This Philodendron Is Prized for Its Fiery Variegation—Here's What to Know (2024)

Philodendron Ring of Fire Care

Here are the basic requirements for growing philodendron ring of fire:

• Provide it with plenty of bright indirect (or filtered) light.
• Allow the top two to three inches of soil to dry between waterings.
• Choose a potting mix that is airy and well-draining, such as a soilless mix or a mix designed for aroids.
• Feed once a month with a diluted liquid fertilizer to keep the variegation strong.

Light

As with most variegated plants, the philodendron ring of fire requires plenty of bright light to maintain its gorgeous colors. However, it cannot tolerate extended periods of direct sunlight, which will quickly burn the delicate leaves. Several hours of bright indirect light is ideal.

While many philodendrons tolerate low light well, this variety is not one of them. A lack of light will result in leggy growth and a loss of variegation that is hard to get back.

Soil

This aroid is extremely sensitive to overwatering, so it requires a soil mix that is airy and well-draining to help prevent water-logging. Pure potting soil will be far too dense for the philodendron ring of fire, so be sure to repot it right away if it is planted in soil alone.

A soilless potting mix or a mix designed for aroids are both great choices for this houseplant. You can also easily make your own mix at home by combining equal parts potting soil, coco coir, orchid bark, and perlite.

Water

Be cautious of overwatering with this plant. While it enjoys moist conditions it does not tolerate wet feet and will quickly develop root rot if it is left in waterlogged conditions. On top of a well-draining soil mix, choosing a pot with a drainage hole is a must for this philodendron. Then, be sure to allow the top two to three inches of potting mix to dry in between waterings.

Temperature and Humidity

The philodendron ring of fire is a tropical plant that enjoys warm, slightly humid conditions. This makes it an ideal houseplant, where average temperatures are warm and humidity levels can be closely controlled. As long as the plant is kept in temperatures between 65°F to 80°F (or 18°C to 26°C) it will be happy.

While this philodendron can tolerate average household humidity levels it will thrive if it's given a bit of extra humidity. For this reason, it makes a great choice for indoor greenhouses, or you can place a small humidifier designed for plants close by to help boost humidity.

Fertilizer

Feeding this plant regularly during the active growing period will help to keep its colors stable and vibrant. During spring and summer, apply a balanced fertilizer once a month during watering. Stop fertilizing entirely once the temperatures begin to drop in the early fall and don’t fertilize during the winter months when the plant is dormant.

Propagating Philodendron Ring of Fire

Like most philodendrons, the philodendron ring of fire can be propagated using stem cuttings. However, since this variety is known for being slow-growing, you can expect the process to take much longer than it does for faster-growing varieties like the heart-leaf philodendron. Nevertheless, propagation is a great way to grow new plants or repurpose stem cuttings from a large plant.

As with most houseplants, spring or early summer is the best time to propagate this plant. While you can still attempt propagation in the fall or winter months, it will likely take much longer and you have a lower chance of being successful since the plant isn’t actively growing.

Here’s how to propagate a philodendron ring of fire in a few simple steps.

1. Using a pair of clean pruning shears or scissors, take a stem cutting from a healthy plant. The stem cutting should have two to four nodes along the stem, and at least one leaf.
2. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting to expose the nodes, leaving one to two leaves at the top of the cutting.
3. Fill a glass container or jar with fresh water and place the cutting in the water, ensuring the nodes are submerged and the leaves sit above the surface of the water.
4. Place the cutting in a warm location that receives bright, indirect light, and refresh the water once a week.
5. After a few weeks, you should begin to see small white roots sprouting from the nodes. If you don’t see any after two to three weeks, don’t panic. As long as the cutting isn’t rotting you are safe and may need to wait longer.
6. Once the roots are about an inch long the cutting can be transferred from water to an airy potting mix. Fill a small plastic or terracotta nursery pot (with a drainage hole) with a well-draining potting mix and water it well, ensuring it is moist (but not soaking) before you plant the cutting.
7. Then, plant the rooted cutting in the moist soil mix and water again to help it settle, allowing the excess water to drain from the pot.
8. Return the planted cutting to its original location and keep the soil mix evenly moist for the first week to help the roots acclimate from water to soil. Then, slowly begin cutting back on watering until you are allowing the top two inches to dry between waterings, as you do with a mature ring of fire plant.

Potting and Repotting Philodendron Ring of Fire

This slow-growing plant does not require frequent repotting. Once every two to three years, or whenever it outgrows its potting container, is usually sufficient. If you notice roots growing from the pot’s drainage holes and circling the inside of the pot, it may be time to upgrade your plant’s pot size.

It’s best to wait until the spring or summer to repot since the plant is actively growing. Choose a pot that is only two to four inches larger than its existing container, and remove your plant from its pot. Replace as much of the existing soil as you can without damaging the plant’s roots. Once your plant has been transferred to the new pot, water it thoroughly and then return it to its original location.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Keep an eye out for common houseplant pests such as scale, spider mites, mealybugs, and fungus gnats. While this philodendron isn’t particularly prone to any one type of pest, they can easily transfer from other plants and take up residence on a healthy ring of fire plant.

When it comes to diseases, you may need to be a bit more diligent. On top of root rot, which is usually caused by overwatering, fungal leaf spot diseases are common on all philodendrons. These bacterial diseases appear as small brown or rust-colored spots on the leaves of your plant and can spread quickly.

Common Problems With Philodendron Ring of Fire

For the most part, these houseplants are considered relatively low-maintenance. Either way, it’s normal to run into a few issues here and there as you learn how to care for your new plant, and it becomes acclimated to your space. Here are a few common problems that you may encounter while growing a philodendron ring of fire.

Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves are a common houseplant ailment with a few different causes. Sometimes, yellowing leaves are nothing to be concerned about and are just the natural life cycle of a leaf. However, if your plant is rapidly developing yellow leaves or new leaves are immediately turning yellow then you may have a larger issue at hand.

Underwatering, overly dry conditions, and a lack of sunlight are the most common causes of yellow leaves in houseplants, although overwatering, too much sunlight, and pests can also be to blame. You will need to closely examine your plant’s growing environment to determine what the issue could be.

Brown Leaves

Similarly, brown leaves are not an uncommon issue to run into when growing plants indoors. One or two brown leaves on your plant usually aren’t a big problem, particularly if it's the oldest leaves that are going brown. However, rapidly browning leaves are likely an indication of a larger issue at play. Underwatering, too much sunlight (leaf burn), a lack of humidity, and a lack of light are all potential culprits.

Loss of Variegation

Most of the time, if your plant is losing its variegation it’s because it is not receiving enough light. Variegated plants need more light than their non-variegated counterparts due to the lack of chlorophyll in their leaves. If you have your philodendron ring of fire in a location that does not receive enough light, its leaves will start to revert to green to capture and convert as much sunlight as possible.

You can remedy this issue by moving your plant closer to a window, or by adding a grow light to your setup. Just be cautious to avoid direct sunlight where possible, particularly harsh afternoon light which will cause burned leaves.