Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole is a rare, climbing houseplant native to most likely Ecuador. It has lovely, heart-shaped matter green leaves whose red-tinged petioles have hard tubercles, making them fuzzy.
It is a low-maintenance or easy-to-care-for plant, like most other Philodendron species. Also, it will purify the air and give your home or office that alluring tropical vibe.
Discover more on Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole, including its appearance (mature and juvenile), care (watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, feeding, etc.), and how to propagate it. Also, we will attempt to compare philodendron nangaritense and Fuzzy Petiole to help you tell them apart.
About Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole
Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole is a cultivar, hybrid, undescribed species, the same as or variant of Philodendron nangaritense, an unpublished species. It gets the name Fuzzy Petiole from most likely the hard tubercles on the petiole that makes it fuzzy like Philodendron Squamiferum Poepp.
- Name: Philodendron ‘Fuzzy Petiole’
- Other names: Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron, Philodendron nangaritense ‘Fuzzy Petiole’
- Family: Araceae
- Native habitat: Probably Ecuador
- Care level: Easy or low maintenance
- Toxicity: Mildly to moderately toxic to humans, cats, and dogs since it has insoluble calcium oxalates.
Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron description
P. Fuzzy Petiole is a climbing, evergreen houseplant that often grows bushily. It has a moderate growth rate, and mature plants can get 4 to 6 feet tall or more if you give it a place to climb.
Juvenile plants will have smaller oval leaves with shorter petioles. In contrast, mature Philodendron Fuzzy Petioles plants have large, heart-shaped green leaves with sunken/quilted primary lateral veins giving them a rippled appearance. These leaves are said to grow larger, but most of the specimens we have seen have leaves measuring about 15 inches long by 12 inches wide.
One unique thing about this Philo is its reddish-tinged petiole with hard tubercles that make it fuzzy. Also, new leaves emerge with a bronzish pink color but will gradually turn green as they hard.
Lastly, this plant has stems with short internodes, aerial roots on the internodes, and reddish cataphylls.
Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole vs. nangaritense
P. Fuzzy Petiole and Philodendron nangaritense closely resemble each other, including foliage and petioles with hard tubercles that make them fuzzy and reddish cataphylls.
Many people, including plant vendors, often confuse these two. Some even sell one as the other or label them both as Philodendron nangaritense and Philodendron Fuzzy Petioles.
We cannot with certainty confirm if these plants are the same species or not. Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole may be a cultivar, hybrid, a tissue-cultured form of nangaritense, or a separate species.
However, these two plants have some slight differences, which, unless we see flowers, may not be sufficient to say whether they are different plant species. These differences include the following:
Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole has smaller, less glossy, or matte dark green leaves that are more intricate and densely quilted (has sunken primary lateral veins) with a wider sinus. In contrast, P. nangaritense has larger, much rounder, glossier, light to lime green leaves with a less quilted surface.
Also, if you check on the underside, P. Fuzzy Petiole has more visible veins, while in nangaritense, they are less visible and intricate.
The other difference is that newly emerging leaves have a weak pinkish-purple hint on the P. Fuzzy Petiole (some may be green). In contrast, nangaritense is intensely pinkish, including on the petioles.
Considering the petioles, Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole has fancier and fuzzier hard tubercles than nangaritense, whose tubercles are whitish or have whitish tips and are less fancy.
Lastly, Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole grows as a climbing plant while Philodendron nangaritense grows like a creeping plant, more like Philodendron gloriosum, plowmanii or mamei.
Caring for your Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole
Grow Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole in a warm, humid area with bright, indirect light. The potting mix should be airy, well-drained, and rich in humus, and you should water this plant when the top few inches of the potting mix feel dry.
That is not all. This plant needs feeding, repotting, pruning, and a moss pole to climb.
Here are the Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole care and growth requirements:
1. Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole light, temperature, and humidity
Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole grows optimally in a warm (55-80°F), humid (60% relative humidity or more) place with bright, indirect light. Avoid abrupt temperatures, cold drafts, or areas near heat sources/vents, including appliances that emit heat. They will stress these plants and cause leaf discoloration (yellowing or browning).
This plant can grow in medium light. Avoid direct sunlight as it will cause sunburn. And if your house has too little light, consider investing in grow lights. Otherwise, your plant will grow slowly, be leggy, and have paler new leaves or growth.
While it prefers high, the Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron can withstand normal household humidity, 40% or more. However, if your humidity is too low, get a humidifier, make a pebble tray or mist your plant, among other ways to raise humidity.
