Although the Billie plant is kinda new to houseplants, it’s quickly become a must-have tropic green.
To ensure you can keep enjoying this plant’s beauty, we’re gonna dive into the Billie plant care and growth in this full guide. This guide will teach you everything to confidently care for your Billie plant, whether you’re a pro at houseplants or a beginner looking to add some green to your space.
About Philodendron Billietiae
The Billie plant belongs to the Philodendron genus and the Araceae clan. It’s a popular houseplant and originally comes from the rainforests of Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana.
Interestingly, it only entered our homes in 1995, even though it was first found in the wild in 1981.
A plant sample made its way to the National Garden in Belgium 2 years after being spotted.
When kept indoors, the Billie plant can grow up to 8 inches wide and 3 feet tall.
Yellow-orange petioles and big, wavy, heart-shaped leaves are what make the Billie plant special. Caring for your Billie plant
Your Billie plant will thrive if you take good care of it, like any other houseplant. The Billie loves slightly moist soil because it’s a fan of humidity.
Water your plant when the top two inches of the soil are dry. Remember to water it well, letting the water flow out from the drain hole. This amazing plant needs a lot of off-sunlight to thrive, no matter where the light comes from. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philodendron_billietiae)
Philodendron Billietiae care overview
| Botanical Name | Philodendron Billietiae |
| Common Name | Billie, Philidor |
| Family | Araceae |
| Origin | Brazil, Guyana, and French Guiana |
| Leaf Color | mottled yellow-green and brown |
| Bloom Time | Rarely flowers indoors |
| Mature Size | 36 inches as a houseplant |
| Soil Type | Rich, quick-draining |
| Temperature | 65 to 80ºF (18 to 27ºC) |
| Light | bright indirect light |
| Watering | Water if the top inch of soil is dry |
| Humidity | 70 to 90% |
| Fertilizer | about 6-8 weeks during the growing season |
| Propagation | Root in water or soil, or air layer |
| Toxicity | Toxic to humans and pets |
Philodendron Billietiae care
Your Philodendron Billietiae will flourish if you give it proper care, just like any indoor plant. The Philidor enjoys relatively damp soils because it enjoys humidity.
When the top two inches of the soil are dry, water your philodendron. Make careful to water it thoroughly, letting the water run out of the drain hole. This amazing plant requires a lot of indirect light to flourish, regardless of the light source.
For more details, refer to the thorough maintenance guidelines that come next:
Light Requirements
To properly feed your Billie plant, you need to know its light needs. Just like their wild cousins, our Billie plants need a good amount of light. The rule is simple: the more sunlight your leafy Billie can soak up, the stronger and bigger it’ll grow.
The best light for a Billie plant is bright off-sunlight. Providing around 10,000 to 20,000 lux will make sure your plant gets enough energy for photosynthesis and growth. But don’t put your Billie plant in harsh direct sunlight. Its delicate leaves can get damaged under this kind of sunlight.
Place it a bit far from windows and fake light to keep it healthy. For the best results, put your Billie plant a few feet away from a south or west window. Or, place it next to a north or east window to get some morning sunlight without the afternoon heat.
But be careful with low light too. Not enough sunlight can stunt your Billie plant’s growth, stopping it from growing new leaves and making it look skinny and weak. If you live somewhere with shorter daylight hours in the winter, you might need a plant light.
Although plant lights can be helpful, they can also mess with the Billie plant’s night cycle if they’re too close. So, it’s best to put it somewhere indirect, away from the direct line of fake light.
Soil
Philodendron billietiae needs soil that drains well and needs a pH between 6.1 and 7.3, or is gently acidic to neutral.
If you’re DIYing, use sphagnum peat moss, perlite, and compost. The soil’s ability to drain well helps keep diseases like root rot away.
Remember that Billietiae likes damp growing stuff, and your soil should be able to give this.
Here are some potting mixes we suggest you DIY:
- Sphagnum peat moss, perlite, and compost.
- Compost, soybean meal, sphagnum, and peat moss
- Potting soil, perlite, compost, orchid bark, and peat moss.
Also, you can buy a store-bought soil mix made specifically for philodendron billietiae.
Watering
Like other tropical plants, Philodendron Billietiae needs the right amount of water.
