How to Care for Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’

This Philodendron Hastatum plant, also known as Philodendron Silver Sword, is easy to grow and spread in one’s backyard. Anyone with a deep love for the Araceae family of plants must have this specimen.

To the untrained eye, the Silver Sword Philodendron’s glossy leaves, with their metallic silver sheen, could be mistaken for real metal. It is commonly referred to as a climbing vine, a trait likely facilitated by its robust stems. This is why a trellis or a moss pole is often used to give it height.

It has the appearance of a Silver Sword Philodendron, making it a rare specimen. It’s highly possible that you’d be drawn to this plant if you saw it at a plant market because of the shiny sheen that its glossy leaves give off. Below you’ll find more specifics on the most appealing aspects of the Philodendron Hastatum.

Foliage

To be considered a true Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’, one must have sparkling leaves. Strong stems join the individual leaves together, giving the plant stability as it grows taller and taller. One or more sources report that the plant’s silvery leaves gradually become more arrowlike and triangular as it ages. It’s worth noting that the Philodendron Hastatum plant’s enormous leaves can grow to a height of one meter.

Size and Growth 

At its full height and width, a mature Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ can measure up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall and 2 meters (0.6 yards). People generally agree that this plant grows at a respectable clip. Every month, you can see a fresh flush of leaves emerge from the plant.

To climb higher than 10 feet, Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ requires support, such as a stick or moss pole. This suggests that the plant has the potential to reach double its current height in the wild. Since they are hemiepiphytic, they spend the first part of their life with their huge root systems firmly anchored in the ground. Due to its maturation pattern, Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ would become an epiphyte and begin to cling to trees.

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How to Care for Philodendron Hastatum

The Silver Sword Philodendron is an easy-care indoor plant that thrives in many conditions. It is not particularly susceptible to pests, needs about as much watering as the ordinary houseplant, and does best in bright, indirect sunlight. In addition, it has low watering demands and is accessible to water.

Soil

Growing conditions for the Silver Sword Philodendron Hastatum should include sand, soil, and good drainage. A porous substrate must also be for the water to percolate through readily. Add peat and perlite to regular potting soil to develop soil that drains well. It does well in wet roots and on soils high in organic matter, but it doesn’t like having its roots constantly buried in the soil.

Light

Intense direct light is not necessary for the Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’, one of the various types of Philodendron. Avoid placing your plant friend where direct sunlight might hit its leaves; doing so will hasten the wilting and eventual loss of those leaves.

When growing a Silver Sword Philodendron outside, it’s best to do it in a spot that gets at least 70–85 percent of its light from direct sunlight, preferably next to a window. Glossy leaves help the Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ adapt to low light, although this is still not ideal for the plant. It is unusual for elder leaves to turn yellow occasionally; nevertheless, if this occurs on several leaves, it is a clear indication that the plant is exposed to too much light.

Watering

Silver Sword Philodendrons need more frequent care for their watering cycle than their relatives, who can survive in tropical climes. The plant is a type that prefers humid conditions. Thus, this is natural for it. This means the plant may tolerate periodic overwatering without harming it.

For best results when watering Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’, wait until the top two inches of soil feel dry before doing so. The plant’s water needs may also vary with the seasons; accordingly, you should adjust and improve the amount of water it receives in the summer and then reduce it later in the winter and autumn. In addition to ensuring the container has sufficient drainage holes, you should always choose a soil mix that drains well.

Temperature

The optimal growing temperature for a Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ is about 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 27 degrees Celsius), which you should be able to achieve and maintain. Philodendron Silver Sword thrives in temperatures about 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Because of the plant’s poor ability to survive in cold weather, it is also advised to move indoors for the winter.

The Philodendron Silver Sword thrives at temperatures between 9b and 11 degrees Fahrenheit (48 and 10 degrees Celsius), making it suitable for indoor and outdoor cultivation. It’s important to remember that the plant will grow more healthily and generate more impressive foliage if the surrounding temperature is raised.

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Humidity

Since the Silver Sword Philodendron originates initially from the Brazilian tropical rainforest, it stands to reason that it has rigorous humidity requirements. Keeping the humidity level in the room where the plant is grown around 50 and 75%. Setting up a pebble tray or lightly sprinkling the air every once in a while is a good light if you notice that the air in the indoor space is drier than usual.

Fertilizer

During the growing season, once a month during the growing season, feed the Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ with a balanced fertilizer, such as NPK 10-10-10. You’ll see faster foliage and larger, healthier leaves on your houseplant if you fertilize it properly.

Fertilizing should be done every six to eight weeks in the spring and summer months and every month during the fall and winter months to promote healthy development. Avoid cheap fertilizers because they may contain too much salt and damage the plant if applied in too high soil.

Fertilizer applications are one of the few situations in which it’s better to be safe than sorry. You could kill your beautiful Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ by over-fertilizing it, but you probably won’t do any actual harm by under-fertilizing it.

