The philodendron caramel marble is known for its large, colorful leaves, which can be red, orange, or even pink. Not only is the plant sought after, but it can be very expensive, with larger plants selling for thousands. Since this stunning plant can be a big investment, it’s important to learn what it needs before you make a purchase.
In This Article
How Do You Care for a Philodendron Caramel Marble?
The philodendron caramel marble is a fairly low-maintenance plant that’s suitable for beginners. The plant is drought-tolerant and requires plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. Ideally, it should get a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day.
While it can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, it will go dormant if temperatures drop below 50 °F. It’s best suited to humid climates and temperatures between 65 and 90 °F.
Over-watering this philodendron can lead to root rot, which is why it’s best to keep the plant in well-drained soil. Wait until the soil has fully dried before watering the plant. This is a slow-growing plant, but you can boost growth and keep it healthy by fertilizing the plant every two weeks.
The philodendron caramel marble is non-toxic and can even remove toxins like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the air around you. It’s easy to care for, but there’s more you should know before you bring this plant into your home.
How Often Should You Prune a Philodendron Caramel Marble?
Although this plant is slow-growing, it can get quite large if it’s well cared for. In fact, a single leaf can grow to be more than 2 feet long!
The bright foliage is the highlight of the plant, which is why it’s best to avoid pruning unless it’s necessary. You can prune as needed to shape the plant, but you’ll want to leave most of its leaves in place. With that said, you should remove leaves that are discolored or show signs of disease right away.
How Do You Prevent Pests and Diseases?
The philodendron caramel marble doesn’t have too many threats, but it can be infested by pests. Aphids, mealybugs, and spider pests are the main pests that feed on this philodendron.
Signs of a pest infestation include yellowing or small yellow and white spots across the plant’s foliage. It’s best to treat an infestation with an insecticide. You can use a commercial insecticide or make your own by combining water, vegetable oil, and dish soap.
When it comes to disease, the biggest threat facing this plant is overwatering. Not only can too much water cause root rot, but it can increase the risk of fungal and bacterial infections. Some diseases caused by bacteria, like blight, can be fatal to the plant.
That’s why it’s best to be cautious when it’s time to water your plant. Make sure there’s not too much water on the plant’s leaves. As long as you steer clear of soggy soil and keep its leaves dry, you should be able to avoid most diseases caused by fungus and bacteria.
What Soil Is Best for a Philodendron Caramel Marble?
It’s best to use an aroid soil mix for this plant. Mixes that include orchid bark, perlite, and peet moss work very well. Orchid bark and perlite encourage drainage, which is something this plant needs to stay healthy.
Peet moss retains moisture, which means it can help keep soil moist in between waterings sessions. While you can buy a bag of aroid soil for your plant, you can also create your own custom soil blend that contains everything your it needs!
Try to avoid heavy soil mixes and choose mixes that are light instead. When soil mixes are too thick, it can be difficult for the water to drain, and it can be even harder for the roots of the plant to grow.
What Kind of Fertilizer Do You Need for a Philodendron Caramel Marble?
Fertilizer can help this plant sustain its bright and beautiful colors, but too much fertilizer can take the salt content of your soil to toxic levels. That’s why it’s best to use light layers of fertilizer to keep this philodendron well nourished.
If you opt for a liquid fertilizer, you can dilute the fertilizer before you apply it to the soil, reducing the risk of fertilizer burn. Look for a balanced fertilizer, like a 15-15-15 or a 20-20-20.
This philodendron has a growing season and a dormant season. You should try to fertilize your plant every two weeks during the growing season, but once it goes dormant, you should stop fertilizing the plant until it starts growing again.
How Do You Repot a Philodendron Caramel Marble?
It’s likely that your philodendron will outgrow its pot, especially if you start with a younger plant. To see if the plant needs to be transferred, check the bottom of the pot to see if roots are protruding from its drainage holes. If the roots are peeking out of the pot, your plant needs more room.
When you’re ready to repot, look for a pot that’s around 1 to 2 inches larger than the pot that you’re currently using. Make sure it has plenty of holes for drainage! Both plastic and clay pots can work very well.
Once your new pot has been filled with soil, you can start transferring your philodendron. To remove a plant from a plastic pot, squeeze the pot’s sides. Turn the container on its side and carefully slide the plant away from the pot. If your plant doesn’t slide free, you may need to break or cut the pot to get it out.
Check the roots of the plant for any signs of infestation or disease. Cut away any roots that look mushy or brittle. Move the plant to its new pot and backfill the pot with potting mix before watering the plant.
How Do You Propagate a Philodendron Caramel Marble?
This plant can be costly, but once you have one of your own, you can propagate it from stem cuttings. It can be propagated in water, but you can also plant your cuttings in soil.
To propagate the cutting in water, transfer it to a small container filled with water, making sure that the nodes are completely submerged. Once the plant develops roots, you can transfer it over to a pot.
If you opt to propagate it in soil, place it in a pot, burying the nodes beneath the soil. It will need plenty of water and sunlight while it adjusts to the soil!
When you propagate this plant, you should look for healthy stems with multiple nodes. Make sure that you cut the stem below the nodes. It will usually take between 3 and 4 weeks for the cutting to develop roots.
What Climate Is Best for the Philodendron Caramel Marble?
This plant is native to subtropic and tropical climates, and because of that, it’s happiest in environments with high humidity. Although it can tolerate lower humidity levels, the plant’s leaves may be less vibrant in dry air.
If humidity levels are too low, the lack of moisture in the air could even leave the plant with dry leaves. Dry leaves won’t recover, and they should be pruned from the plant right away. To prevent this, you should take steps to increase the humidity levels around your plant if you live in a drier climate.
A humidifier is an efficient option, but you can also mist your plant regularly. Just make sure you don’t let the leaves get too wet! Use room temperature water and mist early in the day so that the leaves can dry in the sun.
Why Is the Philodendron Caramel Marble So Expensive?
People are drawn to this plant because of its colorful foliage, but that quality is also responsible for its high price. It’s considered to be a variegated plant, and its multicolored leaves are actually a genetic mutation. It’s prized by collectors and is in high demand.
Another factor that makes this plant expensive is its slow growth cycle. Since the plant grows slowly, larger plants sell for a high price. Smaller plants tend to have a lower price tag.
In addition, the plant is only grown in a few regions, like Argentina and Brazil. This increases the plant’s rarity and makes it harder to obtain. Thankfully, even though it can be pricey, it isn’t too hard to add a plant like this to your collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Sources & Resources
-Philodendron Caramel Marble. (2019, November 27). Retrieved from https://www.gardenia.net/plant/philodendron-caramel-marble
-Moon Valley Nurseries. (2019, November 27). Philodendron Caramel Marble. Retrieved from https://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/plants/foliage/philodendron/philodendron-caramel-marble
-Kruljac, I., & Sedek, I. (2019). Ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties of genus Philodendron Schott (Araceae) – A review. South African Journal of Botany, 121, 398-406. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2019.06.016
-Croat, T., & Croat, E. B. (1984). Ethnobotany of Philodendron in Central America and the Caribbean Islands. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 71(3), 548-565. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/2399770?seq=1
-Wong, Y., Tan, H., & Low, K. (2015). Nutritional composition of 11 selected edible aroids from Singapore markets and their antioxidant activities in vitro . Food Chemistry, 172, 637-644. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.07.093
-Philodendron. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/plant/philodendron
