Philodendron ‘Caramel Pluto’ (‘Chocolate Empress’, ‘Pluto’)

The Nursery History of ‘Caramel Pluto’

‘Caramel Pluto’, ‘Chocolate Empress’ and ‘Pluto’ are current nursery trade names for this plant. The name ‘Pluto’ was already in commercial Philodendron use by the mid-1980s and continued in the later tissue-culture trade. The exact parentage remains unresolved, as does the connection between those early plants and today’s warm-coloured stock. This is a cultivated Philodendron with no wild native range.

Growing ‘Caramel Pluto’ well

• Light: Place it in bright filtered or indirect light. After moving it to a brighter position, increase exposure gradually and protect it from harsh sudden sun.
• Water: Let the upper layer of the mix begin to dry, then water thoroughly and allow all excess to drain. Use the moisture in the mix and the weight of the pot as your watering cues.
• Pot and space: Use a stable pot with drainage and leave horizontal room for the crown. Choose a pot size that matches the root system and allows the surrounding mix to dry at a steady pace.
• Stability: If the crown or short stem becomes unbalanced, check the light, root anchorage and pot stability. Add a discreet stake when the individual plant needs help with balance.
• Potting mix: Choose a structurally open, free-draining mix that still holds moderate moisture around the roots.
• Temperature: Keep it in warm, stable conditions, preferably above about 15 °C and away from cold draughts.
• Feeding: Use a conservative, label-led feed while the plant is actively growing.
• Humidity and airflow: Ordinary to moderate household humidity is suitable when air can circulate. Keep the plant away from extreme dry heat and avoid leaving the foliage persistently wet.

Reading changes in ‘Caramel Pluto’

• Warm new leaves become greener: Caramel, bronze, chocolate, brown-red or pink colour on a new leaf is normal, as is its later shift towards olive or green. Compare leaves of different ages before treating the change as a problem.
• Even teeth or shallow cuts appear: Regular rounded teeth, shallow lobes or serration can develop normally as a leaf matures. Ragged tears or feeding scars warrant a closer inspection for physical damage or pests.
• The crown loosens or stem gaps lengthen: Low light can contribute to weaker, more widely spaced growth, while top-heaviness or natural variation can also change the plant’s stance. Improve filtered light gradually when the position is dim, check root anchorage and pot stability, and use a discreet stake only when the plant needs help with balance.
• Pale or brown patches follow stronger sun: A bleached or browned area that appears after a sudden increase in light is likely sun or heat injury. Return the plant to filtered light and acclimate it gradually; damaged tissue will not recover.
• Lower leaves yellow while the root ball stays wet: Pause watering and check drainage. Continued wilting or yellowing with a wet root ball is the cue to inspect the roots. Firm roots in a freely draining mix can stay in place; let the upper mix reach the usual dry cue before watering again. Move the firm roots into fresh airy mix if the medium has collapsed or drainage is slow. Remove dark, soft roots if rot is confirmed and repot the remaining firm roots in fresh airy mix. If decay has reached the short stem, keep only firm healthy tissue. If neither firm roots nor firm healthy stem tissue remain, discard the plant.
• Young leaves are scarred or distorted: Silvery or bronze scarring, distorted new growth and dark specks can indicate thrips. Isolate the plant, inspect it closely, rinse or clean it, remove badly affected tissue and use a treatment labelled for thrips if the pest is confirmed.
• Stippling, cottony deposits or raised insects appear: Fine stippling with webbing suggests mites, cottony deposits suggest mealybugs, and raised insects suggest scale. Isolate the plant, confirm the pest, clean or remove it where practical, and repeat a labelled treatment as directed.
• Wet lesions expand or tissue smells foul: Bacterial or fungal disease is possible. Isolate the plant, keep the foliage dry, remove severely affected tissue with clean tools, improve airflow and obtain a diagnosis before using a chemical treatment.

Philodendron ‘Caramel Pluto’ (‘Chocolate Empress’, ‘Pluto’) is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

How did Philodendron get its name?

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.”

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Philodendron in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.