Philodendron Hastatum ‘silver Sword’ Propagation

A Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ can be easily propagated using stem cuttings. After stripping the leaves from a healthy stem with several nodes, trim the stem so that only two or three nodes are visible. When planting stem cutting, you can use nutrient-rich soil or only water to get it started.

Keep the humidity high by covering it with a plastic bag, and if the cutting is in soil, spray it lightly with water once every three days. About six weeks later, you’ll notice the first tiny roots and leaves growing from the soil. You may now water up its development by watering it twice weekly and fertilizing it with a complete liquid fertilizer food.

You can safely repot a cutting six to eight weeks after you first notice roots sprouting from the water in which you propagated the cutting. Remember that these are water roots, so the plant can suffer some initial shock when it’s placed in soil and its new soil roots are still growing. But things should start looking up again.

Potting and Repotting

Silver Sword When the roots of a Philodendron plant begin to emerge from the base, this is the average time for repotting the plant. When the leaves of the plant start to wilt, this is another indication that the plant has gotten rootbound.

When repotting a Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’, you should use a planter that is at least twice as large as the one it was growing in previously. To prevent the soil from becoming soggy, check to see that it has adequate drainage holes. Carefully take the plant out of the pot it is currently in, and scrape away any soil covering the root ball. The fresh potting mix should be placed up to the halfway point in the new container. Put the plant in the middle, and then fill the surrounding area with the leftover soil. Give the plant a lot of water, and then put it somewhere with lots of bright indirect light.

Pruning

Pruning a Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ is typically done if the plant’s size and appearance need to be managed, and this is frequently done to achieve bushier growth. When cutting Philodendron hastatum, you should always begin your cut directly above the node, which is the thicker area of the stem. This will encourage more excellent leaf production. In addition, it may be good to regularly prune the plant to remove dead foliage and rotting leaf sections. This enables the plant to direct its nutrients toward healthy tissue growth to maximize its potential.

Pruning a plant with a disease is widely considered one of the most effective methods for preventing the disease from spreading to other plants. This will also save other sections, and as a result, your Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ can be brought back to life.

Is the Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ a toxic plant?

If your pets nibble on your plant, they may experience discomfort since Philodendron species, like all other types of aroids, contain calcium oxalate crystals.

Common Problems

Pests 

However, the Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ can be prone to mealybugs and spider mites infestation if cultivated in suboptimal settings. Some varieties of this plant are nearly impervious to pests and illnesses. To remove mealybugs, use cotton swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol to wipe the affected region.

A frequent light water and insecticidal soap will help keep pests away from your plant. As with many other species of mite, red spider mites are a common predator of hastatums. Small in size, these pests might be challenging to spot. Yet they could potentially exist anywhere in the world. Tiny cobwebs sprouting from the leaves are one indicator.

Thrips are another common insect pest infects indoor plants; they are also very light and typically “travel” in groups. Since thrips attract lighter-colored leaves, you are more likely to get bitten if you are dressed similarly.

Diseases

Overwatering, which can lead to waterlogging, is a definite method to destroy any plant, and this is true regardless of the type of plant. It causes root rot, followed by diseases caused by bacteria or fungi. Leaves wilting, decaying stems, and a foul odor are all signs of a rotting root system. Foliar symptoms of fungal infections include discoloration and rusting.

A good piece of advice is to swiftly prune off the infected parts of your Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ if you suspect it has an infection. If you do this, the disease may be contained, and your plant may be able to recover. It’s possible that you’ll want to use fungicides if the disease is severe.

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Why Is My Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ Yellow?

Leaves turning yellow on plants can be caused by several factors. The reasons houseplants become yellow are discussed in further detail in an article I wrote for my blog.

There could be a wide variety of causes, so it’s up to you to figure out what’s going on with you. Soil that has been allowed to become exceedingly dry for an extended period is one of the most yellow sources of yellowing of the leaves on houseplants. For instance, if the plant’s bottom leaves start to turn yellow, you may have a problem.

Does Philodendron Hastatum ‘Silver Sword’ flower?

Regular aroid blossoms are present. Therefore, that part is correct. Indoors, flowering, however, is not shared. If you grow this plant in a greenhouse, on a growth support system, or in the wild, you have a much better chance of seeing flowers.

When should I water Philodendron Hastatum, and how often should I do so?

Stop worrying about it and help your friend water their plants if you discover that the top two or three inches of soil are dry.

When is the right time to repot Philodendron Hastatum?

Simply put, when you notice that the plant’s roots are growing too strong and significant for the container they are currently in, it is time to upgrade to a larger pot.

How can the Silver Sword Philodendron grow more quickly?

The Philodendron Hastatum will benefit from applying a well-balanced fertilizer, especially during the spring and summer, when the plant is most likely to grow actively. The process of pruning can also assist the plant to appear bushier.

Does Silver Sword Philodendron poison cats and dogs?

Yes. Ingestion of the Philodendron Hastatum by cats and dogs can be harmful. Large doses of the plant can cause unpleasant side effects, including blistering of the mouth and stools and urine stained with blood.