How To Grow & Care For Philodendron Ring of Fire

This guide will give you the information you need to know about growing and caring a Philodendron Ring of Fire including Light, Temperature, Water, Humidity, Soil Requirements and Repotting Needs.

Philodendron Ring of Fire Classification

BOTANICAL NAME	Philodendron Ring of Fire
PLANT FAMILY	Araceae
BLOOM TYPE	Spring and Summer
LEAF COLOR	Various Colors
MATURE SIZE	8 Feet Tall
NATIVE AREAS	Central and South America
SUN EXPOSURE	Moderate Light
SOIL TYPE	Moist with Good Drainage
SOIL pH	6.1-6.5
TOXICITY	Kids and Pets

Why is the Philodendron Ring of Fire Expensive and Rare?

The Ring of Fire is a philodendron plant hybrid. This was formerly known as Henderson's Pride, though its exact lineage is unclear. The plant with that name has different, more striate-leaved leaves without vibrant coloration. Even by philodendron standards, it grows slowly because it is a hybrid and can only be reproduced through propagation methods.

This plant is uncommon in the industry due to its slow growth and requirement for manual propagation. Because it can exhibit up to five different colors, it is also among the most lovely and attractive of all variegated plants. When the right circumstances are present, it can fill in vast areas with vivid pops of color.

The Philodendron Ring of Fire is a desirable variety even if it were more widely available, but its scarcity only increases its value.

Philodendron Ring of Fire Care Basics

The slow-growing tropical beauty is worth waiting for to reach maturity. When cared for, it has some attractive features and prefers rich organic soil with moderate humidity. It climbs walls and brings good energy into your house.

Best Potting Mix

Because it absorbs all the nutrients from the wet ground and requires constant moisture, your Ring of Fire loves organic soils. An aroid mixture is suitable because it allows enough air to pass through and does not hold back water.

Use a burlap-wrapped pole or add a mossy post for it to climb. Some of the Philodendron Ring of Fire variegated species may prefer an acidic 6.1 to 6.5 soil, as you may discover. Others, in contrast, thrive in neutral 6.6 to 7.3 ground.

Maintaining a moist but not soggy surface is crucial, and the ground cannot be sandy.

• Ideal Soil Conditions

A minimum of every two years, you should aim to replace the soil in your Ring of Fire plant. A fresh supply of nutrients is added and the buildup of metals and salts is removed when the substrate is changed.

The ideal soil substrate for these plants' growth is a hotly debated topic. We advise creating a special blend from ingredients that are typically on hand.

Sphagnum peat moss, coco coir, and perlite are the best potting soil ingredients for this variety of philodendron. To add a healthy dose of nutrients, you can add some well-aged compost and mulch to the mixture. You want a mixture that holds water but not an excessive amount because this plant prefers to grow in consistently moist soil.

Because it offers long-lasting nutrition and encourages easy root growth, which is necessary for growing big, vibrant plants, our combination frequently works exceptionally well for tropical plants like the Philodendron Ring of Fire.

If you provide the right soil mix and add time-release fertilizer, you won't need to use a liquid fertilizer that has been heavily diluted during the growing season.

• Choosing a Pot

The Philodendron Ring of Fire plant will thrive in nearly any container. The main thing is to select pots with plenty of drainages. To avoid overwatering, stay away from pots with integrated catch trays.

Choose a pot that is just a little bit larger than the one you were using before when you need to replace it for a growing plant. When there is too much soil, the roots may become stressed, and the extra room may lead to rot and disease.

Watering Needs

The plant is not picky and only requires watering a couple of times per month. This exotic plant is not seriously harmed by even a slight water delay. You should water it every seven to nine days when the growing season is active.

You must, however, alter your routine every two to three weeks in the winter and fall. Additionally, it depends on the season, with cooler months requiring less watering and hotter summers requiring more. Three inches of topsoil can be checked to see if it is dry to determine whether your plant needs water. Keep the soil consistently moist for your plant to thrive.

