Up next in 10
9 Philodendron Care Mistakes to Avoid This Year
2 views
Jul 19, 2025
Is your philodendron looking a little off lately? Yellowing leaves, drooping stems, slow growth—it might not be random. In this video, we break down 9 common philodendron care mistakes that plant parents often make. From overwatering to poor lighting and sneaky pest problems, we’re covering it all in a chill, real-talk way. Whether you're a beginner or just trying to step up your indoor jungle game, these tips will help your plant thrive instead of just survive. 🌿 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this with your plant-loving friends! Inside the video: 00:00 Intro 00:40 Using a Container Without Drainage Holes 1:33 Planting in Poorly-Draining Potting Soil 2:25 Overwatering 3:25 Placing in Bright, Direct Light 4:20 Placing in a Dim Area 5:06 Adding Too Much Fertilizer 5:57 Setting Your Philodendron in a Drafty Area 6:49 Ignoring Early Signs of Pests 7:41 Waiting for Wilting to Water 8:32 Ending #PhilodendronCare #HouseplantTips #PlantParenting #IndoorPlants #PlantCareMistakes #PhilodendronProblems
View Video Transcript
0:00
So, I thought I was doing everything
0:01
right with this plant, but look at it.
0:04
Just sad. And trust me, I've been there
0:07
more times than I want to admit. If your
0:10
filidendrin's looking more hospital ward
0:13
than Pinterest goals, you're probably
0:15
making one of the nine mistakes I'm
0:17
about to show you. Too much water, not
0:20
enough, wrong pot. Yeah, all that stuff
0:24
actually matters. And some of it might
0:26
surprise you. So before you lose another
0:29
leaf or worse the whole plant, let's
0:32
break down the most common filidendrin
0:34
care mistakes people are still making
0:36
this year. No judgment, just real talk.
0:40
You ever pick a pot just because it
0:42
looks nice? Yeah, I've done that, too.
0:45
But if your filidendrron's sitting in a
0:47
container with no drainage holes, it's
0:50
basically drowning with no way out.
0:52
Picture this. You water it like usual,
0:55
walk away feeling good, but underneath
0:58
those roots are just stewing in stale
1:00
water. Fast forward a few days and bam,
1:04
yellow leaves, mushy stems, root rot
1:07
creeping in like it owns the place. I
1:09
had this sleek ceramic pot once. Looked
1:12
amazing, but the plant hated it. I
1:15
didn't even realize how bad it was until
1:17
I tipped it over and got hit with that
1:19
swampy smell. Now I drill holes in the
1:23
bottom or just use a nursery pot inside
1:25
the pretty one. Trust me, your plant
1:28
cares way more about airflow and
1:30
drainage than how chic the container
1:32
looks. I used to think any bag of dirt
1:35
from the store was good enough. Soil is
1:37
soil, right? Wrong. Planting your
1:40
filidendrin in heavy compact potting
1:42
soil is like wrapping its roots in a wet
1:44
blanket and hoping for the best. These
1:47
plants want to breathe, not sit in mud.
1:51
I remember scooping out some bargain
1:52
brand mix that basically turned into
1:55
concrete after one good watering. The
1:58
water just sat there like a mini swamp
2:00
on top and the roots underneath were
2:02
basically suffocating.
2:04
Now I mix in perlite or orchid bark,
2:07
sometimes even a little cocoa choir to
2:10
keep things airy and loose. Once I
2:13
switched to a chunky, well- draining
2:14
mix, my plant actually started pushing
2:16
out new growth like it was finally free.
2:20
Don't make your filidendrin fight the
2:21
soil. It should feel like home, not
2:24
quicksand.
2:26
I get it. Watering feels like love,
2:28
right? You see a leaf droop a little and
2:31
suddenly you're standing there with the
2:33
watering can like a hero. But with
2:35
filidendrrons, overwatering is the
2:38
silent killer. I used to think more
2:41
water meant more growth, but all it did
2:43
was turn my healthy plant into a soggy
2:46
mess. The leaves got yellow, the stems
2:50
got soft, and one day I pulled it out to
2:52
check the roots, and it was straight up
2:54
mush. What I didn't realize was these
2:57
plants like to dry out a bit between
2:59
drinks. Now, I stick my finger in the
3:02
soil or lift the pot to check the weight
3:04
before I water. If it still feels heavy,
3:07
I back off. And ever since I started
3:10
waiting until the top inch or two is
3:12
dry, I haven't had a single yellow leaf
3:15
freak out. Overwatering doesn't show up
3:18
instantly. It sneaks up on you. So,
3:21
learn your plant's rhythm and stop
3:23
treating it like a cactus with trust
3:24
issues.
3:26
I used to think more light meant better
3:28
growth. So, I parked my filidendrin
3:31
right next to a big sunny window, front
3:34
row seat, full blast. Bad move.
3:38
Within days, those deep green leaves
3:40
started looking crispy around the edges,
3:43
like they'd been toasted. Filidendrrons
3:45
aren't sunbathers. They're shade lovers
3:48
born under tree canopies, not on a beach
3:50
towel. Bright indirect light is the
3:54
sweet spot. Think filtered sun, not a
3:57
spotlight. I ended up moving mine a few
4:00
feet back where the lights still strong
4:02
but not harsh, and it bounced back like
4:04
it never happened. If the leaves start
4:07
fading, curling, or getting those weird
4:10
bleached patches, it's probably getting
4:12
scorched. Direct sun might be great for
4:15
your mood, but for your filidendrin,
4:18
it's just too much drama.
