Philodendron Painted Lady is a stunning houseplant with bright orange and yellow variegated foliage and easy care requirements, making it perfect for any level of gardener. With proper care, these efancy green buddys can add vibrant pops of color to your home all year round. No worries, this guide has got you covered, from pruning to repotting, and everything in between. Find out why this exotic babe is such a catch and learn the A to Z of making your Painted Lady happy and healthy!

Philodendron Painted Lady Care overview

Botanical Name	Philodendron bipinnatifidum ‘Painted Lady’
Common Name	Painted Lady Philodendron
Family	Araceae
Genus	Philodendron
Mature Size	Can grow up to 3-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide
Soil Type	Well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter
Soil pH	6.0 and 7.5
Native Area	Tropical regions of South America
Temperature	60-80°F (16-27°C)
Light	Bright, indirect light
Watering	It is important to allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Root rot can be caused by overwatering.
Humidity	High humidity levels of 50%
Fertilizer	Fertilize the plant every 2-3 months during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
Propagation	Stem cuttings or division
Toxicity	Toxic to pets and humans if ingested

How to care for Philodendron Painted Lady?

Caring for Philodendron Painted Lady is relatively easy as long as you follow a few simple methods.

Light Requirements

The Philodendron Painted Lady likes it shady – direct sunlight is a no-no because it can burn its leaves. But too little light will make it grow weirdly and slow. If you want it to catch some rays, put it next to a window that faces north or behind a sheer curtain.

If your place doesn’t get enough natural light, you can cheat a little with artificial grow lights. Just make sure you use a mix of cool white and warm white LED lights to mimic daylight. Keep the light about a foot or less above your plant and tweak the “daylight” hours to suit your plant’s needs.

Soil

Our Philodendron buddy likes soil that’s rich, but drains well. You can use a mix of peat moss, perlite, and compost – good stuff that holds water and nutrients but still lets water pass through. Don’t use heavy, thick soil or anything with a lot of clay, it’ll keep water at the bottom of the pot and that’s a recipe for root rot.

Remember to get a pot with holes at the bottom for drainage to avoid water sitting at the bottom. And when it’s time to move it to a bigger pot, make sure it’s only one size up.

Watering

Keeping the Philodendron Painted Lady hydrated is key. It likes its soil moist, but not too wet, otherwise, it could get root rot. How much water you should give it depends on the pot size, the soil, and how humid it is.

When watering your plant, give the soil a good soak until water comes out of the bottom. After that, hold off on the next watering session until the top layer of soil is dry. Depending on where you live, this could be every five to ten days.

Don’t let the soil go completely dry though, or the leaves will start to wilt. On the flip side, too much water can lead to root rot, which is a plant-killer.

Use a pot with drainage holes and a good soil mix to avoid overwatering. If you’re not sure when to water it, just stick your finger in the soil or use a moisture meter. If it feels dry, time for a drink; if it feels wet, hold off for a few days.

During the winter, your plant won’t need as much water because it’s taking a break. But, make sure the soil doesn’t go completely dry.

All in all, the Philodendron Painted Lady likes its soil to be like a well-wrung sponge – damp, but not soaking. So, water it fully, wait until the top soil is dry, then water it again. Avoid root rot like the plague, and you’re golden!

Temperature

The Philodendron Painted Lady can handle a chill down to 50°F (10°C), but really likes it when it’s between 60°F and 80°F (16°C and 27°C). Try not to throw it into temperature shocks, like next to drafts or doors, since that can stress it out and cause damage. If you can keep your space within those temps, your Painted Lady should be pretty happy.

Humidity

This pretty plant is a fan of high humidity – like 50% or more. It’s from the tropics, after all. Especially when we crank up the heat in winter, our homes can get pretty dry, and that can cause the leaves to dry out, go brown, and even drop off.

You can spritz the leaves of your Painted Lady Philodendron with water pretty regularly, or use a humidifier to up the humidity. Another trick is to put your plants together, since they can naturally increase the humidity when they release water through transpiration. Or place a water-filled tray near the plant – but make sure no water sits at the bottom of the pot, or you’ll risk root rot.

Raising the humidity in your space isn’t just good for your Philodendron Painted Lady. It can also help with dry skin, allergy symptoms, and respiratory issues. So, getting a humidifier or using other tricks to up the humidity can be a win-win for you and your plant.

Fertilizer

Regular fertilizer during growing season will help the Philodendron Painted Lady grow healthy and keep the leaves vibrant. It’s best to use a balanced, water-soluble feed with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 or 20-20-20.

When it’s growing season (spring and summer), fertilizer the plant every 2-3 months, and dial back or stop when it’s dormant (fall and winter). Just follow what the feed maker recommends. Be careful not to overfeed, or you could damage the plant with fertilizer burn.

Compost or worm castings are great examples of organic feeds that can be used for this plant. These natural feeds release nutrients slow and steady, and help the good little microbes in the soil.

Repotting

Repotting the Philodendron Painted Lady is a key step in taking care of this cool houseplant. Repotting makes sure the roots of your plant have enough space to stretch out, and new soil gives it the nutrients it needs. Here are the steps for a no-stress repotting experience:

Pick a new pot for your Philodendron Painted Lady. It should be about 1-2 inches bigger than the old pot, to give the roots enough room to grow.
Gently take out the plant from its current pot and check out the roots. If they’re really packed in there, trim away any that are long or wrapping around each other.
Put a layer of soil at the bottom of the new pot and put the plant on top, centered. Fill in the rest of the sides with soil, making sure there are no air gaps.
Give your Philodendron Painted Lady a good drink to settle the soil and stimulate root growth. Just be careful not to overdo it, because you don’t want root rot.
All done! Put your Philodendron Painted Lady in a place with lots of indirect light and watch it thrive in its new home. With the right care, you should soon see fresh leaves and a healthy root system!

