After accomplishing the pronunciation (Fi·loh·den·drun cam-POS-por-toe-AH-num) of this plant’s name, you will likely catch sight of its unique funky-shaped leaves. The Philodendron camposportoanum is a non-climbing cultivar with color-changing foliage that has become popular for decorating homes and offices.
Regarded as an easy indoor tropical plant to care for, this Philodendron species will suit even the most beginner of indoor plant owners.
Philodendrons have been a favorite of mine since day one, and I am proud to admit my assortment of varieties has taken over my living room! There is so much variation between the cultivars showcasing different shaped leaves, colors, and textures. The Philodendron camposportoanum is by far one of the most fascinating, with its velvety lobe-shaped leaves that change color. Although this plant sounds complicated, it is quite the opposite, and I have the pleasure of imparting all my info to you.
Table of Contents
- How Much Light Is Too Much?
- Is Dry Soil a Problem?
- What Soil Mix Is Ideal?
- Is a High Temperature Preferred?
- What Percent of Humidity is Ideal?
- What Fertilizer Works Well?
- Are They Toxic?
- How Can I Propagate?
- When Shall I Prune?
- How Often Should I Re-Pot?
- What Pests and Common Problems Are Most Important?
- About the Philodendron Camposportoanum
- FAQ
How Much Light Is Too Much?
The Philodendron camposportoanum favors bright indirect sunlight for 6-8 hours daily. This can be achieved by positioning the plant by a north or east-facing window. Indications that your Philodendron camposportoanum plant is receiving too much sunlight are that the leaves will turn yellow.
If you leave it too long in bright light, the leaves will scorch and need to be cut back. If your home receives a lot of direct sunlight, you can use a sheer curtain on the window as a filter.
As with other Philodendron varieties, the stems of the Philodendron camposportum will become stretched and leggy if there is insufficient light for them to thrive.
Is Dry Soil a Problem?
Compared to other Philodendron plants, the Philodendron campos is a bit thirstier and regular watering is the key to it looking fabulous. To check the soil moisture, you only need to feel the surface as opposed to the first 2 inches like other tropical plants. If the surface of the soil feels dry, then it is your cue to give it a drink.
When watering the Philodendron camposportoanum, let the excess water escape through the drainage holes of the pot and avoid letting it sit in a tray of water. The Philodendron camposportoanum has super fragile roots and will suffer from root rot if overwatered.
When choosing a pot for your Philodendron campos, try to use a plastic pot; they provide better drainage which will reduce the chances of root rot.
What Soil Mix Is Ideal?
Well-draining soil is needed for the Philodendron camposportoanum plant to thrive and you can achieve this by making your own mix.
To make your own Philodendron soil mix, use:
- 1 Part Orchid bark
- 1 Part Peat moss
- 1 Part Potting mix
- 1/4 Part Perlite
The peat moss in the soil provides acidity, which is preferred by the Philodendron camposportoanum. The optimum pH range for your soil mix should be between 6.0 to 6.5. You can use a pH test kit or the pH scale on a moisture meter to check the levels. If your soil mix results in too high acidity levels, you can add lime to neutralize it. Soil with high pH levels will stunt the plant’s growth and cause leaves to whither and turn brown at the edges.
Is a High Temperature Preferred?
As the Philodendron camposportoanum is a tropical plant, it flourishes in warm temperatures between 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (15-23 degrees Celsius). This temperature range isn’t difficult to achieve in the home as average household temperatures are within that range.
If you live in a warmer climate or are in the USDA growing zone of 11-12, the Philodendron camposportoanum can be grown outdoors. Try to avoid keeping the Philodendron campos in temperatures less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12 C) for long periods of time, as it can cause permanent damage to the leaves.
When positioning your plant, ensure you are keeping it away from areas with sudden temperature changes, such as entryways, frequently opened windows or even near heat sources such as radiators or fireplaces.
What Percent of Humidity is Ideal?
Due to the rainforest origin of the Philodendron camposportoanum plant, it loves high humidity and should be kept in a place where there is a humidity level of 60-70%. Reaching these levels of humidity can be difficult for some and luckily, there are some methods to create your own.
Firstly you can make a pebble tray with water in the bottom; keeping the plant pot on top of the pebble tray will provide it with moisture around the roots and leaves.
Secondly, you can invest in an inexpensive humidifier; this will keep moisture in the air throughout the day and is available in lots of shapes and sizes!
