Philodendron ‘Ring of Fire’

Ring of Fire and the Henderson’s Pride group

Ring of Fire is generally associated with the Henderson’s Pride group of hybrids attributed to Keith Henderson. The Henderson’s Pride cross used pollen from the finely divided species Philodendron tortum to pollinate an unnamed wendlandii-type hybrid.

Henderson’s family remembered the original Henderson’s Pride plants as green. The variegated Ring of Fire name was circulating through Asiatica Nursery in Pennsylvania around 2009–2010.

Root and foliage care for climbing aroids

• Light around patterned tissue: Provide strong filtered exposure and acclimatise pale sectors carefully. Cream, yellow and orange markings can shift from leaf to leaf.
• Stem development: A young Ring of Fire may look self-heading. Give an older lengthening shoot stable support before it leans.
• Watering: Check that the surface feels lightly dry, then soak and drain the container. An open mix should retain some moisture while restoring air quickly.
• Humidity, light and feeding: Keep Philodendron ‘Ring of Fire’ warm; consistent humidity and soft air movement assist unfolding leaves. Use a light feed in active growth and reduce it when extension slows.
• Offsets and nodes: A rooted offset or healthy node can produce a new Ring of Fire. The next shoot may be greener or carry a heavier pattern.

Ring of Fire serration and vine problems

• Strongly toothed margins: Regular serration belongs to the Philodendron ‘Ring of Fire’. Fresh bites are uneven and are often accompanied by frass, slime or the animal responsible.
• Wet stem decay: Move the Philodendron ‘Ring of Fire’ away from nearby plants when softness continues along the stem. Keep moisture out of the crown and clean used tools before they touch another plant.
• Yellowing or wilt: Inspect the full root ball and stem base. Discard roots only where they are entirely dead, then replace dense mix that stays saturated.
• Pests in the short stem: Check the rolled leaf, petiole bases and lengthening nodes for silver scars, black specks, stippling, webbing or cottony wax. Treat every sheltered point, checking one pale section before applying the treatment throughout the plant.
• Pale sectors brown: Cream, yellow and orange areas can fail first after heat, strong light, salts, drought or handling. Adjust watering or reduce the heat, light or salt exposure responsible, then judge later growth. Isolate the Philodendron ‘Ring of Fire’ and avoid wetting the blade if a damp brown patch expands beyond the pale sector.
• Variegation changes: Greener and more patterned shoots can arise from different buds. Pruning selects from the colours already present in the stem; stronger light and extra feed cannot rebuild a lost colour pattern.

Philodendron ‘Ring of Fire’ 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.