4:20
I had this idea that filidendrrons were
4:23
basically vampires. Like, throw them in
4:25
a dark corner and they'll be fine. So, I
4:28
stuck mine in this shady little nook by
4:30
the couch where no natural light ever
4:33
touched. And surprise, it started
4:35
stretching like it was begging for
4:37
sunlight. The leaves got smaller, the
4:40
stems got leggy, and it just looked
4:42
tired, like it had given up. These
4:45
plants might tolerate low light, but
4:47
they don't like it. They still need some
4:50
brightness to thrive, just not the harsh
4:52
kind. I moved mine closer to a window
4:55
with a sheer curtain, and the difference
4:58
was wild. New growth, fuller leaves, a
5:01
whole attitude shift. Don't let your
5:03
plant live in the shadows. It's not a
5:05
mushroom. So, there was this one time I
5:08
thought I'd give my filidendrin a little
5:10
growth boost. And uh let's just say I
5:13
got carried away with the fertilizer. I
5:15
figured more food equals more leaves,
5:17
right? Nope. What I ended up with was a
5:21
plant that looked like it got hit by
5:23
chemical warfare, crispy leaf tips,
5:25
weird spotting, and just overall bad
5:28
vibes. Filidendrrons aren't heavy
5:30
feeders. They're more like casual
5:32
snackers. A gentle feeding once a month
5:35
during the growing season is plenty. And
5:38
even then, I usually dilute it to half
5:40
strength. I learned the hard way that
5:42
dumping in extra nutrients doesn't speed
5:45
things up. It just stresses the plant
5:48
out. It's like force-feeding someone
5:50
five protein shakes a day when all they
5:52
needed was a light salad. Keep it simple
5:55
and your plant will thank you. I didn't
5:58
think much of it at first. I had my
6:00
filidendrin chilling near the front
6:02
door. looked good. Plenty of light. But
6:05
then winter rolled in, and every time
6:08
that door opened, a cold blast hit it
6:10
right in the face. The leaves started
6:13
curling. Some turned yellow. And one
6:16
even dropped off like it had given up on
6:18
life. Drafts, whether it's from an AC
6:21
vent, a window crack, or a door you use
6:24
a lot, mess with the plant's vibe big
6:26
time. Filerendrrons like stable, cozy
6:30
temps. Not surprised, gusts of cold air
6:33
or dry heat blasting from a vent. I
6:36
ended up moving mine to a spot away from
6:38
all the action, and it perked up like it
6:40
could finally breathe. Lesson learned.
6:43
Your plant's not a fan of drama,
6:46
especially the kind that comes with
6:47
fluctuating temperatures.
6:50
One day, I noticed these tiny little
6:52
dots on a leaf. Thought it was just dust
6:54
or maybe water spots. No big deal. A
6:58
week later, the plant looked like it had
7:00
been through a battle. Spidermites, meie
7:02
bugs, you name it. They were throwing a
7:05
full-on party. The thing is, pests don't
7:08
show up with flashing signs. They sneak
7:11
in quiet and slow, and by the time you
7:13
notice the damage, they've already set
7:15
up camp. Now, I make it a habit to check
7:18
the unders sides of leaves when I water.
7:20
Just a quick scan. If I spot anything
7:23
weird, I jump on it fast with neem oil
7:26
or insecttoidal soap before it turns
7:28
into a full infestation.
7:30
Ignoring those early signs is like
7:32
leaving your front door open and
7:34
wondering why raccoons showed up. Don't
7:36
wait for a plant emergency. Catch it
7:38
early and keep your filidendrin
7:40
pestfree.
7:42
I used to think wilting was just the
7:44
plant's polite way of saying, "Hey, I'm
7:46
thirsty." So, I'd wait for that dramatic
7:48
leaf droop before giving it a drink.
7:51
Turns out by the time your filidendrin
7:53
is wilting, it's already stressed out
7:55
and not in a good way. It's kind of like
7:58
waiting until your phone dies before
8:00
charging it every time. Sure, it works,
8:02
but long-term not great. That constant
8:06
dehydration messes with the roots, slows
8:09
down growth, and can even lead to leaf
8:11
drop. Now, I check the soil before it
8:14
gets to that point. Stick a finger in,
8:16
or better yet, lift the pot and feel the
8:19
weight. Once the top couple inches are
8:22
dry, that's the signal. Waiting for
8:25
wilting is reactive care. Your plant
8:27
deserves better than being on the edge
8:29
of collapse just to get your attention.
8:32
All right, so if your filidendrin's been
8:35
throwing attitude lately, chances are
8:37
you're making one of these mistakes
8:39
without even knowing it. Fix a few of
8:41
these and you'll see it bounce back like
8:43
it just got a new lease on life. Thanks
8:46
for hanging out. Go check on your plant
8:48
and I'll catch you in the next one.
#Home & Garden