29 Blushing Philodendron Erubescens Care Facts

Philodendron erubescens is an exotic plant that’s incredibly low-maintenance – like most Philodendrons. It’s a beautiful option for indoor gardeners, including heart-shaped leaves colored with shades of green and burgundy.

We’ll go through Blushing philodendron care in further detail in this post so you know exactly how to grow this beautiful plant. 

And if you want to buy a Philodendron Erubescens, we have a few reasonable options for you to explore. Continue reading to learn more about this Philodendron’s exciting attributes.

What Is Philodendron Erubescens?

Philodendron erubescens belongs to the Philodendron genus and the Araceae family. Natively, it’s from the rainforests of Central and South America. This Philodendron is a perennial, and it thrives near a north-facing window. It’s known for its large glossy heart-shaped dark green and burgundy leaves, making it an exotic houseplant.

Erubescens can be grown outdoors in certain climates. Outdoors, Philodendron Erubescens requires hardiness zones 10-11

First identified in 1854 by K. Koch & Augustin, this Philodendron plant prefers low-to-moderate humidity and medium to bright indirect light.

Did you know that there are many types of Philodendrons? Check out some of our favorites in this blog article.

Where To Buy

The Blushing Philodendron can be bought at many nurseries and stores that sell plants, but it is important to note that only many kinds of Philodendron are available, and some look very similar. To see all the different varieties, we recommend you start by using Etsy for purchasing Philodendron erubescens.

Similar Plants

Love Blushing Philodendron as much as we do? Did you know that there are several Philodendron varieties that are easy to grow? Here are some of our favorites:

Philodendron Birkin – The Philodendron Birkin has striking white stripes on its dark green leaves. This was a trendy plant in 2020.

Philodendron Gloriosum: This striking plant has oversized, heart-shaped leaves with distinctive veins that become more pronounced as it matures.

Philodendron Prince of Orange – This plant gets its name from its exquisite hued leaves that unfurl with a deep orange-bronze color that turns salmon as they mature.

Philodendron Erubescens Plant Size

The Philodendron Erubescens grows to about 24-36 inches in height as a houseplant. This stunning perennial prefers a north-facing window and grows quickly.

My big boys 🗡Silver sword (philodendron hastatum) and Red emerald (philodendron erubescens) pic.twitter.com/NmOflskrcZ

— Плант Корнер (@plantkorner) April 21, 2021

Philodendron erubescens Care Needs

Like any other houseplant, a Philodendron Erubescens will flourish if you give it proper care. With its unique care needs, the Red-Leaf Philodendron loves shade and needs relatively dry soil throughout the year.

You should be watering your Philodendron when the soil is dry on top. When watering, let it drain through the holes in the pot’s bottom. This lovely plant prefers medium to bright indirect light.

Care Difficulty

The Blushing Philodendron is easy-to-care-for, needing a medium to bright indirect light and a loose potting soil mix high in organic matter.

Growth Rate

The Philodendron Erubescens is a fast grower that reaches between 24-36 inches as a houseplant in height, assuming you manage it with proper pruning. Their growing season is in the spring and summer.

The plant can grow up to 60 feet tall in its natural habitat and can become fully epiphytic if it loses contact with the soil.

Potting

A medium plastic, terracotta, or clay pot works well for Philodendron plants. Also, while it may seem obvious, make sure your pot has at least one drainage hole. So many pots today are missing drainage holes – and this is a big cause of root rot.

It’s essential to repot the Blushing Philodendron when you see roots starting to grow out of the pot. Typically, you want to repot every two to three years or so.

Another reason to repot your Red-Leaf Philodendron is if you think it has root rot, which can seriously damage or kill the plant. See our section on watering and potting to avoid this problem.

Soil

The Philodendron Erubescens does best in a loose soil mix, which supports good drainage. Shoot for something that’s high in organic matter as well. Use sphagnum peat moss or a combination of peat and perlite or vermiculite to construct your own or purchase one online.

Root rot and other diseases are thwarted by efficient drainage, supported by the soil type. Use a well-draining soil or potting mix with this tropical plant for best results.

pH

This Blushing Philodendron requires a neutral to acidic soil pH of 5.8 – 7.5. If you’re worried about your soil’s pH, you can buy an online pH test to check it.

If your Philodendron Erubescens’s pH is too high or too low, you can correct it with sulfur or aluminum sulfate, respectively.

Water

When watering Imperial Red Philodendron, aim for a dry potting mix. Inspect the soil with your finger. When the top inch of the soil is dry, water your Philodendron.

Overwatering is a leading cause of indoor plant death. When in doubt, under water rather than over water.

Light

This tropical houseplant prefers medium to bright indirect light for a minimum of six hours a day. Too much light and its leaves may get scorched. That said, if you don’t have enough light, its stems might get leggy.

Your Philodendron Erubescens or other house plants may need more light than you have available. If this is the case, consider using artificial light to give them a boost.

Fertilizer

Philodendron erubescens prefers a water-soluble fertilizer. For example, Miracle-Gro Liquafeed All Purpose Plant Food. Feed the plant monthly in the spring and summer.

Fertilize every six to eight weeks in the winter – or not at all.

