Philodendron × mandaianum ‘Ruby’

Hybrid lineage of Philodendron × mandaianum ‘Ruby’

‘Ruby’ is a cultivated colour selection of Philodendron × mandaianum, a horticultural hybrid generally considered a cross between P. erubescens and P. hastatum.

Keeping Philodendron × mandaianum ‘Ruby’ healthy indoors

• Protect tender ruby new leaves after a light change: Keep the plant in bright filtered light and increase exposure gradually. Soft new foliage can mark quickly against hot glass or strong direct sun.
• Support the active climbing tip: Guide the stem up a firm pole, plank or trellis, attach the stem loosely and leave the red petioles free. Leave enough space for elongated leaves to unfold.
• Water when the pot has partly dried: When the upper root zone has dried and the pot is lighter, wet the whole root ball and allow it to drain. Remove runoff from the saucer or cover pot.
• Keep the mix open as the vine grows: Use a chunky aroid substrate that holds some moisture without staying saturated. Refresh or repot when roots crowd the pot or the mix has collapsed and remains wet too long.
• Match feeding to leaf production: During active growth, use a balanced fertiliser according to its current label directions. Scale back once the vine slows and the pot takes longer to dry.

Reading stress signs on Philodendron × mandaianum ‘Ruby’

• New growth is red and older leaves become greener: This is the expected colour progression. No treatment is needed when the tissue remains firm and the vine continues to grow normally.
• Fine pest damage is difficult to see on dark tissue: Silver scarring with black specks points towards thrips; fine stippling or webbing points towards mites. Check both leaf surfaces and folded growth, then isolate an affected plant. Remove accessible pests and treat the matching problem with a houseplant product labelled for thrips or mites, following that label for repeat timing.
• Brown patches form on a tender dark leaf: Move the plant away from abrupt hot sun or heated glass when exposure recently changed. Rehydrate only if the root ball is dry; flush the substrate when salt deposits or heavy feeding make salts plausible; increase clearance if the mark follows rubbing.
• A folded leaf opens with scars: Check inside the fold for thrips and black specks, then look for contact with the support. Treat a confirmed pest according to the product label; otherwise reposition the vine so the next leaf has room to open.
• Several leaves yellow in wet substrate: Stop watering and drain any collected water. If the plant fails to improve as the mix loses moisture, inspect the roots. Retain firm sections, remove rotten soft tissue and repot in a fresh airy mix when the old medium has become dense or stagnant. If extensive rot leaves the vine with almost no roots, root a firm node-bearing stem section in fresh, clean potting mix in a separate container. If all remaining roots and nodal tissue are soft or rotten, discard the plant.

Philodendron × mandaianum ‘Ruby’ 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.

Why is it called Philodendron?

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.