Creating a Philodendron Wall: Vertical Growing Techniques
Are you longing for a lush wall of tropical foliage and aren't sure where to start? Not to worry, Florida gardener Melissa Strauss has some tips for starting and maintaining a wonderful philodendron wall in your home or garden.
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Living walls, also called vertical gardens, are spaces that showcase the plants we love the most. They’re a way to create the feeling of a lush, tropical setting either indoors or in an outdoor living space.
Philodendrons are an ideal plant for this project, as there is a wide array to choose from, and they have the perfect growth habits.
A vertical philodendron wall does more than improve a space aesthetically. Certainly, it is a thing of beauty, but it also has many practical purposes. These walls seamlessly blend the beauty of nature with the benefits of improving air quality, reducing heat, and providing noise insulation. They also create a sense of calm and connect us with the outdoors.
Creating a vertical philodendron wall requires some patience and foresight, but it can be an immensely fulfilling project. Choosing the right species and knowing how to plan, plant, and maintain it are all factors to consider. Do it well, and you’ll have a vibrant living wall that showcases gorgeous philodendron foliage.
Epic Seed Starting Grow Lights Standard
Epic Seed Starting Grow Lights Standard
Inside or Outside?
Before you get started, you’ll need to determine whether you’re building this wall indoors or outdoors. If you live north of zone 10, this is an easy decision. Philodendrons won’t overwinter outdoors in cold climates. Most are not at all frost-proof; however, there are a handful that are hardy in zones 8 and 9.
For the most part, if you don’t live in a frost-free region, you are limited to growing these plants indoors. If you live in a tropical region, you have the option of growing outdoors. If you have a good spot outdoors, it will be easiest to care for it this way. Watering and fertilizing will be less messy.
Choose a Wall in the Right Light
When you choose your wall, there are several considerations to make. The most important one is light. Philodendrons are tropical understory plants. They like a lot of light, but direct sun will scorch their beautiful leaves. While some can tolerate a bit of direct sun in the morning, bright, indirect light is good for nearly all species.
Outdoors, a wall that gets a bit of morning sun is good. One that gets only indirect light is better. Indoors, you have more options because artificial light is available. A wall near a large east or north-facing window is ideal. If you don’t have this situation, you can supplement with grow lights.
Philodendrons are moisture-loving plants, so wall material is a factor. The best surfaces are brick, concrete, tile, stone, or sealed wood. Drywall and unsealed wood will need considerable treatment to waterproof them. Otherwise, you run the risk of mold and mildew.
If you don’t have a wall made from a material that can tolerate the moisture, install a moisture barrier. You can use a pond liner, a heavy plastic sheet, or a waterproof backer board to do this.
If this is a permanent project, I highly recommend removing the drywall and replacing it with concrete backer board. This is the material you would construct a shower from. It’s easy to waterproof and holds up much better than drywall would.
Outdoors, a water source nearby is helpful. Indoors, you’ll want to install some type of drain tray along the bottom. A drip irrigation system will save you a considerable amount of time in both cases. These don’t have to be elaborate or expensive to be effective.
Make sure you are using a load-bearing wall. Plants get heavy. Add to that the substrate and water, and you have quite a weighty situation. Make sure your wall will hold up under that pressure.
Install Container or Trellises
The two most popular methods of containing or supporting your plants are a trellis or pocket planters. They both work, and they both have advantages. It’s also perfectly fine to incorporate both, in which case, you’ll want to start with the trellis first.
A trellis or moss wall is a great way to make this work. It creates a large vertical space to anchor plants to, makes it easy to maintain moisture, and accommodates many plants. You want a sturdy trellis, preferably made of metal, to hold up under pressure.
Mount your trellis to the wall with anchors that will hold at least three times the amount of weight you anticipate. Once you put your philodendron wall together, you don’t want it falling down and crashing to the floor. Not only can this damage your floor and nearby furniture, but it will also crush your plants.
Fill in the spaces in your vertical trellis with sphagnum moss or coco coir. This is your substrate. If you don’t want to mount containers, this is the way to go. It creates a seamless appearance and also looks nicer as your wall takes shape. You won’t fill it with foliage right away; that takes time. A moss wall will create the appearance of better coverage.
The other option is to mount containers to the wall. Using pocket planters is the way to go here. Plastic is a good material to use because it’s lightweight and impermeable. Outdoors, felt is another good material. These you will fill with a loose, well-draining potting mix.
Choose the Right Species
Now it’s time to choose your plants: the fun part! With hundreds of species of philodendrons in existence, this could be a daunting task. Of course, not every species is available at your local plant retailer. So I will stick to the more common and popular ones that you’re likely to find without too much difficulty.
I would start with heartleaf (P. hederaceum) and Philodendron micans. These are both beautiful, low-maintenance, and resilient plants. They both have heart-shaped leaves, but heartleaf has slightly glossy foliage, while P. micans leaves have a velvety sheen. Both are trailing and easy to propagate. If you buy a substantial plant, you can make more in short order. They can also be vertical growers.
Philodendron brasil looks a lot like pothos. It has glossy, green leaves with bright lime colored variegation. Larger types like pink princess and white knight are more inclined to be vertical growers. This is still easy to achieve on a moss wall.
Larger species like P. xanadu are more of a self-heading variety that works best near the ground. It’s a larger plant.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite species, Philodendron gloriosum. I am partial to the dark form, myself. This species runs along the ground, sending up large leaves with the velvety sheen of P. micans, but much larger and with bright white veining. It’s absolutely stunning, and remarkably easy to care for.
Care and Maintenance
Once established, a vertical philodendron wall is easy to maintain. However, it’s not something you can set up and forget about. It will need consistent care. You’ve chosen a spot with the right lighting, and that factor won’t change much. In the winter, you may want to supplement with a grow light.
If you’ve installed an irrigation system, watering will be a breeze. If not, you’ll need to water regularly. You will need to water frequently if you’re using moss as a substrate, as it dries faster.
The easiest way to do this is by spraying the moss with water. Misting it won’t be quite enough; you’ll want a bottle that puts out a stronger stream. Every few months, mix a balanced fertilizer with your water to help plants produce steady growth and rich leaf color. If the room is dry, make sure to place a humidifier in there to keep the air humid.
Finally, propagate! Your plants will need a trim now and then, and when they do, it creates more plants. When you prune your philodendrons, root the cuttings in water and then work them into your vertical wall. You will have a gorgeous, thriving, living, vertical philodendron wall before you know it!