Propagating Philodendron erubescens

It’s pretty easy to propagate a Blushing Philodendron with the proper methods. Here are various techniques for propagating this tropical houseplant.

Stem Cuttings In Soil

Stem tip cuttings in soil are an excellent way to propagate Philodendron erubescens.

It would help if you propagate Philodendrons during spring or early summer, as this is the plant’s growing season. You want to select a healthy cutting and, preferably, recent growth.

A cutting should be three inches long and have a few leaves and nodes. For this step, make sure you’re using sterile scissors.

Now prepare a soil mixture for the plant. A mixture of 60% garden soil, 20% sand, and 20% compost is fine for propagating this plant.

Place the stem nodes in a damp potting soil cup and compress the dirt around the stem to keep the baby plant in place. 

No leaves should be buried in the organic potting soil. Keep your container moist by placing it near a window with bright, indirect sunlight.

You can expect fresh roots on your new Blushing Philodendron in around 30 days or so.

Stem Cuttings In Water

Here are the methods of taking stem cuttings and growing them in water.

First, take Philodendron cuttings. Cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches in length for most plants.

Make your cuttings as small as possible; they will not root well or, if rooted, will grow too long and lanky. Using a sharp knife, cut the stems of Philodendron slightly below the nodes.

Remove any blossoms and lower leaves from the Philodendron Erubescens cutting but keep the top two or three. Any portion of the cutting that will be submerged in water should be leaf-free.

Replace the cutting in water every few days.

To produce roots, the plant’s nodes should be kept wet at all times.

Move the exotic plant to the soil before the roots of your new Philodendron Erubescens begin to develop. If you wait too long, moving to a pot may be difficult.

Humidity And Aeration

With its sizable glossy heart-shaped leaves that are dark green and burgundy, the Philodendron Erubescens is an ideal buy for plant enthusiasts.

It’s easy-to-care-for, necessitating medium to bright indirect light, low-to-moderate humidity, relatively dry, and warm temps.

If you’re looking for a new plant to add to your collection or are just getting started as an indoor grower, use these tips to get started right away.

Temperature

The Blushing philodendron prefers warm temperatures, but it can tolerate temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Consistency is the more important factor for this exotic plant. Temperature swings can harm Philodendron erubescens. Keep them away from vents, cold drafts, and other openings.

Flowers

The Philodendron Erubescens can produce significant deep red flowers during spring, summer and autumn (indoors).

Toxic

Be on guard if you have small children or animals. This Philodendron is highly hazardous to pets, including cats, dogs, and humans. If ingested, you can expect the following symptoms: mouth, throat, and digestive tract irritation, and even vomiting. 

Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems

P. Erubescens is not a bug-resistant plant. Below I’ve listed some common Blushing Philodendron problems, along with solutions.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs may infest your Philodendron erubescens. These tiny parasites damage your Philodendron by inserting a feeding tube into the plant tissues and sucking on the sap. Mealybugs can weaken or kill your Blushing Philodendron.

Rub a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol over the heart-shaped leaves and stem to remove them. Use neem oil as a preventative spray.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are a common problem for the Blushing Philodendron. Small brown or yellow spots or webbing on the Philodendron’s leaves indicate spider mite infestation.

To get rid of spider mites, start by spraying your Philodendron Erubescens with water. Neem oil or other insecticidal oils can also help as a preventative spray.

Ladybugs can help control your spider mite population if you want a non-chemical approach.

White Flies

The whitefly, despite its name, is not a genuine fly but is linked to aphids, mealybugs, and scale. They can cause significant leaf damage by feeding on the sap of your Philodendron erubescens. They resemble moths, have a triangular shape, and are usually gray-white in color.

When in doubt, use an insecticidal soap (or make your own by mixing one tablespoon of Castile soap with 1 quart of water). The soap covers the eggs, larvae, and adults. Apply in the morning and repeat as needed.

Scale Insects

Scale insects can appear as lumps on stems or branches. The tiny green, gray, brown, and black bugs usually stay put once they’ve found a plant.

If your infestation isn’t too bad, a teaspoon of neem oil in water can help keep new scale insects from attacking your lovely Philodendron Erubescens.

My Philodendron erubescens just unfurled this precious red leaf ❤⭐ pic.twitter.com/K58XVmOUZr

— Midio (@midio) April 20, 2018

Aphids

Aphids can eat leaves, leaving behind black and brown patches.

Aphids can be treated with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or Ivory Liquid. Look for a product free of harmful fragrances. diluted soap and water (starting with one teaspoon per gallon and increasing as necessary). Spray the plants, focusing on the leaf undersides.

Drooping Leaves

Drooping leaves can have several causes, including overwatering and fertilization issues. They can also be caused by pests or diseases, such as Mealybugs.

Root Rot

Problems with drainage or overwatering can result in root rot in Blushing Philodendrons. Prevention is the best cure for root rot.

Controlling water intake will help prevent root rot in Philodendron Erubescens. Before planting this Philodendron, read our soil and water sections.

Conclusion

The Philodendron Erubescens has large glossy heart-shaped leaves in dark green and burgundy, making it a beautiful option for a home garden.

So, whether you’re looking to expand your collection or start an indoor garden, follow these steps to grow the Blushing Philodendron today!