Philodendron Gloriosum Complete Plant Care Guide

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One of my favorite plants is the Philodendron Gloriosum. This plant grows stunning green foliage that has pronounced veins. Gloriosum is pretty easy to care for and is a fun plant to grow in the home.

Philodendron Gloriosum main care directions.

Water. The Philodendron Gloriosum prefer to be kept moist. If you stick your finger in the soil and it’s dry, it’s time to water. Water thoroughly and let the water drain through the draining hole.
Light. This plant prefers to be in bright indirect light without any direct sunlight hitting the leaves. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. South, east, or west facing window is best.
Fertilizer. Fertilizer during growing season and pause during the dormant (winter) months. I fertilize every watering but once a month or bi-weekly works as well.
Humidity. This is a tropical plant so it’s best to replicate that environment. Humidity is crucial for this houseplants survival. Keep humidity from 60-80%. Anything less will make this plant sad. This is a great terrarium plant.

Philodendron Gloriosum plant care tips.

Light

Philodendron Gloriosum thrive in bright indirect sunlight. Do not put this plant in a spot that gets direct sunlight. This will scorch the leaves and turn those beautiful rich green leaves into a brown mess.

A great spot for this plant would be near a south, east, or west facing window. South facing windows have the strongest sunlight and this area can even be a bit intense of some plants. This is why it’s a good idea to place a sheer curtain on south facing windows.

If you don’t get sufficient lighting in the home, plant grow lights work wonders. I use T5 Barrina plant grow lights and run them on a timer for 13 hours a day. I love using plant grow lights because they let me place plants in areas of my home that aren’t receiving any sunlight.

If using plant grow lights, it’s important to keep a close eye on the plant. I put my Gloriosum too close to the plant grow lights and it caused the leaves to wash out and lose their green color.

Water

Water your Philodendron Gloriosum when the top inch or two of the plants soil is dry. Check the soil by placing 2 inches of your pointy finger in the soil. If dry, it’s time to water.

Water your plant with room temperature water and if possible, filtered water or water treated through a reverse osmosis system. Most houseplants do not care for tap water due to the chlorine and flouride.

A good way to find out if your Gloriosum’s soil is well draining is by watering it. If a good amount of water is coming out at the bottom as you water, it means your soil is aerated and has good drainage qualities.

Make sure to remove any excess water sitting on the planter tray. You do not want your plant sitting in water as this can cause root rot.

Soil

It is crucial that you keep your Gloriosum’s soil well aerated. A simple recipe is 2 parts peat moss, 1 part perlite, and worm casting for an organic fertilizer.

You can also add activated charcoal to replicate the plants natural environment in the wild. I also use activated charcoal when I propagate any plant as this helps it root much quicker.

If you don’t want to make your own potting mix, use pre-made mix like Fox Farm Ocean Forest blend. This potting mix contains high quality ingredients perfect for growing healthy houseplants in the home.

Temperature

Philodendron Gloriosum do well in any home that is between temperatures of 60 degrees F to 90 degrees (15 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius).

Do not place this plant near drafty areas (windows, vents, or doors).

Fertilizer

Fertilize your plant in the active growing season which is typically spring, summer, and fall for most people. If you are using a non-organic, synthetic fertilizer, it’s always recommended to dilute the recipe in half because of how strong the N-P-K ratios are. If you are using an organic fertilizer, you typically do not have to worry about diluting the recipe because the N-P-K ratio is so low.

I use a slow release granule fertilizer that I sprinkle over my plants once a month. I follow the fertilizer instructions and sprinkle the correct amount onto each plant.

Like most houseplants, pause fertilizing in the winter months when the plant is not actively growing. Where I live, my houseplants are growing year-round so I feed my plants fertilizer year-round.

Humidity

Philodendron Gloriosum prefer higher humidity levels above 60%. This plant will be sad under 60% and you will notice that pretty quickly with browning leaves. You may find that you want to put this plant in a terrarium.

Here are some quick tips to raise the humidity in your home.

Put high humidity plants together in a group. When you group high humidity plants around each other, this creates a humid microclimate. The plants will continue to release moisture around each other through transpiration.
Place a pebble tray underneath your high humidity plants. I purchased small rocks at a hardware store and placed them on a planter tray. Place your planter on the tray. Put enough water in the tray until it hits the planter bottom and the water will evaporate around the plant.
Get a high-quality humidifier and run it daily near your houseplants.
Mist your plants. Some people say this doesn’t help, but I think it does so I continue to do it.
Place high-humidity plants in your bathroom. I place certain high humidity plants in my shower and they’re thriving.

Use a hygrometer to check the humidity around your plants.

Propagation

Propagating a Philodendron Gloriosum is different from other plants because they aren’t vining plants. These plants grow from a rhizome which is an underground stem.

