Philodendron Paraiso Verde Care and Grow Guide

With marbled, variegated leaves, the Philodendron Paraiso Verde is a stunning green houseplant. Native to tropical regions in America and the West Indies, its name translates to “Green Paradise” in Spanish.

This lovely philodendron variety is also known as the Marina Ruy Barbosa and can be cultivated outside in USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11.

It can grow to heights of ten to fifteen inches and will spread as wide as 24 inches. The foliage is marbled in appearance with elongated leaves growing from seven to ten inches when well cared for.

This article will cover the care and growth of the Philodendron Paraiso Verde indoors and outdoors.

Philodendron Paraiso Verde Care Guide

As a tropical houseplant, this philodendron looks for bright indirect sunlight, a warm environment, good air circulation, and high humidity levels to thrive. The growth of the Paraiso Verde will depend on the surroundings. If the conditions are favorable, philodendron plants will grow rapidly.

Soil for the Philodendron Paraiso Verde

Nutritious soil beds contribute substantially to the well-being of this plant. The Paraiso Verde does better in light, loose soil that is fertile, rich in organic matter, and drains well.

Because this plant is susceptible to the development of root rot, well-aerated and well-draining soil is the best choice. You can opt to amend a high-quality potting soil with peat moss for moisture retention and perlite, coconut fiber, or charcoal for good drainage of excess water.

To improve your plant’s chances of flourishing, the soil pH level should measure between 5.0 and 6.0 to be slightly acidic. This low acidity rating will aid your plant in resisting infection and plant diseases.

Light for the Philodendron Paraiso Verde

As a tropical plant, the Philodendron Paraiso Verde thrives in dappled bright light in its native habitat. 

If your home or office’s windows offer only bright direct sunlight, use a thin curtain, or blinds to filter the light.

This plant will do well on a partially shaded patio, porch, or balcony. When positioned in a location with low light conditions, growth will slow, and yellow leaves may appear due to lack of sunlight.

Water and Humidity for the Philodendron Paraiso Verde  

Philodendron cultivars can generally be said to be tolerant to water conditions that are not ideal. That said, the Paraiso Verde is an exception.

It will react relatively quickly and negatively to both underwatering and overwatering. Stunted growth and yellow or droopy leaves are your plant’s way of communicating that its water requirements are not being met.

To avoid these watering issues, monitor the soil moisture, so you know when it needs to be watered. Avoid placing the Paraiso Verde on a regular watering schedule because environmental factors change and that will lead to different water needs.

Water the Paraiso Verde when the top two inches of the soil bed are dry. This means you will most likely be watering once weekly during the growing season in the summer months. Test the soil bed by sticking your finger into the top couple of inches of the soil. It’s the fastest and surest way to know if the soil is wet or not. 

Drench your plant when watering until excess water runs out of the pot’s drainage holes. Water that accumulates at the bottom or in a dish underneath your plant should be disposed of immediately, so it’s not continually touching the soil and waterlogging it. 

Also, if you are using municipal tap water, it may contain chemicals like chlorine and fluoride. It’s better to water with distilled, filtered, or collected drain water.

If you want to use regular tap water, it could be chlorinated water, so leave the tap water to sit out the night before. This allows the chlorine to evaporate before using the tap water on your philodendron.

Like all native tropical plants, the Paraiso Verde naturally grows in a warm, humid habitat. While it does not need regular rain, it still won’t do well in dry environments, especially for extended periods of time.

Average humidity levels in the home will suffice, but ideally, a humidity level of 60% to 70% is optimal. Together with watering, this humidity level aids in keeping your plant well-hydrated.

If your home is dry, you can increase the humidity in the vicinity of your plant. Several methods for increasing the humidity include:

• Create a pebble tray
• Use a humidifier
• Mist your plant regularly
• Group several plants near one another. The natural transpiration of the plants will increase humidity in the immediate area.

Remember that heaters and air conditioners can dry the air, so adding a humidifier to the room can be helpful.

Temperature for the Philodendron Paraiso Verde

The Paraiso Verde likes warmer temperatures with a temperature range from 65° to 90° Fahrenheit. That will help the plant grow.

If the temperature gets below 65°F, the plant may produce less foliage and grow erratically. This plant may also exhibit greater susceptibility to disease.

If you’re growing the Paraiso Verde outdoors and the outdoor temperature can get below 65°F, be sure to move the plant indoors before the first frost of the winter season.

Fertilizer for the Philodendron Paraiso Verde

As the Paraiso Verde, like other philodendrons, is not a heavy feeder, there won’t be a great need for fertilization. Use a balanced fertilizer to maintain healthy plants.

Feed your plant with a 20-20-20 NPK (nitrogen, phosphate, potassium) liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength monthly during the growing season. In the colder months, you can reduce this to every two months.

If you notice wilting or discolored foliage, adjust feeding accordingly. If you want to go totally organic and put to good use those food leftovers, try creating your homemade fertilizer by mixing eggshells, coffee grounds, and banana peels and applying them to the soil bed.

Pruning the Philodendron Paraiso Verde

You can prune the Paraiso Verde if it has an unruly or erratic appearance. Trim away irregular vines to help your plant keep its shape. Check to see if it requires pruning every three to four weeks.

When pruning, examine your plant for diseases and pests.  When trimming, pinch back the tips to just above the leaf nodes. By removing older or undesirable vines, nutrients will be redirected to new growth.

Repotting the Philodendron Paraiso Verde

All houseplants that are well-cared for and thrive will, at some point, require repotting.  Repot in spring when the active growing season has begun. If you notice roots peeking out from the drainage holes or you’re seeing slow growth, it needs a repot.