• How Much Water to Give

At all times, the soil should be kept moist, but you shouldn't allow the substrate to become soggy or muddy. Additionally, Philodendron Ring of Fire plants dislike having their leaves dry out between waterings.

The ideal balance between too much moisture and too little moisture depends on the temperature, humidity, and amount of daylight your plant receives each day.

• The Right Way to Water

As with many tropical plants, you want to avoid watering your plants to the point where the leaves are completely drenched because this can attract pests and disease.

The right way to water these plants is to slowly add water, soaking the surface entirely until water runs from the drainage holes on the bottom of the plant. Spend thirty minutes letting the plant drain. You are overwatering the plant if water is still dripping from the pot after 30 minutes.

Plan to check the soil at least every other day to ensure that it remains moist. During the growing season, these plants may need a thorough soaking every three to four days. Watering may only be necessary every two weeks during the dormant season. The first thing you should look at if you notice leaves drooping during the warm months is the soil. Your plant needs water immediately if it is dry.

• The Right Type of Water

These plants are vulnerable to damage from the chemicals used to treat tap water. Never use tap water to water plants. Water that has been distilled, filtered, or packaged is a better option. Five-gallon bottles of distilled water can frequently be filled for just a few cents.

The best solution if you must use tap water is to fill a big container with a big opening, let the water sit for 48 hours, and then drain the container. By allowing the chemicals in the water to gas off, this procedure lessens the harm that tap water causes to the plant.

• Providing the Best Temperature of Water

Give these plants warm water instead of cold. They prefer warmer temperatures, and cold water will shock the roots. The shock will stunt growth and make the plant react poorly. Even by watering with cold water, you can make leaves fall.

Before watering the plant, it is best to let the water sit on a counter for a few hours to reach the proper temperature.

Ideal Lighting

The ability of this houseplant to adjust to any lighting situation is one thing you'll notice. But it favors dappled, bright sunlight. Additionally, it can thrive in dim lighting. The Philodendron Ring of Fire can be grown in a variety of environments inside your house.

It can be hung in a hanging basket on your balcony door or planted in a pot with a climbing post. The plant thrives outdoors in a partially shaded area close to a tree, which is another awesome feature. You can put it in your home's artificial growing lights or an east or south facing window.

The plant, on the other hand, requires sunlight, but you should never expose it to direct sunlight because it will burn the leaves.

• Choosing a Location

It might be a good idea to try your plant in a window with a south or southeast exposure and keep an eye on the color of the leaves. Move the plant to a location with less direct sunlight if you see the leaves fading, becoming dull, or drooping during the day.

These plants can be gradually trained to prefer more light, but you must only move them a small distance at a time while they adjust.

• What Too Much Light is Like

Most Philodendron Ring of Fire plants sold today are produced in controlled greenhouse environments. The plants are not used to being in very bright light because they typically grow under 20 to 40 percent shade cloth. Your plant will learn to love brighter light and produce more lovely colors if you move slowly.

• Encourage Your Plant to Grow With Light

This plant won't produce as many colors or the desired level of intensity when it is grown in lower light conditions. The fact that the plant will grow more slowly in low-light conditions is another issue with insufficient lighting. You must give your plant the most light possible if you want to see the quickest, most vibrant growth.

Humidity and Temperature

Just like with watering, the Ring of Fire philodendron needs to be kept in ideally humid environments to thrive.

The tropical plant grows reasonably well in the mild temperature. They prefer temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it perfect for adding contemporary home décor. The temperatures must not fall below freezing either because doing so could kill the plant.

If your plant is outdoors, bring it inside during the winter to a warmer space. Another essential step is to keep plants away from heaters and air conditioners. The moderate humidity in your living space is ideal for it to flourish. The ideal moisture level is between 30% and 60%.