Repotting a Philodendron Painted Lady is super easy and should only take a few minutes. Do it every 1-2 years, and your plant will have enough space to grow and get all the nutrients it needs.

Pruning

Pruning is key to keep your Philodendron Painted Lady healthy and looking its best. Here are some pruning tips for your plant:

Get rid of any dead or yellowing leaves: Take off any yellow, brown, or black leaves. These are usually a sign that the plant isn’t getting enough water or nutrients, or that something’s wrong with the roots.
Prune back leggy stems: If your Philodendron Painted Lady is growing tall and leggy, prune the stems back to encourage bushier growth. Pinch off the stem tips or cut the stems back to a leaf node.
The Philodendron Painted Lady is a climber that can be trained to grow up a trellis or a stake. To train the plant, use soft twine or plant ties to gently tie the stems to the trellis or stake.
Take off any damaged or sick stems: If you see any damaged or sick stems, prune them off right away to keep the problem from spreading to other parts of the plant.
If you’ve recently repotted your Philodendron Painted Lady, prune it back to reduce stress on the roots. This will also help the plant become bushier and fuller.

To avoid hurting your plant, always use clean, sharp pruning shears when pruning your Philodendron Painted Lady. To stop disease from spreading, clean the blades with rubbing alcohol before and after each use.

Related: Philodendron Giganteum Care And Grow: The Ultimate Guide

Philodendron Painted Lady Propagation

Making more Painted Lady Philodendrons from stem cuttings is pretty straightforward. Here’s how you do it:

Pick a good-looking stem: Grab a stem that’s at least 6 inches long with a few leaves. Make sure it’s in good shape, not sickly or banged up.
Make a clean cut just below a leaf node with a clean, sharp knife or scissors. That’s where the new roots will pop out.
Get rid of the lower leaves: Strip off the bottom 2-3 leaves, leaving just a few up top. This helps the cutting focus on growing roots, not taking care of leaves.
Get a pot ready: Half-fill a small pot with damp potting soil. You can make the drainage better by chucking in some perlite or vermiculite.
Poke a small hole in the soil with your finger, then gently stick the cutting into the hole. To keep the stem in place, compact the soil around it.
Water the cutting: Give it a good soak and stick it somewhere warm and bright. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Wait for roots: It could take a few weeks for roots to show up. You can give the stem a gentle squeeze to check for roots. If it doesn’t squish, roots are growing.
Move the cutting: Once the cutting has a good set of roots, shift it to a bigger pot or straight into your garden.

Making new Philodendrons from stem cuttings is an easy and surefire way to get more of these awesome plants. A little patience and TLC, and you’ll have a houseful of ’em in no time.

Philodendron Painted Lady Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The Painted Lady Philodendron is pretty tough, but it’s not invincible. Here are some common problems to watch out for:

Spider mites: Tiny pests that make leaves go yellow and brown. You can zap ’em with insecticide soap or neem oil.
Mealybugs: These look like tiny cotton balls and can make leaves drop and stunt growth. Insecticide soap or neem oil can sort them out.
Scale bugs: Small brown bumps on plant stems and leaves. Again, insecticide soap or neem oil can kick ’em to the curb.
Root rot: A gross fungus from overwatering or bad drainage. Causes wilt, yellow leaves, and a bad smell. To avoid root rot, use good-draining soil and only water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Brown spots on leaves can come from overwatering or not enough air movement. Water from the bottom to keep leaves dry, and maybe put a fan nearby to get the air moving.
Yellow leaves can come from loads of things, like overwatering, underwatering, not enough light, or not enough food. Have a look at your watering, light, and feeding routines to figure out what’s wrong and fix it.

You can keep pests and diseases from messing up your Painted Lady by keeping an eye on it and stepping in at the first sign of trouble. Regular clean-ups, watering right, and feeding it well can keep your plant looking awesome for years.

Painted Lady Philodendron Care Common Problems

Even though they’re pretty tough and easy to look after, Painted Lady Philodendrons can still have some common problems if you’re not careful. Here’s what to watch out for:

Brown or yellow leaves can come from overwatering, underwatering, or too much direct sunlight. Check your watering and light situation to make sure it’s right.
Wilting could mean underwatering or root rot from overwatering. Check the soil moisture and make sure your plant is in good-draining soil.
Stunted growth might mean not enough light, bad soil, or not enough nutrients. Check your light and feeding routine and consider moving it into fresh, nutrient-packed soil.

As we said before, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects can all be a problem. Regularly check your plant for bugs and sort them out if you spot any.

Painted Lady Philodendrons can get root bound if you don’t repot them regularly. If roots are growing out of the bottom of the pot and it’s not growing much, your plant might be root-bound. If you see this, it’s time to move your plant to a bigger pot.

Avoid these common problems and your Painted Lady Philodendron will stay healthy and thriving. Just keep an eye on it and give it the love it needs.

Conclusion

So, the Philodendron Painted Lady is a super chill indoor plant that brings a splash of color and makes any room look awesome. Keep it in good shape by giving it what it needs: a drink of water, some light, a bit of humidity, and the right feed. And hey, don’t forget to keep a lookout for any bugs or sick leaves. With a bit of TLC, your Philodendron Painted Lady will be living it up and brightening your home for years to come. Take good care of it, and your Philodendron Painted Lady will be around for a good long time. Just stick to the FamiPlants guide for taking care of your Philodendron Painted Lady, and you’ll soon have an amazing plant chillin’ in your house. Good luck, mate!

Philodendron Painted Lady Care And Grow: The Ultimate Guide