Philodendron Red Emerald Houseplant Care Guide

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Philodendron Red Emerald is an easygoing houseplant to care for. This has been one of my easiest houseplants.

Here are the main things to know to care for Philodendron Red Emerald.

Water. Water Philodendron Red Emerald when the top two inches of soil are dry or when you stick a moisture meter in and it reads closer to the dry side.
Light. Place Philodendron Red Emerald in a spot getting bright indirect sunlight. This could be near a south, east, or west facing window. North facing windows get the weakest, lightest sunlight of the day, so keep that in mind.
Fertilizer. Regularly feed your plant a high quality fertilizer. You can choose to go natural or synthetic. If using a synthetic fertilizer, make sure to dilute the recipe in half. Fertilize during the active growing season which is typically March-October.
Humidity. Philodendrons are tropical houseplants but can survive in a variety of humidity ranges. I keep my Philodendron Red Emerald in regular household humidity of 20% and it’s happy.

Make sure your Philodendron Red Emerald thrives with these care tips.

Light

Philodendron Red Emerald survive and thrive in a variety of light settings. You can place this plant near a south, west, or east facing window and expect healthy growth.

An important thing to know for all houseplants is this: South facing windows get the hottest, strongest sunlight of the day. So if you decide to place your plant near a south facing window, it’s important to place a sheer curtain to create dappled sunlight. If you decide to place your plant in the opposite direction, which would be a north facing window, know that this is the lightest, weakest sunlight of the day.

I have my Philodendron Red Emerald sitting near south facing window with a sheer curtain and it gets dappled sunlight throughout the day.

Water

It’s important to water your Philodendron Red Emerald when the top two inches of soil are dry.

If you stick your index finger in two inches and the soil is dry, it’s time to give your plant a thorough watering. If you don’t want to stick your finger in soil and potentially make a mess, you can also use a moisture meter to check the soils moisture level.

I personally love using a moisture meter because it allows me to check the soil in areas of my plants that I can’t reach. I have several large plants and it’s quite hard to reach the plant and the moisture meter helps.

Whether you decide to use tap water, reverses osmosis water, or filtered water is up to you. I live in an area where the water is recycled and filled with excess minerals so I bought a reverse osmosis machine for drinking water and to water my plants.

Soil

Philodendrons love to be planted in well-draining soil.

This kind of soil helps the roots get the oxygen and air flow that it needs. Well-draining, chunky soil is a must especially for people who tend to be overwaterers.

If you like to make your own soil, an easy well-draining soil recipe calls for 50% coco coir, 25% orchid bark, and 25% perlite. You can also buy houseplant soil that is already mixed and ready for you. A popular brand is Fox Farm Ocean Forest organic potting soil.

Your plant doesn’t necessarily need soil. My P. Red Emerald grows in water.

Temperature

Philodendron Red Emerald live in temperatures between 55°F and 85°F. These plants definitely like to stay on the warmer side.

Fertilizer

It’s important to regularly feed your plant fertilizer because this gives the plant nutrients it needs. In the wild, these plants naturally get fertilizer through the elements but this isn’t the case when a plant gets put into your house.

You can choose to either use a natural or synthetic fertilizer. If using a synthetic fertilizer, make sure to dilute the recipe in half because synthetic fertilizers are strong and can damage your plants.

There are different kinds of natural and synthetic fertilizers on the market including granules, liquids, and worm castings. I use a mixture of Dyna-Gro liquid fertilizer that I mix into my plants drinking water. I also use Liqui-Dirt for some added plant nutrients.

Humidity

Philodendrons are tropical plants but that doesn’t mean all of them need high humidity.

These plants are quite hardy and Philodendron Red Emerald is one of those plants that live in 20% humidity without any problem.

Propagation

The easiest way to propagate Philodendron Red Emerald is by cutting a stem with at least one node.

With clean sheers, make a cutting below a node and submerge the node under water. Place this cutting in a spot getting some decent sunlight.

In about three weeks you will notice roots growing. Once the roots are at least three inches long, transfer the cutting into your preferred substrate.

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

Philodendron Red Emerald node. Cut right below the node and submerge the node underwater to propagate.

Philodendron Red Emerald Common Questions

Is Philodendron Red Emerald rare?

Philodendron Red Emerald is a houseplant that you won’t find at a big box store like Lowes or Home Depot.

You’re likely to find this plant at a local plant shop or from an online plant seller. I get most of my plants from an online plant group and that’s where I bought my Philodendron Red Emerald.

