{"product_id":"philodendron-el-choco-red","title":"Philodendron 'El Choco red' (Philodendron rubrijuvenile)","description":"\u003ch2\u003ePhilodendron 'El Choco Red' (\u003cem\u003ePhilodendron rubrijuvenile\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhilodendron 'El Choco Red' is \u003cem\u003ePhilodendron rubrijuvenile\u003c\/em\u003e, an accepted Philodendron species from Colombia. It is grown for velvety green upper leaf surfaces and red to burgundy tones on juvenile leaf backs, with the strongest colour usually visible while the leaf is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe plant grows as a climbing aroid with nodes that can produce aerial roots. A textured support, steady warmth and higher humidity help the stem anchor and allow the leaves to become larger and more defined.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eVelvety green leaves with red juvenile backs\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies and origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Accepted Philodendron species native to Colombia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Velvety green upper surfaces with red to burgundy tones on young leaf backs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Climbing Philodendron with aerial roots at the stem nodes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing conditions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm, humid conditions and an airy mix help roots stay active and new velvet leaves unfurl cleanly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupport response:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves usually become larger and more defined when the stem can climb.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eColombian origin of \u003cem\u003ePhilodendron rubrijuvenile\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhilodendron rubrijuvenile\u003c\/em\u003e Croat \u0026amp; R.Kaufmann was published in \u003cem\u003eAroideana\u003c\/em\u003e 45(1): 214 in 2022 and is accepted as native to Colombia, where it grows primarily in the wet tropical biome. Indoors, keep it in bright filtered light, warm root conditions, higher humidity and a lightly moist, airy substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe velvety blade surface marks more easily than thick glossy Philodendron foliage. Keep water directed into the substrate rather than over the velvet leaves, and let new foliage unfurl without handling. The red underside is a juvenile-growth feature, so individual leaves can soften in colour as they mature.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWarmth, humidity and support for velvet foliage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Give bright indirect light, around 10,000–20,000 lux; strong direct sun can mark the velvety leaf surface.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water when the upper 30–50% of the mix has dried, then let excess water drain fully.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSubstrate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use an airy aroid mix with bark, coco chips, perlite or pumice and a modest moisture buffer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePot choice:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a pot with drainage holes and enough depth or weight to hold the climbing stem and support securely.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRepotting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Repot when roots fill the pot, the support becomes unstable or the substrate starts breaking down. Move up gradually to keep the root zone airy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aim for 60–80% for smoother leaf expansion and better aerial-root activity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep at 18–29°C and protect the plant from temperatures below 15°C.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupport:\u003c\/strong\u003e Train the stem onto a moss pole, tree-fern-style pole or plank while the internodes are still flexible.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a balanced fertiliser at low to moderate strength during active growth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Expect moderate climbing growth once the plant is rooted, warm and supported. Supported stems can produce larger leaves over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Place it where the velvet leaves have room to open without rubbing against glass, walls, shelves or neighbouring plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSemi-hydroponics:\u003c\/strong\u003e This Philodendron can adapt to mineral or semi-hydro substrates if roots are transitioned gradually and the reservoir is kept clean.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e Remove yellowing or damaged leaves and trim stretched stems above a node if the plant needs reshaping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePropagation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Root stem cuttings with at least one node in warm, humid conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLeaf marks, stalled unfurling and pest checks\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrispy patches:\u003c\/strong\u003e Check for direct sun, dry root pockets or low humidity around emerging leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStalled leaf unfurling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Increase humidity and check that the root ball is not drying too hard between waterings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYellowing lower leaves:\u003c\/strong\u003e Inspect the root zone for cold, wet mix or poor drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmall new leaves:\u003c\/strong\u003e Check light, support and root health. Undersized growth often appears when the stem cannot climb or the roots are weak.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFine speckling or dull patches:\u003c\/strong\u003e Check leaf undersides, petiole bases, cataphylls and new growth for thrips, mites, mealybugs and scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIngestion safety\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhilodendron rubrijuvenile\u003c\/em\u003e is toxic if ingested. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, lips, tongue and throat. Keep the plant out of reach of pets and children, and wash hands after pruning or taking cuttings if sap contacts the skin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eRubrijuvenile and El Choco Red\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhilodendron is an Araceae genus whose name comes from Greek roots meaning “tree-loving”, reflecting the climbing or tree-associated habit of many species. The species epithet rubrijuvenile refers to the red colour of immature leaves. The plant circulated as Philodendron sp. 'El Choco Red' before it was described as \u003cem\u003ePhilodendron rubrijuvenile\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChoose Philodendron 'El Choco Red' for velvety green leaves and red-toned juvenile leaf backs on a Colombian climbing Philodendron.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Foliage Factory","offers":[{"title":"Plug (Starter Plant)","offer_id":61194433495370,"sku":"MM-MOS105","price":17.25,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"M","offer_id":61194425073994,"sku":"MM-MEC-0368","price":20.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"L","offer_id":61203754156362,"sku":"MM-MOS51","price":17.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0979\/5115\/4506\/files\/philodendron-el-choco-red-01.webp?v=1776361815","url":"https:\/\/foliage-factory.com\/products\/philodendron-el-choco-red","provider":"Foliage Factory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}