But let's say you reside in a very arid or chilly climate. The best option in that situation is to regulate the air with a humidifier. However, you can keep it moist or put it with other plants.

Growth Zone

Zones 9b to 11 are ideal for growing your Ring of Fire plants if you want to place them outside of the best locations. If you don't have a garden that is shaded or a front or backyard that is like a forest, it is best to grow it on your patio, where it will thrive in an eight-inch pot. They thrive in low-light environments but prefer bright, indirect light.

Ring of Fire can be grown as your favorite houseplant indoors, but for optimum growth, they should be in their natural habitat or in a modified tropical rainforest-style landscape. With leaves that can grow to a maximum size of 25 to 30, this plant can grow to a height of one meter (100 cm).

Fertilizer

For the Philodendron Ring of Fire to be healthy enough, fertilization is required. You only need to perform this a few times a year, and not frequently. Using an excellent fertilizer designed for the species, you can repeat it three times.

Before feeding the soil, make sure it's moist. You can use fertilizer with either a slow or an instant release, but the former is preferable. The spring and summer growing seasons are the ideal times to do this.

Propagation

Propagating your Ring of Fire is not ard and done as follow:

• Start by making your potting mix with the right proportions and components.
• Cut the stem up to eight inches long with a gardening knife that has been disinfected. Picking one with at least two leaf nodes is best.
• Cut the ends of the stem, insert them in the solution, and use a rooting hormone.
• Placing the stem in your moist soil mixture.
• Your plant should be in sunlight, but not in direct sunlight.
• Gently tug on your plant to feel for resistance to determine if it is developing roots.

The only thing left to do now is wait patiently for your plant to grow, which can take up to three weeks and requires a lot of attention to avoid becoming ill.

The best way to get more Ring of Fire plants is through propagation. This is a slow process that frequently fails to function properly. One of the factors contributing to their high cost and rarity is their difficulty in propagation.

When propagating these plants, take your time; doing so will increase your chances of success. To promote root growth, experts strongly advise using rooting hormone.

– Stem Cutting Method

The method of propagation is stem cutting. A healthy, developing stem with numerous leaves will be chosen. Cut the stem just below a leaf node with a pair of clean, sharp scissors. Cut two or three leaves from the cutting, and then immediately dunk them in the rooting powder.

Make a hole deep enough to fit the cutting in a small pot filled with the proper kind of potting soil. To ensure that the roots are completely covered, firmly press the cutting into the soil and lightly press the potting mix. The cutting should be covered with a plastic bag after being thoroughly watered.

Check the cutting every two or three days to make sure it doesn't dry up. With the cutting you made, you ought to start seeing new growth in about a month. Typically, if your cutting won't survive, it will pass away within a few days.

– Air Layering

This method will work but requires mature, exceptionally healthy plants to be successful. Aerial roots will begin to form as the epiphytic stems develop.

You can cover these roots in peat moss that has been thoroughly moistened and then cover the layer with plastic cling wrap. Make sure the moss remains moist by checking it every two to three days. Within three weeks, the aerial roots will establish themselves in the moss. Cutting the stem and planting the cuttings in the appropriate soil type in a pot are all that are required once the roots have developed.

When the humidity, light, and temperature are just right, these plants only produce aerial roots. Your plant is struggling to survive if it has been around for a while and isn't developing aerial roots. Make sure the plant is not being adversely affected by sudden temperature changes and consider increasing humidity, light, or watering frequency.

Potting and Repotting

If you notice the plant budding outside of the container, it is root-bound and needs to be replanted. You must avoid using a pot that is either too small or too big. After two to three years, you might discover that it needs to be transplanted because it grows slowly.

When you decide to move your plant, replace the existing soil with new soil and make sure the gardening equipment is clean. Although there is no set period for pruning, it must be done regularly to keep it healthy. You can do this if you see that it is outgrowing the area it is in or if the unruly leaves are turning yellow.

As an alternative, you can prune it while repotting.