How much is a Philodendron Red Emerald?

A Philodendron Red Emerald in a 4 inch pot goes for about $15 depending on where you buy your plant from.

Is Philodendron Red Emerald hard to care for?

Philodendron Red Emerald is one of the easiest plants to care for. If you’re buying a plant for someone who is new to plants, Philodendron Red Emerald is a great option.

How do you care for Philodendron Red Emerald?

To properly care for Philodendron Red Emerald, place your plant near a south, east, or west facing window. If placing near a south facing window, make sure there’s a sheer curtain so the plant gets dappled sunlight. Bright, harsh sunlight which typically comes from a south facing window can burn the plant if a sheer curtain isn’t used.

Water Philodendron Red Emerald when the top two inches of soil are dry. Stick your index finger about two inches deep and if the soil is dry, it’s time to water.

Fertilize your plant every watering, every other watering, or once a month. It’s totally up to you. I personally fertilize every watering because it’s easier for me and I don’t have to remember the last time I fertilized my plants.

Is Philodendron Red Emerald a fast grower?

Philodendron Red Emerald is a relatively fast grower depending on the growing conditions the plant is in.

For example, if you place your plant near a south facing window, water consistently and fertilize regularly, your plant will likely grow at the quickest pace possible.

If you place your plant in a room getting almost no light and you forget to water it regularly, your plant will grow at a much slower rate.

Philodendron Red Emerald can grow outside if you live in tropical conditions where it’s warm (but not scalding hot) and humid year round.

How big do Philodendron Red Emerald get?

Philodendron Red Emerald can get quite tall, upwards of 12 feet but that is quite rare to see inside a house.

Inside your home, you’ll probably see your plant get up to four feet tall if you place your plant in the best growing conditions.

How do I make my Philodendron Red Emerald bigger?

There are a few things you can do to encourage growth on your P. Red Emerald.

Place new cuttings of P. Red Emerald in the same pot of your plant
Regularly fertilize your plant so it gets the nutrients it needs
Place your plant in bright indirect sunlight like near a south, west, or east facing window
Consistently water when the plants soil is almost dry

Does Philodendron Red Emerald climb?

Philodendron Red Emerald love to climb which is why it’s recommended to place a support pole or trellis on the plant to encourage growth.

You can DIY a trellis with some aluminum wire or purchase a moss poll and velcro plant tape to help support the plant.

How do you propagate Philodendron Red Emerald?

Propagating Philodendron Red Emerald is easy. Do the following:

Grab clean sheers and cut below a node on the stem of your plan
Submerge the node under plain water (no need to add fertilizer or anything special to the water)
In about three weeks you’ll see roots on the cutting
Once the roots are about three inches long, you can transfer the cutting to your choice of substrate

Is the Philodendron Red Emerald toxic to pets?

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

Prevent pests

Philodendrons are known to be some of the hardiest plants out there and many of these plants rarely suffer from pest pressures.

Pests are annoying because they damage foliage and suck the life out of plants. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of pest preventative.

To prevent pests, here’s what you can do:

Use a natural or synthetic pest killer to prevent pests
Sprinkle Bonide granules on top of plant soil
Check your plants once a week for pest pressures
Do not overwater your plants (overwatering leads to fungus gnats)

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

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Philodendron Red Emerald has brown tips, this may mean the plant is getting too much sunlight, too much fertilizer, or too much water. It’s important to make sure the plant is never sitting in a spot getting direct sunlight. When using fertilizer, make sure to dilute the recipe in half if you decide to use a synthetic fertilizer. Only water your plant when the top two inches are dry. You can figure out your plants soil moisture level by sticking your index finger in or by using a moisture meter.

Curly leaves: If your Philodendron Red Emerald has curly leaves, this can mean your plant is thirsty and ready for water. This is also a sign that your plant needs more humidity, but for Philodendron Red Emeralds, this is not common.

Yellowing leaves: If your Philodendron Red Emerald has yellowing leaves, this may be a sign that your plant is getting too much water. It’s also important to know that the bottom and oldest leaf of the plant to die off and this is completely normal. If your entire plant is getting yellow leaves, this can mean your plant is suffering from overwatering.

Key Points To Remember

Philodendron Red Emerald is an easygoing houseplant that is a prolific grower if given the best growing conditions.

This is a great beginner houseplant or a great plant if you’re giving it as a gift. Place this plant in bright indirect sunlight, water regularly when the top two inches of soil are dry, and fertilize regularly during the growing season.