When “Glorious” is part of your plant name, it’s safe to assume that admirers and owners alike are in for quite a treat.
Originating in the 1970s from the cultivation work of Australian Keith Henderson, the Philodendron Glorious (or Philodendron Gloriosum x Melanochrysum) is a hybrid of the Philodendron Gloriosum and Philodendron Melanochrysum.
Its name draws inspiration from other Philodendron varieties like “Majestic” & “Splendid”, while at the same time paying homage to half of its roots; the “Gloriosum”.
With confusion frequently arising between the Glorious and Gloriosum, note that they are not the same. Gloriosum is the parent plant, Glorious is the offspring.
There are a handful of physical differences as well that will help you quickly and correctly identify the two, and we’ll highlight them below in our FAQ section.
Appearance & Features:
Carrying the Philodendron’s signature heart shape, Glorious’ leaves are recognized by a long, narrow shape and velvety texture.
Leaves mature around 20in long x 8in wide, coming to a defined tip at the end and having contrasting white/light green mid & lateral veins.
With no known varieties, the Philodendron Glorious is certainly nowhere as rare as some of the species we’ve mentioned before on the blog, but they do still fall under the rare category of Philodendron making it all the more important to keep your Glorious as happy and healthy as possible, which is why we have created an all-you-need-to-know guide to Philodendron Glorious Care.
Quick Care Breakdown
- Bright, indirect light
- Light, airy, well-draining soil
- 60% humidity or more
- Toxic when consumed by humans & animals
Philodendron Glorious Care – Detailed
Light
Your Philodendron Glorious will be happiest in medium to bright indirect light. For those familiar with the Foot Candle scale, 400 is recommended, but it will tolerate (note, will not thrive) as low as 200.
As with most plants, be very cautious of it receiving too much direct light as it can quickly lead to leaf burn.
Soil
Choose a light and airy, well-draining soil mixture for your Glorious. Soil mixes that retain too much moisture can be detrimental as the plant can quickly fall victim to root rot.
An aroid-specific mixture is best, as it contains nutrients like Coco Coir, Perlite, and Orchid Bark.
Should you opt to make your own mixture, consider a 60% / 30% / 10% mix of the above nutrients to help your plant thrive.
Add in charcoal both to help mimic the natural environment of the Glorious and to help the plant fight infections as charcoal can aid in toxin elimination.
Water
Allowing the soil to dry between waterings is important for your Glorious as they are prone to root rot when left in damp soil for too long.
Weekly, test the soil with your finger. If it comes out clean past the second knuckle – approximately 2in – it’s time to water.
Again, as Glorious’ can easily fall victim to root rot when overwatered, be cautious to not saturate the soil when giving your plant a drink. Soil should appear evenly damp after a watering; never soggy.
Temperature
Staying true to its tropical roots, Glorious’ like it warm (or comfortable by most home-owner’s standards), thriving anywhere between 65 – 80F.
Know that your plant will always tolerate brief periods of time where the temperature is just above or below that ideal range, but Glorious’ in particular are more sensitive to the cold and will show signs of distress if exposed to too low of temperatures for too long.
Humidity
Again, as to be expected with a plant that hails from the tropics, humidity is the way to your Glorious’ heart.
Preferring to reside in a space with 60 – 80% humidity (or just about double the average household humidity), don’t shy away from utilizing some boosting techniques like misting, or using a humidifier/pebble tray if necessary.
Implement any of the above techniques if you’re needing to raise your home’s overall humidity to make the plants happy, or if you begin to notice crispy leaves – a telltale sign that the air around your plant is lacking moisture.
Fertilizer & Growth
A semi-climber (thanks to genes from parent Philodendron Melanochrysum), Glorious’ will happily wind their way upward if given proper support. At maturity, they can stand (climb) anywhere from 6 – 9 feet tall.
The Philodendron Glorious is not known to produce fruit or flowers – whether grown outdoors or indoors – and has a slower growth rate, producing a mature leaf about every month or two.
Fertilize monthly during the growing season (spring-fall). Fertilizing in the winter is unnecessary as the plant goes dormant.
In general, Philodendrons grow best in fertilizer with a balanced NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) ratio, and Glorious’ are no different.
The important thing with Glorious’ is to be sure that you dilute the mixture before feeding your plant (between one-half and one-quarter strength depending on your plant’s specific needs).
A fertilizer that is too strong will burn your plant, so err on the side of caution the first few times you feed till you get a good read on your plant’s specific requirements.
