The Philodendron Burle Marx is named after Roberto Burle Marx, an architect who was the first to use this tropical plant in a home design. Burle Marx is popular for its curb appeal and ease of growth, even for beginners.
The Philodendron Burle Marx originated from the Araceae family, a shrub known for its heart shape and narrow leaves.
Burle Marx has gloomy, dark leaves with a texture like every other Philodendron plant, mimicking the exotic and jungle-like foliage. Its rich texture helps the plant adapt quickly to different environments.
Burle Marx’s reddish color stem is fun-looking and adds to its unique and tropical vibes.
This plant can grow in different areas and directions based on preference.
Philodendron Burle Marx thrives in an optimal-growing environment, so even the impatient gardener can enjoy a rapidly-grown plant on time.
Like every other philodendron, the Burle Marx has been popular since the Victorian era. Their beauty, propagation, and ease of growth are reasons the Philodendron has been a popular plant to grow.
Apart from these traits, it’s also known to help eliminate toxins in the air.
keep in mind that Burle Marx has excess calcium oxalate crystals, which may affect the human immune system, so it’s a good idea to keep this plant away from children and pets.
Anyone looking for a smaller houseplant to grow will love the Philodendron Burle Marx. While some Philodendrons can grow up to 6 feet tall, the Burle Max usually grows at a maximum height of 2 feet and width of 2-4 feet.
Philodendron Burle Marx Care
While Philodendrons don’t require too much maintenance, they thrive under a certain growing environment.
Light requirement
The Philodendron Burle Marx thrives on bright and indirect light. it can also survive under low light, but the plant will experience stunted growth.
Exposing the plant to direct sunlight can leave black scorch marks on the leaves, turn them yellow, or even burn the leaves.
To expose the plant to indirect light, place it in a position with a north or east-facing window.
Water requirements
The water requirements of the Philodendron Burle Marx are similar to other Philodendrons.
The goal is to maintain the soil moisture and find the right balance.
It’s important not to drench the soil or dry it out. Overwatering the plant can set it at risk of diseases like root rot or complete plant damage.
Once you notice that the plant is getting overwatered, take it out and check the extent of root damage.
If a small part of the root is damaged, prune the area using a sterilized pruning tool.
There’s little to be done if most of the root is already affected.
Water requirements differ throughout seasons. During summer and spring, water it regularly ( often once per week) to retain its moisture. During winter, make sure the plant dries out before watering it.
Soil requirements
Philodendron Burle Marx requires well-draining soil to remove excess water from the pot. This helps prevent the build-up of extra moisture. Excess water in the soil will stop oxygen from reaching the roots, causing root rot.
Root rot is a severe condition that occurs when a plant root starts to rot. It causes the root to turn black or brown, creating mildew or a rotting smell.
This condition can destroy the plant if it spreads before it is stopped. So use quality soil. The Philodendron Burle Marx doesn’t need organic soil. They love organic material. Using sphagnum peat moss as the soil helps prevent excess moisture from overwatering.
Peat-perlite is another excellent option, which works fine, like peat moss. Avoid clay or clay-like material because they cannot hold the required amount of water for the plant.
The soil’s PH level should be between 5.6-6.5, which is either acidic or mildly acidic.
Temperature and Humidity
The Philodendron Burle Marx thrives under room temperature between 60-75°F. They’re also more tolerant to low-temperature conditions than most houseplants.
The temperature shouldn’t be below 50°F or exposed to frost because it can affect plant growth. The Philodendron Burle Marx thrives more in higher humidity. While the plant can also survive under lower humidity, its growth may be stunted.
They won’t thrive at all if they’re under dehydrated air conditions. There are specific steps you can take to maintain proper air moisture that represents the tropical climate where the plant thrives.
- Use a humidifier to improve the humidity level in the plant location. Keep in mind that this can be expensive.
- Use a bottle to mist the leaves. When the water evaporates, it forms moisture around the plant. Controlling the humidity can be easier if you can measure it correctly using other tools.
An affordable method of increasing humidity level is to use a pebble tray.
Fill the tray with pebbles and add water. Ensure that the water level almost reaches the top but not above the stones. Place the plant on the tray top so evaporating air will enter the plant directly.
Fertilizer
When it comes to fertilization, a slow-release or an all-purpose fertilizer used at half-strength is a good choice for this plant.
Regardless of the brand of fertilizer used, prioritize a fertilizer that contains high nitrogen amounts. Nitrogen helps the Philodendron Burle Marx grow and glow.
Fertilize the plant once per week when it is growing. Remember that the Philodendron Burle Marx are heavy feeders. In colder months, fertilize the plant once per month or postpone fertilization until the next growing season.
Water the plant before fertilizing, as the soil must be moist. If the soil is fertilized when it’s dry, it can cause damage to the root.
