Philodendrons are among the most forgiving houseplants around, tolerating low light, irregular watering, and general neglect while still pushing out glossy new leaves.
Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, philodendron includes both climbing vine varieties, like the classic heartleaf philodendron, and larger upright species — all sharing the genus's reputation for being nearly indestructible houseplants.
Philodendron tolerates low to bright indirect light and prefers to dry out somewhat between waterings. Climbing varieties benefit from a moss pole to grow up rather than trail, encouraging larger, more mature leaves over time.
A quick way to tell philodendron and pothos apart — often confused for one another — is the new leaf sheath: philodendron produces a papery cataphyll that browns and drops off, while pothos does not.
