Philodendron Green Congo Houseplant Care Guide

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Philodendron Green Congo is a popular houseplant that is a prolific grower and makes quite the statement.

My Philodendron Green Congo is huge and I find that it’s one of my fastest growing houseplants.

Here are the main things to know to care for Philodendron Green Congo.

Water. Water once the soil is almost completely dried out. For me this is no more than once a week.
Light. Place in bright indirect sunlight but also know this plant can tolerate low light, but may not actively grow.
Fertilizer. Feed your plant regularly with a natural or synthetic fertilizer. If using a synthetic fertilizer, make sure to dilute the recipe in half. I fertilizer every watering.
Humidity. This is a tropical houseplant but Philodendrons are hardy plants and can acclimate to regular household humidity (20% humidity). I have mine in about 20% humidity.

Here’s what to know to make sure your Philodendron Green Congo thrives in its new home.

Light

Philodendrons love bright indirect sunlight like most plants.

Never place this plant in direct sunlight as this can burn the foliage and kill your plant. If you can’t give your plant bright indirect sunlight, don’t worry as this plant is resilient and can adapt to a wide range of light conditions.

You may also decide to put this plant under plant grow lights but know that it’s not necessary.

Water

Philodendrons are resilient plants that make for great beginner houseplants because they can miss a watering and be just fine.

It’s important to keep your plant thriving and growing so make sure to consistently water your plant whenever the soil is almost completely dry.

A fool-proof way to check your soils moisture level is by sticking your index finger in the plant soil about 2 inches deep. If the soil is dry, it’s time for a water. If it’s wet, check the soil in a couple of days.

You can also use a moisture meter which I personally love using. You stick the moisture meter into the plant soil and it’ll tell you if it’s wet or dry. I like using a moisture meter because I can check different parts of the soil on large plants without getting messy.

It’s always better to underwater your plants than overwater your plants. If you are a chronic overwaterer, well-draining, chunky soil becomes even more important which I share more about below.

Soil

Philodendrons love a well-draining soil mix with good air flow.

You never want to plant a Philodendron in compact, dense soil because this leads to root rot and many other problems.

An easy well-draining soil for your Philodendrons is 50% coco coir, 25% perlite, and 25% orchid bark. You may even decide to sprinkle in some worm castings.

Temperature

Philodendron Green Congo thrive in temperatures around 75 degrees F.

Some people even put this plant outside if they live in a year-round warm, tropical climate.

Fertilizer

It’s important to fertilize your plants to give the plant the nutrients it needs. Fertilizer helps keep the plant healthy and thriving in your home.

You have many options for fertilizer and can go all natural or the synthetic route. If going the synthetic fertilizer route, make sure to cut the fertilizer recipe in half.

For example, a synthetic fertilizer has a very high NPK ratio of about 20-20-20. That’s a recipe you definitely want to dilute in half. Natural fertilizers typically have a NPK ratio of 2-2-2- which is quite low and you don’t have to worry about diluting the recipe.

You can use a fertilizer you mix into your plants drinking water or a fertilizer that you can sprinkle over the top of your plants soil that release nutrients into the soil every time you water.

I personally use a mixture of Liqui-Dirt and Dyna-Gro and fertilize every watering.

Humidity

Philodendron Green Congo is a resilient plant and even though it’s from a tropical region, this plant doesn’t need high humidity in your home.

This plant easily adapts to a wide range of humidity conditions. My house typically stays in the 20% humidity range and my Philodendron Green Congo thrives.

If you decide you want to raise the humidity in your home to increase plant growth, here are my best tips.

Put a humidifier near your Philodendron Green Congo to increase humidity around the plant
Place your P. Green Congo on a pebble tray filled with water
Place plants together in a group which will create a microclimate and boost humidity
Put your P. Green Congo in a bathroom getting daily showers or baths.

Propagation

There are two options for propagating Philodendron Green Congo.

The first option is splitting the plant up into separate plants. This is what I did since I originally bought a huge plant and wanted to share it with others. I gently took the plant out of the pot and divided the plant at the base into separate plants and repotted them in a well-draining substrate.

Your second option is taking a stem cutting of the plant that has at least one node on it. Submerge the root under water and in about three weeks you will notice roots growing. Once the roots are at least three inches long, you can transfer the cutting into your preferred substrate.

There are many substrates to choose from and I actually use a few. You can choose from well-draining soil mix, leca, lechuza pon, or simple keep the plant in water. I use all four of these substrates.

