plant.
It takes around three weeks for the roots to start growing. In the meantime, get your plant pot ready. Invest in a plant pot with drainage holes at the bottom so excess water can leak through.
Once the roots have grown to be four inches, you can remove the wound from the original Philodendron. You’ll need either a sterilized knife or sterilized pair or pruning shears. Make sure you cut at least a few inches below the wound.
It’s time to remove the plastic wrap from your new budding plant. Always be careful during this process. You don’t want to damage the fresh roots.
Now you’re going to plant the new Philodendron. The roots need to be under the well-draining soil all the way. Otherwise, the can’t grow and expand as they need to.
All that’s left is to care for the new plant and let it thrive. You’ll take care of it like you do the original plant. It needs watering and it needs adequate sunlight. The fertilizer will give it a big boost in health.
Other Varieties of Philodendrons
The Philodendron camposportoanum plant isn’t the only cool Philodendron out there.
Here are a few other unique Philodendron species you’ll enjoy growing.
You won’t find this Philodendron plant in many households. Only because it’s a little known Philodendron species. The climber plant has small heart-shaped leaves with a pretty shine.
The Philodendron mamei plant is one of the smaller Philodendron species out there. You don’t need a lot of room to home this special plant. But the hybrids can grow like trees.
The Philodendron andreanum plant is nicknamed “Black Gold”. This is because of the colors of the leaves. It grows to be quite big so you need space to grow this plant inside.
A Philodendron micans will brighten up any home with its’ tropical vibes. The leaves have a velvety feel and turn a purple color in some lighting.
This Philodendron is a non-climber. It grows narrow cylinder leaves that reach towards the sky.
Common Problems with the Philodendron Camposportoanum
Now and then you might find a crawler hiding on your Philodendron camposportoanum.
Or you might notice your plant going through some changes and difficulties.
Either way, it’s normal for plants to come into contact with plant pests sometimes. What makes a difference is when you catch them and how you treat them.
Spider mites are one of those pests that love Philodendron camposportoanums.
Spider mites aren’t insects, like most plant pests. They’re actual arachnids with eight legs, which is why they’re named the way they are.
These mites like to hide on the rounded edges of your plant’s leaves. They suck the sap out of your plant for nutrition.
It may be healthy for the spider mites but it’s unhealthy for your Philodendron plant. The sap is an important part of the photosynthesis process.
The sap carries both nutrients and hydration throughout the plant. Without all that good stuff, your plant’s not going to feel very well and it’ll show.
Spider mites are so small it’s hard to see them unless you’re looking for them. If you spray your Philodendron camposportoanum down, they’ll come running from hiding.
A mealybug infestation is another possibility for your Philodendron plant. These pests make it look as if your plant is covered in cotton balls.
This is because mealybugs are covered in a cotton-like substance. Since they’re soft-bodied bugs, this substance is their form of protection.
They feed off the sap inside your plant, stealing everything it absorbs from the soil. They leave tiny little marks where they suck the sap from the leaves.
Our favorite way to combat most plant pests is by using all-natural neem oil. You can buy it online or in garden stores.
You need to dilute the neem oil with water first. Then fill a clean spray bottle with the natural oil.
Spray the plant down with the neem oil and water. This suffocates most plant pests so they die. It doesn’t take long at all for this process.
After all the dead pests start to pop up on your plant, you have to wipe it down to remove them.
Tips for an Unhappy Philodendron Camposportoanum
Philodendron camposportoanum plants don’t take much work to care for. They’re simple and easy.
But that doesn’t mean you won’t come across an issue or two from time to time.
On the bright side, these issues are super easy to fix. We’re going to go through the most common problems you’ll face with this Philodendron plant.
Your Philodendron camposportoanum has brown leaves
Brown leaves on a Philodendron camposportoanum plant is usually a symptom of over-watering.
As we’ve discussed before, over-watering your plant can be dangerous and can even kill it.
And brown leaves happen to be an early sign that you’ve been over-watering.
You can check how much moisture is sitting in the soil but placing your finger a few inches deep. You can feel if it’s saturated right away.
In most cases, it’s easy to remedy an over-watering problem. As long as it hasn’t caused root rot, all you need to do is cut back on watering the Philodendron.
When your plant’s soil is too saturated, you might have to change it out. You don’t want to leave your Philodendron camposportoanum sitting in soaked soil.
Your Philodendron Camposportoanum is leggy and lacking leaves
A leggy Philodendron camposportoanum that lacks leaves isn’t getting enough light.
Insufficient sunlight for a plant causes a variety of problems that you have to deal with down the road. Worst case scenario, it can kill even the toughest of plants.
When you have your Philodendron in the window, make sure you’re rotating it once in a while. Otherwise, the whole plant isn’t getting the light it needs.
If you use artificial lighting, you have to be careful about what types of lights you use.
According to the University of Missouri, avoid lights labeled as white lights when growing.
These lights don’t produce enough red rays for your plant to thrive.
Make sure you use artificial lights made jus for growing plants. They have a higher rate of red rays to balance out the blue rays they also produce.
Philodendron Camposportoanum FAQ
Why do the leaves on my Philodendron camposportoanum curl up?
When the leaves on a Philodendron camposportoanum curl up, you’re over-fertilizing. Fertilizer can be a great factor to a healthy plant but over-fertilizing builds up salt in the soil. Cut down on how often you fertilize your plant.
How does a Philodendron camposportoanum clean the air?
The Philodendron camposportoanum plant cleans the air by being a bio-filter. The leaves and even the roots absorb the toxins in the oxygen. Then they release fresh and clean oxygen back into the air.
Can I prevent plant pests from taking over my Philodendron camposportoanum?
Yes, you can usually prevent plant pests from harming your Philodendron camposportoanum plant. Clean your plants on a regular basis because dust attracts these pests. And always check new plants before you expose them to your Philodendron.
The Philodendron camposportoanum plant is a great choice for beginners. It’s easy to care for and fits in with other fun tropical plants. You won’t have to stress out about this little plant.