Heartleaf philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum, climber, evergreen
Water a heartleaf philodendron when the top few centimetres of soil are dry, which indoors means every 4–11 days in summer and every 7–18 in winter. It wants plenty of light but not the hot midday sun, and starts to suffer below 15 °C (59 °F).
Updated 12 October 2026. How we write these pages
Heartleaf philodendron at a glance
Water, indoors
4–11
days in summer
7–18
days in winter
When the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Month by month
Minimum temperature
15 °C
It starts to suffer below 15 °C (59 °F).
Cats and dogs
Toxic to dogs and cats.
Chewing the leaves can make them ill: keep it out of their reach.
Growth
Fast. It’s a climber.
Repotting
When the roots fill the pot.
Pruning
No regular pruning needed. If it gets too big, cut back the tallest branches before it starts growing again.
Where does your plant live?
Pick its place and see what changes.
What changes
- Indoors, near the window. The light is right, as long as the hot midday sun doesn’t hit the leaves through the glass.
- Indoors, away from the window. With less light it grows more slowly and new leaves come in smaller. If you can, move the pot closer to the window.
- Outdoors, in the shade. This suits it: outdoors, bright shade is the light it likes best.
- Outdoors, in the sun. Full sun scorches its leaves, so move the pot into the shade, at least for the hottest hours.
- Indoors, summer. In July it usually needs water every 4–11 days. Heat dries the soil faster, so feel it more often.
- Indoors, winter, heating on. In January it usually needs water every 7–18 days, and more often near a radiator, because warm air dries the soil.
- Indoors, winter, cool room. In January it usually needs water every 7–18 days, and less often in a cool room, where the soil stays damp for a long time.
- Indoors, winter, cool room. It starts to suffer below 15 °C (59 °F), so the room has to stay warmer than that.
- Outdoors, summer. Outside the soil dries faster than indoors, where in July it needs water every 4–11 days, so in the sun feel it often.
- Outdoors, winter. It starts to suffer below 15 °C (59 °F). Bring the pot indoors before the first cold nights.
How often to water a heartleaf philodendron
Indoors, month by month. Tap a column.
In October
Every 6–15 days
Usually every 9 days. Feel the soil first, and water when the top few centimetres are dry.
Every month in a table
| Month | Usually | Usually between |
|---|---|---|
| January | every 11 days | 7–18 days |
| February | every 11 days | 7–18 days |
| March | every 10 days | 6–16 days |
| April | every 9 days | 5–14 days |
| May | every 8 days | 5–12 days |
| June | every 7 days | 4–11 days |
| July | every 7 days | 4–11 days |
| August | every 7 days | 4–11 days |
| September | every 8 days | 5–12 days |
| October | every 9 days | 6–15 days |
| November | every 10 days | 6–17 days |
| December | every 11 days | 7–18 days |
Typical intervals indoors in the northern hemisphere: light, the pot and the season stretch or shorten them. How to tell when to water, with a finger and the weight of the pot.
Soil, propagation and problems
Soil
An all-purpose potting mix that holds a little moisture but drains well: if it’s very dense, add some perlite. It likes it slightly acidic, like a mix for acid-loving plants.
Propagation
From a cutting: cut a piece of stem with at least one node and stand it in water or damp soil until it roots.
Common problems
The most frequent: Thrips · Aphids · Mealybugs · Scale insects · Spider mites · Leaf spot
When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Heartleaf philodendron: questions and answers
How often should you water a heartleaf philodendron in winter?
Indoors in January, usually every 11 days (between 7 and 18), compared with every 7 in July. The longest gaps run from December to February.
How can you tell when a heartleaf philodendron needs water?
When the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
How much light does a heartleaf philodendron need?
Plenty of light, without the direct midday sun, which can scorch the leaves. Indoors it does well near a bright window, and further from the window it grows more slowly.
Is a heartleaf philodendron toxic to cats and dogs?
Toxic to dogs and cats. Chewing the leaves can make them ill: keep it out of their reach.
How much cold can a heartleaf philodendron take?
It starts to suffer from the cold below 15 °C (59 °F). If it spends the summer outside, bring the pot in before nights drop below 15 °C, and in winter keep it away from cold glass and draughts.
When should you repot a heartleaf philodendron?
When the roots fill the pot. If needed, the best time is spring, when it starts growing again.
How do you prune a heartleaf philodendron?
No regular pruning needed. If a climbing or trailing plant gets too big for its space, cut it back in spring as it starts to grow, just after a leaf node. Cutting back straggly plants also brings fresh leafy growth. Wear gloves: the sap can irritate skin.
How can you tell if a heartleaf philodendron is getting too much water or too little?
Too much water often shows as leaves turning yellow, soft brown patches on the leaves and leaves drooping even though the soil is wet. Too little shows as leaves still drooping in the morning and leaves starting to curl or fold.
What soil does a heartleaf philodendron need?
An all-purpose potting mix that holds a little moisture but drains well: if it’s very dense, add some perlite. It likes it slightly acidic, like a mix for acid-loving plants.
How do you propagate a heartleaf philodendron?
From a cutting: cut a piece of stem with at least one node and stand it in water or damp soil until it roots.
Which pests and diseases affect a heartleaf philodendron?
The most frequent are thrips, aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites and leaf spot. When you feel the soil, look under the leaves too: pests show up there first.
Read next
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It looks at the light where your plant stands, its pot and the season, and tells you when to check it.
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