Philodendron
Philodendrons are mostly fuss-free when it comes to LECA transitions and growing in LECA.
Types: I like to think of Philos in two categories when it comes to growing them in Semi-Hydroponics. The ones that grow and branches upwards such as this Burle Marx Fantasy - some others in this category are Pink Princess Philodendron, Prince of Orange, and Jungle Boogie. The other type is a trailing philodendron - plants like Philodendron Micans, Brazil, Heartleaf, and Rio. Branching philodendrons are very easy to transition, while trailing philodendrons can cause some issues. I’ve had an entire pot of Micans transition with 0 issues, and an entire pot of Brazil fail.
Roots & Transition: Most philodendrons have fairly robust roots that are thicker, with thinner roots that branch out from main artery roots. I always find it useful to trim off the thinner roots as they will usually die off anyway. I also find it helpful to use my nails or a brush to really scrape off the roots so it’s white and not black. They aren’t super prone to transplant shock or root disturbance. I will never remove philodendron roots entirely if I have the option. They are not the fastest plants to reroot and there’s no need to remove the existing root system.
Maintenance: Once established, philodendron roots will grow vigorously and if you have it in a pot like my Burle Marx Fantasy here, the roots will be bunched up at the bottom. That’s ok - as roots grow into the reservoir, they are adapted to water and they can stay there. However, after 6+ months, 1+ years, I find it better to put most plants into a self-watering pot and allowing the roots to grow out of the bottom holes into the water reservoir.
Fertilizing: Philodendrons are easy to adapt to semi-hydroponics and they are not super sensitive towards too much or too little fertilizer. However some of the thinner leafed philodendrons - such as verrucosum and the mamei, you may need to pay more attention to how much you feed. I’m still experimenting with these varieties, if you have any insights please share your experiences.