Philodendron Ring of Fire Varieties and Similar Plant

The Philodendron Ring of Fire Gold, also called the Golden Ring of Fire, is a well-liked plant in the Philodendron Ring of Fire variegated species. The plant develops spectacularly colored leaves that start out yellow and eventually turn neon green.

In addition, there are vines and heart-shaped leaves on the Philodendron cream splash. It also has variegated cream-yellow leaves. The Philodendron Pink Princess is the last variety, and it has leaves that are heart-shaped and half pink and half dark green.

The plant has a stylish appearance and brings color into any house.

Blooms

Few details are known about the Philodendron Ring of Fire plant's blooms because it is primarily well-known for its distinctive and lovely leaves.

The Philodendron Ring of Fire plant has not yet been reported to be in bloom. The growing season, however, may see the production of flowers by some hybrid artificial varieties.

Growth

One of the slower Philodendron plants is the Ring of Fire variety. The outcomes, however, are worthwhile of the wait, as was already stated. The plant can reach a height of 3.3 feet (one meter). They are climbers and look stunning in floor planters or hanging from baskets.

The leaves of the Philodendron Ring of Fire are renowned for being an excellent combination of various colors.

From white to cream, from light to dark bottle green, and from orange to engine red, the leaves' hues range. These leaves have upward-pointing tips and wavy edges.

The leaves are also quite large, measuring 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) in width and 24 inches (60 cm) in length.

When grown outdoors, the Philodendron Ring of Fire plant should be grown in zones 9b to 11. Zones 4a to 11 are thought to perform better on patios, though.

In 8-inch pots, the Philodendron Ring of Fire plant is generally doing well.

Philodendron Ring of Fire Diseases & Pests

Many of the same problems that affect other houseplants also affect this one. Growing a beautiful plant requires learning to address issues before they get out of hand.

While some issues can be resolved by altering your care regimen, others might necessitate that you expend some time and effort attempting to save your Philodendron Ring of Fire.

The best thing you can do is pay attention to the growing conditions and don't deviate, which causes most of the significant troubles.

1. Pests

As a houseplant, you probably won't encounter many pests. Mealybugs and spider mites are the most common. Both insects prefer moist, humid environments, which are exactly what this plant needs to thrive.

A homemade insecticidal spray of alcohol, dish soap, and water in a spray bottle is often enough to eliminate small numbers of pests. To prevent bugs, you can also wipe the leaves or dab the insects with alcohol.

2. Disease

Philodendron plants are not typically susceptible to many common diseases. Some, like wilt, blight, and leaf spots, are typically caused by insects. Because they are relatively uncommon, these illnesses do not pose a significant problem for the typical gardener.

Root rot is another story. This fungus is widespread in moist, poorly draining soil. Your plant will start to develop yellow and mushy stems and leaves. The plant must be taken out of the pot, the soil must be removed, and the infection must be cut from the plant.

Take stem cuttings and hope for the best if the disease has engulfed the majority of the root ball.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Will My Plant's Roots Start Growing After Propagation?

The Philodendron Ring of Fire plant typically takes two to three weeks to begin to sprout roots after propagation.

What is the Best Soil for the Philodendron Ring of Fire Plant?

The Philodendron Ring of Fire prefers rich, organic soil that is moist and moist. Aroid mixtures are frequently great for Philodendrons, but they must be kept moist.

Which Pests Most Commonly Attack a Philodendron Ring of Fire Plant?

Spider mites, mealybugs, and insects that produce cobwebs are the most frequent pests of Philodendron Ring of Fire plants. Use insecticidal spray and dust frequently to lower the likelihood of an attack.

Conclusion

The bright, vivid colors and lovely foliage of this plant make it one of the best for any indoor garden area, despite the fact that its scarcity and high price make it an attraction for collectors. The Philodendron Ring of Fire is more difficult to grow than most houseplants, but it is very rewarding once it is established.