Carefully cut the rhizome and make sure the rhizome has at least one or two leaves. Place your rhizomes into a healthy potting mix and make sure to keep the humidity higher around the cuttings.

Philodendron Gloriosum Common Questions

Is Philodendron Gloriosum rare?

Philodendron Gloriosum are available online but you will not see them in big box stores. It’s rare that you will even see these plants in small independently-owned plant shops depending on where you live.

You can purchase this plant on Etsy and other popular plant stores like Steve’s Leaves and even private sellers on Facebook.

How much is a Philodendron Gloriosum?

Depending on the size and maturity of the plant, you will pay $100+ easily. At the time of this writing, the cheapest Gloriosum I found was $90 including shipping for a 4 inch pot with 4 small leaves.

Why are Philodendron Gloriosums so expensive?

This plant is currently in high demand but has a low supply, which can make it more expensive.

How do you care for Philodendron Gloriosum?

To make sure your Philodendron Gloriosum thrives, place it in bright indirect sunlight near your other high humidity plants. This tropical plant prefers to stay moist, so don’t let it completely dry out.

Is Philodendron gloriosum hard to care for?

As long as you give your plant high humidity, bright indirect sunlight, and adequate water, your plant will thrive.

Is Philodendron Gloriosum a fast grower?

This plant is slow growing so it’s best to admire how beautiful it is no matter what size it is.

How big do Gloriosum get?

Gloriosum’s are slow growers and mature at a height of 3 feet (1m).

How do I make my Philodendron Gloriosum bigger?

This plant is a slow grower, but as long as you take care of it properly, it will grow the way it should. Fertilize once a month using a diluted fertilizer or slow release fertilizer during growing season.

Make sure not to use tap water when feeding your plant and use filtered water instead.

Does Philodendron Gloriosum climb?

These plants are ground creepers and will not climb any trellises or moss poles.

How do you propagate Philodendron Gloriosum?

Any time I bring a new plant home, I cut off a stem and propagate it in case the main plant dies on me. Since the Glorisum is a more expensive plant and you’re probably not getting much of it in the first place, you may not want to do this.

However, if your plant is established and getting big, cut off a rhizome that has at least 2-3 leaves and place it in a healthy organic moist soil in a higher humidity area. The rhizome is the main stem of the plant growing horizontal along the soil.

Place the rhizome in a jar of water that is filled about 1/4 full. If you jar has too much water, when the plant releases hormones they won’t signal the plant to get roots out. If you change the water too frequently you are removing the root hormone.

When your plant has roots and is ready to be rooted, carefully place the plant in your soil mixture. The roots are delicate so be sure to do this carefully. Tuck the soil gently down into the planter. Depending on how big your plant is, you may need to be a stake to keep it supported.

Can I water my plant using tap water?

I do not use tap water on my houseplants because our tap water is filled with minerals and properties that hurt our houseplants.

We instead use a reverse osmosis system and water our houseplants using that system.You can also let tap water sit out for 12 hours before using it. Depending on where you live, your tap water may be just fine.

Is the Philodendron Gloriosum 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

Some of the most common pests for this plant include spider mites, mealybugs, scale, and aphids. These pests can hurt your plant which is why prevention is key.

To help prevent any pest infestations on your plant, here’s what to do.

If possible, inspect your plant before purchasing at the plant store. If you’re buying a plant online, inspect your plant away from your other plants.
Regularly check your plants for pests. This is also a great time to clean your plants.
Cut off dead leaves.

If your Gloriosum has pests on it, quarantine the plant away from your houseplants and clean the plant with an organic solution. You can spray neem oil to get rid of certain pests or you can use rubbing alcohol to wipe away pests. Use a cotton swop dipped in rubbing alcohol and wipe away bugs and larvae.

Make sure to check all of your other plants as it is easy for pests to spread.

I also recommend using Bonide Systemic as it protects against hurtful pests, especially annoying pests like gnats.

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

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Philodendron Gloriosum has brown tips, this is most likely due to low humidity or your soil drying out completely. Make sure to keep your plant moist by regular misting and using your finger or a moisture meter to check the soil. This plant does not like low humidity so give it the humidity it needs.

Yellowing leaves: If your Philodendron Gloriosum has yellow leaves, the soil may be getting too dry or too wet.

Curly leaves: If your Philodendron Gloriosum has curling leaves, this is typically due to low humidity. Place a humidifier by your plant or place your plant in a terrarium.

Key Points To Remember

Keep your Philodendron Gloriosum in well draining soil near bright indirect light. Keep the soil moist and never let it completely dry out. This is a great plant for a terrarium.

Higher humidity in your home is best and really the only way to keep this plant thriving.