Philodendron Green Congo Common Questions

Is Philodendron Green Congo rare?

Philodendron Green Congo is not a rare houseplant. You can find this plant almost anywhere that sells plants.

How much is a Philodendron Green Congo?

Philodendron Green Congo are one of the most affordable houseplants.

You can get 4 inch pot of this for around $15 or a large 6 inch pot for around $30. I found my Green Congo in a local Facebook plant group for about $25 for a bushy 6 inch pot.

Is Philodendron Green Congo hard to care for?

Not at all. This is a great beginner houseplant and is resilient to pretty much anything.

This plant doesn’t require high humidity and won’t die if you forget to water. Green Congo’s can live in pretty much any light setting as long as you aren’t shoving this plant in a closet with no windows.

How do you care for Philodendron Green Congo?

Philodendron Green Congo is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. You could place this plant pretty much anywhere in your house, miss a watering, and give it 20% humidity and it’ll most likely stay alive.

However, you want your P. Green Congo to thrive! Place this plant in bright indirect sunlight. This would be a south, east, or west facing room. South facing rooms get the strongest, hottest sunlight of the day and this is where most people like to place their houseplants.

Water your plant when the soil dries out almost completely. For me, I water once a week and no more than that.

Is Philodendron Green Congo a fast grower?

Philodendron Green Congo is a prolific grower if given adequate growing conditions.

Philodendron Green Congo can grow outside depending on where you live.

You’ll be successful growing this plant outside if you like a year-round warm, high humidity area.

How big do Philodendron Green Congo get?

Philodendron Green Congo get huge. This plant can get up to 4 feet tall and grows horizontally and makes a statement in the home.

How do I make my Philodendron Green Congo bigger?

To make your Philodendron Green Congo bigger, make sure the plant is sitting in bright indirect sunlight which would be something like a south, east, or west facing room. If placing right next to a window, make sure to place a sheer curtain so the plant never receives direct sunlight.

Regularly fertilizer your plant with a high quality fertilizer. I use Dyna-Gro and Liqui-Dirt and my plants love it. I fertilizer almost every watering.

Does Philodendron Green Congo climb?

Philodendron Green Congo aren’t really climbers and instead spread out like a bush. These plants make for great floor plants that really make a statement.

How do you propagate Philodendron Green Congo?

Propagating Philodendron Green Congo is easy and there are two methods.

You can either take a stem cutting with a node on the stem and submerge the node under water and wait for roots.

Or you can split up the plant into numerous plants like I have done many times. If you buy a large plant, it’s quite easy to split up the plant at the base.

Is the Philodendron Green Congo toxic to pets?

Yes, this plant is toxic to pets. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.

Common pests

Philodendrons are some of the hardiest plants out there and are quite resistant to pest pressures.

I’ve never found bad bugs on any of my Philodendrons and plan to keep it that way. I am consistent with pest preventive which is why I never have pest pressures.

To prevent pests, you have several options.

Bonide Systemic Granules are one of the most popular pest preventive methods because it works. Sprinkle it into the soil or on top of the soil and it’ll do its magic. This is a quick fungus gnat killer and one of the best ways to get rid of those annoying pests.

I also use Azamax for pest preventative. It’s a natural pest killer. I mix 1 tablespoon into 1 gallon of water and use this as my plants drinking water. It keeps things simple for me and ensures I’m always on top of pests before they become a problem.

Bonide Systemic Granules are a great way to get rid of unwanted pests.

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Philodendron Green Congo has brown tips, this may mean you are over fertilizing your plant. Make sure to dilute any fertilizer recipes in half if using a synthetic fertilizer. How do you know if your fertilizer is synthetic? You may see an NPK ratio of 20-20-20 which is very high. For example, natural fertilizers are often in the 2-2-2 range.

Curly leaves: If your Philodendron Green Congo has curly leaves, this may mean your plant is thirsty and needs a more consistent, thorough watering. Use a moisture meter or your pointy finger to check your plants soil.

Yellowing leaves: If your Philodendron Green Congo has yellowing leaves, this may mean your plant is getting overwatered. Only water the plant when the soil is almost dried out completely.

Key Points To Remember

Philodendron Green Congo is one of the easiest Philodendrons to care for.

This plant grows quickly and thrives in a variety of growing conditions.

Place your plant in bright indirect sunlight, fertilize regularly with a high quality fertilizer, and water thoroughly when the soil is dry. This plant is perfect for anyone who thinks they don’t have a green thumb.

Time to buy a Philodendron Green Congo!