Lastly, you can use a spray bottle to mist the air around the plant’s leaves. Another option if you have a collection of tropical plants is to group the plants together to create a microclimate.
Alternatively, keep the Philodendron campos in a room with high humidity, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room.
What Fertilizer Works Well?
Like other Philodendron species, the Philodendron camposportoanum care includes a fertilizing regimen. Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer with a ratio of 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 NPK (Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) once a month during the growing season (spring and summer). These two ratios have different concentrations and will dilute with different quantities of water. They can still be used in the same way but must be mixed differently.
During the winter, you won’t need to fertilize as the soil will provide enough nutrients during this time.
Avoid over-fertilizing the Philodendron camposportoanum as this causes excess salt to build up in the soil and will starve the sensitive roots from oxygen and cause root rot. If this has happened, you can flush the plant with room temperature water and re-pot into fresh soil.
Are They Toxic?
The Philodendron camposportoanum plant contains calcium oxalate crystals making it highly toxic to cats, dogs, and humans.
Keep your Philodendron out of reach of any curious mouth, as ingesting even the smallest piece of this plant can cause a whole range of nasty side effects.
How Can I Propagate?
Suppose you want to build up your stock of Philodendron camposportoanum to use as gifts for friends or family; there are two easy ways to reproduce this unique-looking plant.
Personally, I prefer stem-cutting propagation because you can still show off your prized plant without an ugly bag of moss hanging from its stem. But I will review both methods below:
Stem Cuttings Propagation
Take stem cuttings during the summer when the Philodendron camposportoanum is at its peak health. Select an area with new growth and use a clean, sharp pair of scissors to make the cutting. Be sure the stem has a new leaf node (small knobby part on the stem) so that new leaves can form.
Remove the bottom leaves of the Philodendron plant and keep a few leaves at the top so the cutting can continue with photosynthesis. Place the cutting in the soil mix with shredded bark to give the new roots oxygen.
Position the stem cutting at a warm temperature away from direct sunlight. Keep the soil moist as the plant matures, and watch as it establishes new leaf shapes.
Air Layering Propagation
Air layering is a method that is preferred by many as it is a safer option than stem cuttings in soil. Select the area of a healthy part of the mother plant that includes one or more leaf nodes or aerial roots.
Prepare a bag with moist sphagnum peat moss and cut a vertical strip on the edge of the bag so you can wrap it around the stem. You will need to secure this wrap of sphagnum peat moss to the stem, and you can do this with tie wraps- be sure that it is tight enough to hold the bag in place against the leaf nodes but not too tight it will damage the stem.
Keep the sphagnum moss moist by spraying it from the top of the bag. After about three to four weeks, you will notice the roots have grown and start to creep out of the bag. At this point, you can remove the bag and take a cutting to transplant it into the soil.
When Shall I Prune?
The Philodendron camposportanum is a fast grower, and to keep it under control and in good form, you can give it a prune from time to time.
By pruning the Philodendron campos during spring or summer, you will encourage new growth from the base of the plant. When pruning the Philodendron camposportoanum plant, use a clean, sharp pair of secateurs or scissors to prevent any disease or wounds to the terms.
Cut one inch above the leaf node on the healthy stems. When I prune my plants, I choose a time when they are due a feed so I can give them a boost of fertilizer after they have been cut to help them recover from the change.
How Often Should I Re-Pot?
If you notice your Philodendron camposportoanum roots begin to shoot out of the pot either from the drainage holes or the top of the soil, it is time to re-pot. With the fast growth rate of this philodendron species, you can expect to repot the plant once a year.
Re-pot the Philodendron plant during the early spring or summer when it is at its healthiest. To choose the perfect pot for your Philodendron camposportoanum plant, select the next size up from what the plant has matured in.
Providing your Philodendron plant with too much soil will cause stress and will be at risk of developing root rot.
Choose a pot with drainage holes and try to avoid ceramic pots. Although ceramic pots look great, their porous material can hold a lot of moisture. If you re-pot into a plastic pot, you will need to water more frequently, but it will prevent root rot.
What Pests and Common Problems Are Most Important?
Spider mites
Spider mites will leave small yellow and brown spots around your plants along with their fine webbing. The tiny yellow and brown spots damage the plant’s tissue and prevent it from absorbing the sun’s energy.