Lastly, if you grow this plant outdoors (USDA hardiness zone 10-11), select a shaded area (50%) and move the plant indoors when the temperature goes below 50°F.
2. Which is the best P. Fuzzy Petiole Soil?
The soil for Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron should be well-drained, airy, and rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic to nearly neutral pH. These plants are not fussy and can grow even in peat moss alone.
I grow my plant in an aroid mix I bought from Etsy.com. However, if you don’t prefer buying it, you can make your aroid mix by adding perlite, coco coir (peat moss), bark chips, and compost (worm castings) to 50% potting soil.
3. How to properly water your P. Fuzzy Petiole
I thoroughly water this plant when the potting mix feels dry past the first finger knuckle or when my XLUX moisture meter reads dry (3 or less). Don’t follow schedules given online, as your plant size, pot size or type, conditions, season, etc., affect water needs.
When watering, slowly saturate the soil until excess water flows from drainage holes. After 15 minutes, discard any that collects on the saucer.
4. How do I feed this aroid
This aroid is a moderate feeder. I usually feed it once a month with a balanced like NPK 10:10:10, 15:15:15, 20:20:20, etc., liquid houseplant fertilizer during the growing months. Bonide NPK 10:10:10 is perfect, but if you prefer Miracle Gro 1:1:1, feed a bit more often as it is less dilute.
I have experimented with other brands, including slow-release or those not balanced. Most work perfectly well but ensure they are for indoor or potted houseplants.
5. More care needs
- Pruning: Regularly check for and remove any dead, damaged, or diseased leaves, and during growing months, you can cut back a few stems to control the shape and encourage your plant to be bushy. Use sterilized gardening scissors.
- Repotting: I repot this plant every two years or if rootbound (roots growing from drainage holes or circling inside the pot).
- Moss pole: Since it is a climber, I recommend you provide and train your plant on a moss pole, trellis, totem, or any other vertical climbing surface.
How to propagate Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole
Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole propagation is by stem cutting in water or soil. You can also use air layering if you don’t mind aesthetics.
Stem-cutting propagation in water and soil is straightforward. I prefer water as it gives me a chance to see roots growing. But unlike soil, cuttings don’t get nutrients and will suffer more shock when transplanted.
Here is how to propagate this Philo in water:
a). What you need
- A glass jar
- Gardening scissors
- Rooting hormone. Not mandatory, but it will speed rooting. We have had a good experience with HydroDynamics Clonex Rooting Gel.
- 70-99% rubbing alcohol or any other sterilizing agent.
b). Steps to follow
- Identify a healthy, mature stem with at least two nodes and cut below the lower node with your sterilized gardening scissors. If it has more than two leaves, snip off the lower ones.
- Apply rooting hormone on the cut end, i.e., nodes that will go into the water.
- Fill your glass jar with water and dip the cutting, ensuring at least a node is under water. However, don’t submerge leaves as they will rot.
- Place the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light.
- Refill the water when the level falls and change it after 4-5 days.
You will notice roots growing from the nodes in the water after a few weeks. Wait until they are long enough and the plant has new growth before transplanting it.
Issues and problems
I haven’t had any specific issue specific to this aroid except for one instance of root rot when I keep overwatering this plant. Pest and diseases are uncommon indoors.
However, if grown in the wrong conditions or given improper care, issues like your plant drooping, the leaves curling, or leaf discoloration (turning yellow, brown, or black, including spots) may arise.
Where to buy Philodendron Fuzzy Petiole
Etsy.com is one place I would recommend you buy your Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron. People in the US and those outside (Canada, Asia, Australia, the UK, and the rest of Europe) will get vendors. Also, the prices are awesome.
Facebook, Instagram, and eBay are good alternatives to Etsy.com. Also, you can search on Google to see any vendor near you. I bet you will get several online vendors.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The Fuzzy Petiole Philodendron is rare but not as rare as it was a few years ago. More and more vendors now have it, and you won’t fail to get on, especially online. However, none of the big box stores or large-scale horticulturalists have it.
P. Fuzzy Petiole’s price ranges from $25 to $120, depending on size and where you buy it. However, most vendors sell their plants at $30 to $60 with starter, unrooted or rooted cuttings costing less than $25.
Yes. P. Fuzzy Petiole is a climbing plant. Therefore, always provide and train it on a climbing surface like a moss pole, trellis, totem, etc.