The Philodendron Burle Marx can survive without fertilizer, but it’s best to fertilize the plant if you want it to reach its best potential. Not fertilizing the plant will reduce its growth or increase its susceptibility to diseases, but it won’t stop it from growing after all.
Potting and repotting
When the root starts compacting and becoming a ball, it’s time to repot the plant. When this occurs, the plant’s root does not have enough time to stretch and grow. The best time to repot the Philodendron Burle Marx is before the start of the growing season.
When repotting the Philodendron Burle Marx, the new pot should only be 2 inches bigger than the former one.
Propagation
The Philodendron Burle Marx can be planted by seed or through propagation. To propagate the plant, there are two options to choose from.
Stem-cutting option
The stem-cutting method includes the following:
- Before cutting, be cautious about the optimum stem cutting for your plant. It’s usually 2-4 inches long and cut below its leaf node. Use isopropyl alcohol to sterilize the pruning shears before collecting the stem cutting.
- Once the stem cutting is done, the next step is to cut it. Please keep it in a warm room for up to 10 days. During this time, the cutting’s end will be callous. This is a sign that the cutting will root when planted.
- As the cutting is curing, prepare the soil and pot ready. We recommend using sphagnum peat moss for soil and a pot with drainage holes.
At the end of the curing period, plant the stem cutting. Make a hole a few inches deep using your finger, put the stem cutting into the hole, and pack soil around it.
If the stem cutting isn’t upright, tie it to a straw to provide support. The pot should face the north or east window. Then water and fertilize as you would with the mother plant.
The stem cutting will start rooting after a month or two.
Air layering option
When it comes to the air layering process, here’s what to do:
- Use a sharp isopropyl alcohol sterilized knife to wound the mother plant. Once ready, cut a 2 inches long wound to the plant stem.
- Then, take a toothpick, push the toothpick through the wound, and position it so it doesn’t close. The wound must be open and accessible.
- Get a handful of moistened peat moss and rub it around the stem and wound.
- Tie a string around the stem and peat moss to hold the wound if the peat moss doesn’t stick. Skip this process if the peat moss sticks to the wound.
- Wrap a plastic wrap around the stem of the plant, then wound. Ensure they’re wrapped tightly but slightly loosed so that oxygen can enter. But if the wrap doesn’t stick, use duct tape.
- While waiting for the root to grow, prepare the soil and plant pot.
- Use properly draining soil with drainage holes.
- Within three weeks, roots will start growing from the peat moss and wound.
- When roots reach 3 inches in height, remove the plant from the mother plant, and cut below and above the peat moss.
- Then carefully remove the plastic wrap to prevent injuring the new plant’s roots. Next is to plant the new Philodendron Burle Marx. Confirm that the root is under the soil so that it can expand properly.
Philodendron Burle Marx Problems
Although this plant is easy to maintain, it’s normal to encounter a few minor problems that can be prevented and treated.
Pest infestation
One of the most common pests is the thrip, a small creature that looks like a tiny thread. Thrips can fly using their weak wings. But they don’t fly long distances as they hover for seconds before moving down.
This pest steals sap by piercing its mouth through the plants( just like when sipping from a straw). This can cause a problem for the plant since they rely on the sap to carry nutrients and water.
Another common pest of the Philodendron Burle Marx is the mealybug, which is a weird-looking waxy bug wrapped in cotton-like substances. The substance protects their incredibly soft body. A mealybug infestation is visible when you see cotton around the plant’s leaves. Use Neem oil to prevent and get rid of the mealybugs.
Brown leaves
Brown leaves can be caused by overwatering or lack of humidity. if the plant has adapted to the lower humidity levels, leave this reason out. If the soil is not drenched, rule out this reason too.
Another reason for Browning leaves due to the build-up of salt in the soil.
During fertilization, salt is added to the soil. After several feedings, it can result in excess salt, which can affect plant health. You can remove the salt with a monthly salt flush or as needed.
Wilting leaves
When the plant’s leaves start wilting, it’s a sign of underwatering. When a plant is underwatered, it becomes dehydrated. Being deprived of water, it must survive and go through photosynthesis.
Underwater and overwatering also have similar results. You can know that your leaves wilt from underwatering by cross checking the soil.
If the soil is dry up to inches deep, the plant isn’t getting sufficient moisture.
Remedy this error by watering the plant regularly and then checking the soil every four days to monitor the effect of the watering.
It’s best to have a watering schedule according to the season.
Wrapping up
The Philodendron Burle Marx is popular for its aesthetics, adaptation, and ease of maintenance. It comes in slender and heart-shaped leaves with a tropical vibe. The plant thrives under proper watering, bright, indirect light, and frequent fertilization because they’re heavy feeders.
Philodendron Burle Marx grows quickly, although at a maximum of 2 feet high.
We hope this Philodendron Burle Marx guide provides enough information on the plant and how to grow it.
