The plant that is harder to kill than to keep alive

And it looks good, too!

Chris Warnes

If your thumb is more black than green, the heartleaf philodendron is the perfect plant for you.

Beautiful indoors and out, the philodendron drapes beautifully over shelves or from a hanging pot.

This plant is harder to kill than to keep alive — *(Credit: Prudence Earl on Unsplash)*

Here’s a short guide to philodendrons:

Philodendrons thrive in indirect or medium light. Just avoid placing them in direct sunglight.
Philodendrons can grow in soil or just in water. It’s best watered when half of the soil is dry.
Potted philodendrons should have well-aerated soil and a drainage hole for easy drainage, and should be repotted every two to three years.
Fertilize philodendrons monthly with a half-strength solution during spring and summer, and every other month during cold months.
Prune your philodendron to keep it looking lush and perky.
Philodendrons are easy to propogate. Simply pinch off a branch with at least a couple of nodes and plant in water or soil.
Philodendrons are highly toxic and should be kept away from animals and children.

This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.

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Writer Rebecca Lowrey Boyd

Rebecca Lowrey Boyd is a former magazine editor and the founder of Wee Birdy, one of The Sunday Times’ Top 50 Blogs in the World. A design nerd and bird enthusiast, she can usually be found poring over Pinterest, knee-deep in Bunnings or sticky-beaking at modernist homes in Sydney’s bushburbia.