Propagating
Propagating your Philodendron Glorious is about as simple & straight-forward as it gets if you are familiar with the process:
- Get your propagation’s home ready! Select a clean container and fill it halfway with your chosen soil mixture (a fresh batch of the same mixture as in the plant’s current pot).
- Cut a small (3 – 6 in.) segment of a healthy stem. Make sure your cutting has both leaves & roots.
- Cut the stem at the joint joined to the main crown (where the stem and roots meet).
- Plant this new segment in an upright position with the root growth facing downward in the container, and gently pat down the soil around it.
- Place in proper lighting conditions (bright, indirect) and water cautiously and consistently.
Repotting
A big plus for low-maintenance fans, repotting is only necessary for Glorious’ when they outgrow their current pot.
Repotting will shock the plant, so never do it unless necessary to avoid causing potential damage.
Signs that repotting is necessary include when roots are circling the container/they become rootbound or when you’re seeing wilting in the leaves and have ruled out other issues.
To Repot:
- Prepare a new pot about 1- 2 inches larger than the plant’s current pot. Fill it halfway with a fresh batch of the same soil mixture currently being used.
- Remove the Glorious from its current pot, gently shaking away the dirt around the roots. To help get as much old soil off as possible, you may run the roots under a light shower.
- Once roots are clean, place the plant into the new pot and fill the remainder with the soil mixture, leaving an inch or so of space around the top rim of the pot. Water cautiously and consistently.
Pruning
Adding to the list of “reasons to love” for low-maintenance fans is that pruning is not required on any set schedule for Glorious’, so you may simply prune away dead leaves as necessary, or when you feel your plant is growing too large.
Toxicity
Note, this is not just a Glorious thing, but a Philodendron thing as a whole.
All Philodendrons carry Calcium Oxalate crystals, which are toxic (only when ingested) to humans, as well as to common house pets like cats and dogs.
Common Issues & Pests
Yellow leaves – Most often an indication of over-watering, yellow leaves can quickly be addressed by adjusting your watering practices; watering in smaller quantities or frequencies till your plant returns to a healthy state. If a leaf is totally lost, prune it away.
Yellow leaves + slowed growth – Keep a keen eye when troubleshooting your Glorious as if you see yellow leaves and slowed growth, you’re likely dealing with an underwatering issue as opposed to an overwatering one!
Right this problem by adjusting your watering habits in the exact opposite way you’d adjust for overwatering.
Root Rot – The most common affliction for Glorious’ is Root Rot; a serious sign of serious overwatering. Recognized by discoloration in leaves, stunted growth, and wilting, ensure that you’ve adjusted your watering habits without success before pulling the plant to check for rot.
If your plant’s roots are brown and squishy as opposed to firm and white, you have root rot.
Immediately trim away affected areas, disinfect your pot and repot the plant following the above steps. If more than 50% of your roots are affected, the plant is unfortunately lost, so always try to catch this early – or avoid it entirely.
Aphids & Spider mites – Presenting as tiny bugs typically white in color, or cob webbing respectively, these common pests can be easily removed once caught. Start by hosing down the plant to gently (forcibly) remove the infestation.
Then begin consistently applying a gentle insecticide or neem oil to continue treatment.
FAQ – Philodendron Glorious Care
Q. Philodendron Glorious vs. Philodendron Gloriosum – What’s the Difference?
As mentioned in our introduction, Philodendron Gloriosum is the parent plant, Glorious is the offspring…but that doesn’t help us much with identification on a physical scale. No fear! You can spot the differences between these two by checking the following:
- Glorious leaves are longer and narrower than Gloriosum’s
- Glorious petioles (where the leaf and stem meet) are oval-shaped while petioles on the Gloriosum are D-shaped
- Gloriosum has much more pronounced veining on its leaf than a Glorious
Q. Philodendron Glorious vs. Philodendron Splendid – What’s the Difference?
This one is a little trickier to spot.
Both Splendids and Glorious’ are hybrids of the Philodendron Melanochrysum, so physically speaking, they are incredibly similar, and the best way to tell them apart is by looking at how pronounced the veining is on the plant’s leaf as Splendids consistently have more pronounced veins than the Glorious.
Summary
So whether you’re here to learn, get a simple question answered, or just marvel at the beauty and intricacies of a possible plant collection addition, we hope you felt both entertained and informed by this Philodendron Glorious Care Guide.
Thanks as always for stopping by!