There’s a simple way to see if your Philidor is getting enough water if you think it’s not. By sticking the tip of your finger into the container, you can easily figure out when to water your plant.
Stick your finger about two inches deep or up to your knuckle. It’s time to water your Billietiae if the soil is totally dry to the tip of your finger. Water it all over, until water runs out of the drainage holes in the pot. Let the soil get totally dry between waterings.
Pour distilled water at room temperature or rainwater over the entire soil surface and give it time to soak up the water while watering Philodendron billietiae.
To keep the roots from staying in waterlogged soil, let the extra water drain as it starts to trickle out the bottom.
Temperature
Philodendron billietiae likes it warm because it is a tropical plant.
The best temperatures are between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night and between 65 and 80 degrees during the day. This plant can’t handle temperatures lower than 55 degrees, so never let it get that low!
It’s better to keep them away from chilly areas, vents, and spots where cold air might get in. Philodendron billietiae can even perish in cold temperatures, and thrive in warm to hot temps.
Humidity
Philodendron billietiae needs lots of humidity, at least 50%. It comes from a region with a warm climate and air that’s humid.
A humidity level of 70 to 90% is usually enough for Philodendron billietiae, but if you need to give your Philodendron billietiae a damper microclimate, you have a few good options.
To keep the humidity high, mist your plant often, or fill a tray with stones and water. To make the area around your Philodendron billietiae more humid, put the plant on top of the tray and let the water in the pebbles evaporate.
Using distilled water, it’s possible to spray the Philodendron billietiae leaves every day. Be careful not to soak or get the leaves totally wet. This might cause a fungus problem.
Better choices include putting a small diffuser or humidifier to add humidity to the air or using a pebble tray underneath the plant.
Also, you need to set a routine for when to spray your plant. It’ll be tough to remember when your plant needs moisture if you don’t do this.
Related: White Princess Philodendron Care And Grow: The Ultimate Guide
Fertilizer
The Philodendron Billietiae can use any fertilizer that contains nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
Philodendron Billietiae plants should be fed once a month during the spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer. A diluted solution of liquid fertilizer is a good option.
Since chemical fertilizers might harm the roots, organic fertilizer is the best for Billie plants. Use a liquid fertilizer or occasionally cover the soil with a layer of worm castings with a 3-1-2 fertilizer ratio.
Add more magnesium while watering or dissolve it in the liquid fertilizer every few months.
Repotting
Most Philodendron Billietiae need a bigger pot after two years. The summer and spring months are the best times to propagate this plant.
Repotting is a good technique to give it a fresh start. Use a pot that’s just a smidge bigger than the old pot when repotting. Double check to make sure the roots aren’t being squished.
Use the same kind of soil you did the last time you potted it, but keep some of the old soil around the roots to prevent the plant from being too shocked by its new home.
It’s not a big deal what the pot’s made of, but it’s gotta have good water flow.
Pruning
Pruning a Philodendron Billietiae is a pretty easy job and doesn’t need much work.
Prune any sick, damaged leaves, and any stems or branches that are too crowded or big.
You can clean up your shears by wiping them down with hand sanitizer.
After pruning, keep an eye on the Philodendron Billietiae for new growth. If the plant is healthy, it should start to sprout new leaves or branches within a few weeks.
The best time to prune Philodendron Billietiae is in the start of the growth period if you want to make it either taller or bushier.
Philodendron Billietiae Propagation
A Philodendron Billietiae plant can be easily grown from cuttings or air-layering.
Stem cuttings
- Getting your Philodendron Billietiae stem cut should be your first step. For a better chance of rooting, you cut 2-4 inches long. A leaf node should have at least two attached leaves. Pruning shears need to be cleaned. You can clean the shears with isopropyl alcohol.
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When you plant it, the calloused end will be the part that will be in the soil. Let the cutting dry out for at least seven days in a warm spot.
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Get the soil and plant pot ready for planting. There gotta be water escape routes in the plant pot. These pores let extra water easily flow out.
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You can plant your stem cutting after the week is over. Stick your finger into the ground about an inch deep to start. Doing so makes a hole for the stem cutting. Insert the cutting into the ground, then cover it with soil. If stem cutting won’t stay up, tie the stem cutting to a little stick.
