Philodendron Domesticum Variegata for sale in New Zealand
Add Some Color to Your Life with a Variegated Philodendron Domesticum!
The variegated philodendron domesticum, sometimes referred to as the zebra plant, has vibrant green leaves with thick white stripes that run down the center of each leaf blade. It’s the perfect plant to add color and personality to your home decor, because it’s not only aesthetically pleasing but quite interesting too! If you like plants with character and want something that will add to your decor instead of being an afterthought, this might be the right plant for you! Let’s take a closer look at what makes this zebra plant so special.
Where does this name come from?
The variegated domesticum variety of philodendron (usually just referred to as philodendrons) is native to Brazil and Venezuela, but it has found its way into gardens around the world. The spadeleaf part of its name comes from its distinctive leaves, which have a squarish shape. They also grow from wide-spreading pups that can get quite large in size, making them excellent plant companions for other plants in pots. However, their thick stems are susceptible to breakage when they’re moved or repotted. So if you decide to add one of these colorful houseplants to your home, be sure you give it plenty of space so that you don’t accidentally harm its roots or stem while moving it!
A history of the variegated philodendron domesticum
The variegated domesticum is commonly known as spadeleaf philodendron and is one of several variations on philodendrons. This particular variety originates from Brazil, where it grows along riverbanks. Since its discovery in 1889, it has made its way into many American households for its unusual look and powerful ability to clean indoor air. Philodendron domesticum variegata (spadeleaf) plants can be used in a number of ways. In addition to making a great houseplant, they are also well-suited for landscaping due to their tolerance of full sun or partial shade and resistance to drought conditions. When planted outdoors, they can grow up to five feet tall; when kept indoors, they stay smaller—between three and four feet tall—and produce beautiful white flowers every spring or summer.
Choosing a plant that matches your home decor
Placing plants in specific areas of your home can help give them character and make them feel more at home. Spadeleaf philodendrons look great as floor plants, hanging from foyers or swiping across an entryway. A large spadeleaf is just as happy sitting on a desk in an office or positioned next to sofas, armchairs and ottomans; they make excellent centerpieces for coffee tables, end tables and desks. Their broad leaves also work well as fillers between other houseplants or grouped together in a window box, creating natural dividers between different sections of your house. You’ll find that placing these plants throughout your home will bring color into every room and make it feel like you’re living inside a lush rainforest—without having to travel far away from home!
spade leaf philodendron care?
A variegated philodendron is easy to care for, as long as you keep it in an area that gets plenty of sunlight. Use 1 part water and 2 parts soil in your pot. Keep in mind that these plants like high humidity, so keep them away from open windows or any other places where they might lose moisture. Also, make sure you don’t overwater your plant—it should never be sitting in water at any point during its growing cycle. This can cause root rot, which will kill your plant. Finally, take note of when you need to fertilize your plant; most people do so every two weeks during spring and summer months. However, if you notice that your leaves are getting brown spots on them, it could mean that there isn’t enough fertilizer in the soil. In such cases, mix some fertilizer into a watering can and give it another dose.
What are some other plants in the same family?
Like most plants, philodendrons have many different varieties. If you’re interested in one of these other varieties, check out some of our other articles on air plants and epiphytic bromeliads. Air plants are not actually part of the philodendron family, but they do belong to an extremely similar group known as Tillandsia. Epiphytic bromeliads are also not technically part of the same family as philodendrons, but they do grow in very similar environments (i.e., they thrive when grown near trees or structures).
Tips for keeping spadeleaf philodendron happy
Most people grow philodendrons as houseplants, and they are fairly easy to care for. Light: They prefer bright, indirect light but will tolerate low light conditions too. Water: Keep soil moist at all times. Water often enough that soil remains moist at least 3-4 inches down. Soil: A loose, well-draining potting mix is best, such as equal parts peat moss and perlite or coarse sand. If you’re using a purchased mix, look on the label for instructions about how much water it needs. Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Don’t feed in fall and winter. Propagation: Propagate from stem tip cuttings in spring or summer.
Ten amazing facts about this amazing plant.
1. It’s easy to propagate. In fact, if you leave it alone for about 8 months and let new baby plants grow on their own, you’ll have more philodendrons than you know what to do with.
2. If grown indoors in indirect sunlight, it can be left for months without watering—or any other care, really—and will still look great when brought back into service.
3. You can buy variegated domesticum online or at your local nursery; just make sure you’re buying a plant that has variegation (white streaks) instead of one that is solid green.
4. Buy domesticum variegata online in New Zealand
5. This plant likes humidity but not wetness. So water it every few days until you see roots forming, then stop watering until they come out again (about once a month).
6. If you’re growing it outdoors, bring it inside during winter so its roots don’t freeze.
7. This plant grows well in humid environments like bathrooms or kitchens, as long as there isn’t too much direct sunlight coming through windows and doors.
8. This plant is toxic if ingested, so keep it away from pets and children.
9. It’s easy to propagate, so you can give it away as gifts without feeling guilty about killing off your own plants!
10. The variegated domesticum price isn’t too bad; in fact, it’s pretty affordable compared to other houseplants on the market today (about $5-15 depending on where you buy).
where can I buy spadeleaf philodendron?
The most common way to get your hands on a variegated philodendron domesticum is by buying one from a nursery or garden center like VARIEGATED GREEN PLANTS. If you’re feeling ambitious, though, you can start with an unvariegated plant and eventually create your own variegation by regularly removing all of its green leaves. It will grow new ones that turn yellow and red in response. After repeating this process several times over multiple years, you’ll have achieved variegation all on your own!
Is spade leaf philodendron a climber?
Is philodendron domesticum rare?
If you notice that your spadeleaf philodendron has outgrown its pot, repot it into a larger container. You will need to prune off the old roots before planting the new ones.
spade leaf philodendron for sale in New Zealand