To control an infestation of spider mites, use one tablespoon of neem oil, and one teaspoon of liquid dish soap to 0.26 Gallons (1 liter)of water in a spray bottle once a week, and the numbers will decrease over time and remove the infestation.
Root Rot
Root rot is a common cause of death in the Philodendron camposportoanum. Their roots need access to oxygen to form correctly, and if they are potted into compacting soil that doesn’t drain properly, they will suffer.
To check for root rot, remove the root ball from the pot. If your Philodendron is suffering from root rot, the soil will likely smell gross, and the roots will be reddish-brown with a mushy texture.
Sounds horrific, but if there is still some root system intact, you can gently remove the mushy roots and re-pot the plant into new well-draining soil. Correct the watering regime until it recovers.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are common on the Philodendron camposportoanum plant and are in the form of tiny white fuzzy-looking insects. They generally move around the plant in clusters and suck the sap from the stems and roots.
If you notice a family of these foes, arm yourself with a neem oil foliage spray. You can make this yourself by mixing one tablespoon of neem oil, one teaspoon of liquid dish soap, and 0.26 Gallons (1 liter) of water. This slippery, smelly mix will deter the mealybugs, and after spraying once per week, you will see a reduction in numbers.
Brown Leaf Tips
Brown leaf tips on the Philodendron camposportanum indicate several issues, such as too much sunlight, low humidity levels, or fertilizer burn.
Check the positioning of your plant to ensure it is kept out of direct sunlight, and check the humidity levels of your room.
Make the environmental adjustments as necessary, and the plant will recover. If the Philodendron camposportanum environment is perfect, the brown leaf tips could be a sign of over-fertilizing, in which case you can flush the soil or re-pot it into a fresh potting mix.
About the Philodendron Camposportoanum
Philodendron camposportoanum, or Philodendron campos, to put it easier, is a small growing philodendron variety that is recognized by its “hammer leaves.” (Three curved parts to each leaf, giving it a hammer appearance). The Philodendron camposportoanum is a compact plant that reaches a height of 1.5 feet (~45 cm) when matured in perfect conditions.
The leaves of this tropical plant change shape as they grow and start from being velvety juvenile leaves that later transform into a heart shape with long dramatic black curved leaf ends. It’s not uncommon to see two or three differently shaped leaves on this plant at one time.
The Philodendron camposportoanum rarely produces a flower when kept in the home away from its natural environment. It is full-grown at 15-16 years old and the bloom is typical of Aroid plants consisting of a spathe (a modified leaf to protect the spadix) and spadix (the male and female organs of the flower) . Plant lovers choose this plant because of its captivating foliage rather than its flower.
Originally from the rainforests of Central and South America, the Philodendron is part of the Araceae family, which comprises over 3000 species of flowering plants. Keeping the Philodendron camposportoanum plant in the correct lighting will display pinky orange blush through the foliage. Once considered a rare indoor plant, the Philodendron is now becoming an increasingly popular variety for the home.
FAQ About the Philodendron Camposportoanum
Is the philodendron camposportoanum micans?
No, they are two different plants. The Philodendron camposportoanum has a pink sheen to the leaves, whereas the Micans have a purple glow. They both look very similar when they are young, but as the plant matures, they develop different characteristics.
How do you care for a philodendron camposportoanum?
To care for the Philodendron camposportoanum, ensure the plant is kept in bright indirect sunlight; the humidity levels are 60-70% with a temperature range of 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Fertilize the Philodendron once a month during the growing season and ensure the soil is kept evenly moist at all times.
Is philodendron camposportoanum a climber?
No, the Philodendron camposportoanum is not a climbing plant. However, it does have vine-like stems, so some gardeners prefer to plant it with a moss pole or display it in a hanging basket.
What is the most rare philodendron?
The rarest Philodendron plant is the Philodendron Spiritus Sancti. There are only about 6 of its type in the wild, and they are generally found in Brazil.
In the Know on Philodendron Camposportoanum Care
This cultivar of Philodendron is low maintenance compared to other Philodendrons and is suitable for plant owners who have little time to care. The average humidity requirements and the indirect bright light needed to flourish make it a great plant to jazz up a darker room.
Because of their long spindly stems, you can plant them into a hanging basket or use a moss pole to get creative. The foliage of the Philodendron camposportoanum varies so much as it matures, offering you a range of colors and textures to enjoy.
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