Air-Layering
- For the air layering method, you gotta wound your Philodendron Billietiae plant. You need a clean knife to cut about two inches long and two inches of your plant. You may clean this knife with isopropyl alcohol.
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For it to take root, the wound needs to stay open. Stick a toothpick through the top and bottom of the wound to keep it open. Aim to arrange it so it keeps the wound open.
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Time to prepare some moss and apply it to the plant’s wound. The use of a rooting hormone compound can speed up the growth of the roots.
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Try tying a string around the wound and stem if the moss isn’t sticking to the wound. Take some thin plastic wrap and wrap it around the wound and stem, and make sure the plastic wrap is tightly tied to the wound so the moss can stick. Duct tape can be used to secure the plastic wrap to the stem.
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It will take some time for the wound and moss to grow roots. The start of root growth takes about a month. The wound needs a few more months to heal before the roots can be planted.
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The roots are ready for planting when they’re about three inches long. It must first have the wound on the stem taken out before being planted. You’re gonna make cuts a few inches above and below the moss.
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Be extra careful to avoid hurting the roots. Plant the roots and the soil must completely cover up the roots.
Your Philodendron Billietiae will take some time to grow, but the wait is worth it
Philodendron Billietiae Care Common Pests, Plant Diseases
Your Philodendron Billietiae plant has to deal with a bunch of bugs, problems, and diseases.
Aphids
Some aphids may damage the leaves and leave behind black and brown splotches. They are little green flying insects.
You can whip up your own aphid bug killer by mixing dish detergent with water. Be sure to spray all over the plants, especially the undersides of the leaves.
Fungus Gnats
Your Philodendron Billietiae might be hosting fungus gnats if you notice quick drooping, yellowing, or poor growth. While the babies have see-through bodies and black, glossy heads, the grown-ups look like tiny mosquitoes.
This could mean your Philodendron Billietiae needs more water. Hang on for two days before watering instead of watering as soon as the top two inches of the soil are dry, as advised.
To kill the eggs and the babies, dunk them in a mix of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 4 parts water.
Mealybugs
You might also have to deal with mealybug problems with your Philodendron Billietiae. If you wipe the heart-like, curvy leaves and stem of your plant with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, the bugs will drop off.
Your Billietiae can also be sprayed with a neem oil mix and water.
Root rot
he most common Philodendron Billietiae disease is root rot.
When the soil is overly damp, the roots lack air, which kicks this off. The stems will get softer, and the leaves will start to turn yellow. The roots will turn black and will smell bad if you pull out the root ball.
Indoor gardeners often water too much or too little, both of which can cause root rot. As root rot is so tough to treat, the best way to go about it is to prevent it.
After cleaning the pot, remove any sick parts and repot your Philodendron Billietiae in new soil.
Philodendron Billietiae Care Common Problems
Your Philodendron Billietiae might face various problems related to leaves and growth. Here are some of the most common problems you may encounter with your Philodendron Billietiae:
Brown tips
The presence of brown tips on leaves could mean either low humidity or too much fertilizer. By spraying your plant often or setting it on a tray of pebbles with water, you can increase the dampness around it. Use less plant food and double-check that you’re using the suggested amount.
Leaf Yellow
A Billie plant can turn yellow for a bunch of reasons. Too much or too little water or not enough sunlight could be to blame.
You should tweak your plant’s water timings, and you can think about feeding it with the right amount of plant food.
Yellow leaves should be pruned to encourage new growth and stop getting worse. Trim any yellow leaves with a sharp, sterile pair of shears because they can look bad as well.
Stunted growth
Not enough light or lack of plant food might be why your Philodendron Billietiae isn’t growing as it should. Make sure your plant gets enough strong light and proper plant food.
Conclusion
Philodendron Billietiae needs certain conditions to do well. Famiplants provides a complete guide to Philodendron Billietiae care, and it’s a great resource for anyone wanting to add this plant to their collection.
Famiplants emphasizes the key to know the unique needs of the Philodendron Billietiae to take good care of it. Plant enthusiasts can enjoy the beauty and benefits of this gorgeous foliage plant by following the suggested care advice.
