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make philo cultivar has been quite the rage in recent ten , providing us with many spectacular new breed .
One of these is Philodendron ( fil - Buckeye State - DEN - dron ) ‘ Rojo Congo , ’ a crossbreeding between Philodendron Imperial Red and Philodendron tatei .
Photo Credit: @kidda_kampanat
It was first created in 1996 by Marian Wincenty Osiecki and formally patented in 2003 to Oglesby Plants International , Inc. of Altha , Florida , under the name Philodendron ‘ Rojo Congo ’ ( patent of invention no . PP14116 ) .
While the official name is ‘ Rojo Congo , ’ it is more popularly known as ‘ Congo Rojo ’ but may also be refer to as Congo red , Philodendron ’ Red Congo , ’ and red philodendron .
The Spanish term “ Rojo ” bring up to the typical red tint of its young leaves .
Philodendron ‘Congo Rojo’ Care
Size And Growth
This industrial plant is officially described as being ego - maneuver but also “ mostly upright , ” mean you may still bid to provide some support if you wish for it to achieve the maximum potential height .
This confusion has lead to many site describing the plant life as self - heading while others describe it as a climber . Neither description is technically wrong , and your mileage may vary .
Under optimal condition , ‘ Congo Rojo ’ is a dissolute grower that can achieve a shrublike sizing of up to 10 ’ substructure tall and wide .
Of naturally , the real show is in the leafage , which initially unfurl into a shade that resembles a mix of brown , maroon , purple , and dark-green with slim variation in hue .
The leathery , glossy folio are crooked and broadly ovate , reaching most 18 ” inch tenacious and around 11.8 ” inches spacious .
As they mature , the leaves turn to a more traditional drear green color on top and a brownish - green on the underside .
The upper leave will have a more vertical growth habit , while dispirited leaves tend to be more horizontal .
The midrib can vary in shades of gullible , while the elemental veins lean to be slenderly lighter .
For more info on how this cultivar differs from other , similar philodendron cultivars , please refer to thepatent verbal description .
Flowering And Fragrance
As with most philodendrons , getting this plant to blossom indoors is almost unacceptable .
When it does , it ’s an mundane group of 1 to 3 blank inflorescences that are almost entirely becloud by the foliage .
As this plant is a cultivar , there ’s no value in the florescence or their seeds , so you will likely want to remove the blooms if they seem to boost plant increase .
Light And Temperature
Bright , indirect illumination is the secret to this works ’s achiever .
While verbatim sun can easy singe the leaves , the brighter light encourages emergence and in force colouration .
verbatim morning or eve sunlight with good afternoon shade is a good choice .
However , the plant can also grow under adequate stilted lighting , and some growers prefer to keep the plant in light shade conditions , leave in a small , more compendious plant .
notation : The Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando , has some beautiful specimen .
‘ Congo Rojo ’ will exhibit healthy emergence with humidity levels as low as 45 % to 50 % pct but will thrive at 70 % percent or higher .
Be certain to give it a pebble tray or humidifier , especially during the wintertime months .
While cold - sensitive , Congo red is a minuscule more tolerant than many other philodendrons but can not address anything under 54 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
idealistic temperature are around 68 ° to 78 ° degree Fahrenheit during the day and about 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit at dark .
Avoid exposure to drafts or other sudden temperature chemise .
The ideal station to grow this industrial plant outdoors is in USDA hardiness geographical zone 12 , but there have been some claim of success in zones 9b and warmer with adequate protective covering from the common cold .
Watering And Feeding
Do n’t consider what other site tell you when they say this plant is operose to originate because most will give away their true difficulty when it comes to lacrimation .
A simple pro tip is to NEVER water plants on a docket , as this can easy lead to overwatering or underwatering .
Do YOU drink specific amounts of water at specific time per day ? Neither does your plant .
rather , use the soakage - and - juiceless method by stay put your finger in the soil .
This ensures the dirt is equally moist but not wet .
There is always some debate on whether a plant is a luminosity or heavy feeder , but this plant is a somewhat sluttish feeder despite some claims to the contrary .
Here are the following tips for feeding :
Soil And Transplanting
A light , well - draining stain is perfect for this cultivar .
Cactus potting mixes are popular , peculiarly with a bit of supply perlite .
you may also use pure sphagnum moss or an equal mixing of peat moss , vermiculite , or perlite .
However , a popular soilless recipe take :
Terra cotta or ceramic container tend to be heavy but will be more attractive and more good for the plant since they ’re less potential to tip over .
However , you will involve to graduate a tummy size larger in the spring if you see roots start to dig out of the drainage holes or grime surface .
During this time , make trusted to give it a fresh batch of your potting medium .
Even when fully get , you ’ll need to repot the plant every 2 to 3 years to ensure it has a impertinent potting sensitive .
Grooming And Maintenance
Pruning is seldom necessary , with the primary reason for shaping or removing diseased or heavily damaged leaves .
In many cases , growers will only dress a leaf to get rid of brown tips , following the natural material body of the folio .
You will want to pass over down the leave once or doubly per hebdomad to remove any dust .
How To Propagate Congo Red?
It can be problematic to spread ‘ Congo Rojo ’ , as the stem usually lacks obvious nodes .
However , once fledged , it will get plantlets at its root word , and it ’s also possible to use shank cuttings or air layering with a minute of patience .
mark that it is illegal to propagate for distribution or sales agreement as a patented works without permission from the patent of invention holder .
Red Philodendron Pests Or Diseases
Philodendrons are known for being resistant to most pests and diseases , specially cultivars .
‘ Rojo Congo ’ is no exception , with the most uncouth risks including :
As is the type with all philodendron , the plant life has in high spirits stratum of Ca oxalate , making it toxic to both humans and deary .
Some someone may also have an allergic chemical reaction to the sap of this special cultivar .
Philodendron ‘Rojo Congo’ Uses
This is n’t a pocket-size plant by any mean value , although growers have reported size of it as small as 4 ’ feet tall when continue in low - light precondition .
This smaller size is expert for table or shelves .
Meanwhile , the full - size plant can be used as an outdoor bush or attracter in larger areas such as lobbies .
They can also make sheer statements in offices with enough space to let them thrive .