Here’s how to repot the Philodendron Paraiso Verde: 

• Select a pot that’s about two inches larger in diameter than the current container, and half-fill it with fresh potting mix.
• Gently remove the philodendron from its current container, shake loose the old potting soil and transfer it to the new pot.
• Fill the pot with more fresh potting soil until the soil reaches the same level as the old container.

Propagating the Philodendron Paraiso Verde

The Philodendron Paraiso Verde is not ideal for propagating from seeds. You should use stem cuttings to create new plantlets. Root division by dividing the root ball when repotting is another method for propagation.

The best time for propagating is in the spring season, its growing season, when plants are strongest.

How to Propagate with a Stem Cutting

Stem cuttings can be cultivated in soil mix or water, and spring is the ideal time.

• With sterilized scissors, cut a stem length approximately four inches long below a leaf node off the parent plant. The cutting should have a few leaf nodes.
• If propagating in water, change the water every three to four days. Rooting hormone can be used as it facilitates root growth.
• Once roots measure an inch long, you can transfer the stem cutting to a container with potting mix.
• For cultivation in potting soil, create a hole with your finger in moist potting soil and place your cutting in the hole.
• Move the soil around the base of the stem cutting, but don’t compact the soil or it won’t be able to breathe.
• Your cutting should be placed in a warm space that is at least 70°F with bright indirect light. After several weeks the roots form.

Philodendron Paraiso Verde Toxicity and Pets

All members of the Philodendron genus are toxic to domestic animals. The ASPCA – American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals tells us that Philodendrons are toxic to our pets because they contain calcium oxalate crystals.

The crystals are toxic not only to pets, but to humans as well. It is highly recommended that philodendrons are kept out of the reach of small children.

Calcium oxalate crystals will cause respiratory problems, nausea, diarrhea, burning, and swelling upon contact. Skin can be easily irritated by the plant’s sap. Allergic reactions are typical. Chewing, eating, or swallowing Philodendrons can contribute to kidney failure in pets.

Symptoms of Calcium oxalate crystal ingestion to watch for include:

• Vomiting
• Swelling lips, mouth, and tongue
• Swallowing problems
• Pawing at the face
• Nausea
• Mouth sores
• Loss of appetite
• Drooling
• Diarrhea

Immediately upon discovery of philodendron plant ingestion, rinse out your pet’s mouth and remove any pieces of the plant still in the mouth. Skin also needs to be rinsed after direct contact with plant sap.

Call your veterinarian in case of symptoms. If you observe severe symptoms, go to a pet emergency hospital as soon as possible for treatment.

Philodendron Paraiso Verde Pests, Diseases, and Problems

Droopy Yellow Leaves

Paraiso Verde leaves turn yellow because of inadequate light, and incorrect watering. Verify that the location of your plant has adequate dappled or filtered sunlight. Reevaluate your watering routine for underwatering or for overwatering.

Brown Leaf Tips

Leaf tips that have turned brown generally indicate underwatering and the extent of the leaf browning will indicate the level of your plant’s dehydration. Dead foliage should be removed.

Brown leaf spots can also be indicative of bacterial or fungal diseases, so these need to be checked for too.

Houseplant Pests

Pests are problematic for all houseplants. If the Paraiso Verde arrives from a garden center or florist, check for pests before placing it near other plants. Check over plants bought at nurseries before bringing them home.

Common pests to watch for are:

Aphids

When new growth is stunted or damaged, aphids have most likely taken up residence in your plant. Tiny pear-shaped bugs with antennae that can barely be seen by the naked eye do tons of damage. 

Once they take up residence, they reproduce and multiply rapidly. Aphids feed off the plant’s sap. Insecticidal soap or organic neem oil should resolve the problem.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are easily identifiable because they look like cottony blobs on your plant. They tend to hide in leaf joints and are sapsuckers, depleting a plant.

Remove any pests you can manually or blast a jet of water to remove them. Treat your plant with diluted organic neem oil spray and keep it isolated until it is free of pests.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are particularly attracted to dryer soil conditions, so keeping the soil moist will help prevent them from taking up residence. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil as a remedy if you see spider mites.

Philodendron Paraiso Verde Diseases

The largest risk for the Philodendron Paraiso Verde is root rot. Primarily due to overwatering or insufficient drainage, roots sit in lots of water and begin rotting.

To treat the Paraiso Verde from root rot: 

• Remove the plant from its soggy soil bed and remove all mushy roots.
• Rinse off any healthy roots remaining and treat them with a fungicide.
• Repot the Paraiso Verde in fresh potting soil and sterilize the container before reusing it to rid of any remaining fungus.
• Wait several days before watering again.

Your Philodendron Paraiso Verde is also at risk for bacterial and fungal infections. Overwatering is usually the cause of infections.

Here’s how to treat the infected plant: 

• Remove all infected leaves, stems, and roots.
• Rinse any remaining roots that are still healthy and apply a fungicide.
• Repot your plant in a sterilized pot with fresh potting mix.
• Wait a few days before watering.

Philodendron Paraiso Verde Final Thoughts

The Paraiso Verde is a rare Philodendron with large beautiful leaves and requires little maintenance. Give it a temperate climate, bright indirect light, regular watering with the occasional feeding and you’ll have a stunning, unique addition to your indoor garden

There are many more beautiful and unique Philodendron varieties, check out these guides: 

• Philodendron Xanadu Guide
• Philodendron McDowell Guide
• Philodendron Birkin Guide
• Philodendron Selloum Guide

Philodendron Paraiso Verde FAQs