Philodendron Brasil - The Vibrant Two-Tone Heartleaf
Say hello to the absolutely stunning Philodendron Brasil, one of the most cheerful and rewarding houseplants you can grow! This gorgeous cultivar of the classic Heartleaf Philodendron features beautiful heart-shaped leaves with striking two-tone colouring: bold lime green and golden yellow centre stripes that look almost hand-painted against deep emerald green foliage. Every single leaf has its own unique pattern, and the stems even have a lovely pinkish-orange hue. It's like having a little piece of the Brazilian tropics right in your home!
Why Choose Philodendron Brasil?
- Stunning Two-Tone Foliage! Those gorgeous lime green and golden stripes on every leaf make this plant a true standout.
- Incredibly Easy Care! One of the most forgiving houseplants available, perfect for beginners and busy plant parents.
- Fast Growing! Watch your plant produce long, cascading vines with beautiful new leaves regularly.
- Super Versatile! Let it trail from a shelf or hanging basket, or train it to climb up a support.
- Each Leaf is Unique! No two leaves have the same pattern, making every plant one-of-a-kind.
- Air Purifying! Helps remove toxins from your indoor environment.
- Easy to Propagate! Share the love with friends by taking simple stem cuttings.
Light Requirements
Your Philodendron Brasil is wonderfully adaptable when it comes to light! It thrives in bright indirect light, which will encourage the most vibrant colours and fastest growth. An east or west-facing window is ideal. It can also tolerate medium to lower light conditions, making it perfect for those trickier spots in your home, though keep in mind that in low light the plant may grow more slowly and could start to lose that beautiful two-tone colouring, with leaves becoming more solid green.
Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch those lovely leaves and cause brown patches or fading. If you notice your Brasil losing its distinctive lime and yellow colouring and producing mostly green leaves, it's telling you it needs more light! Move it to a brighter spot and new growth should show improved colouring.
Watering Your Philodendron Brasil
One of the reasons Philodendron Brasil is so popular is its forgiving nature when it comes to watering! Allow the top half of the soil (or at least the top 5cm) to dry out between waterings. Stick your finger in the soil to check rather than watering on a schedule. It's important to only water when it suits the environment your plant is living in, as everyone's home is different!
These plants are more tolerant of underwatering than overwatering, so when in doubt, wait another day or two before watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot and yellowing leaves. In warmer months (September through March), you'll likely water every week or so. During cooler months (April through August), water less frequently as growth slows and soil takes longer to dry.
Your Brasil will tell you when it's thirsty: the leaves may start to curl slightly or look a bit droopy. Give it a good drink and watch it perk back up!
The Perfect Potting Mix
Philodendron Brasil does best in a loose, well-draining potting mix that allows air to reach the roots. Our Ultimate Aroid Mix is perfect, providing excellent drainage while retaining just enough moisture. A mix containing perlite, orchid bark, and coco coir works beautifully. Avoid heavy, compacted soil that stays wet for too long, as this can lead to root problems.
Humidity and Temperature
Great news: your Philodendron Brasil is happy in average household humidity! While it originates from humid tropical regions and will appreciate higher humidity levels (producing larger leaves as a result), it's remarkably adaptable to the drier air found in most Australian homes. If you notice brown leaf tips, especially during winter when heating can dry out the air, consider grouping your Brasil with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.
Temperature-wise, aim for a comfortable range between 16-27°C. Your Brasil won't appreciate temperatures below 13°C and should be kept away from cold drafts, air conditioning vents, and heating outlets. If you're comfortable in your home, your plant probably is too!
To Trail or To Climb?
Philodendron Brasil is wonderfully versatile in how you display it:
Trailing: Let those beautiful vines cascade down from a shelf, bookcase, or hanging basket. The vines can grow impressively long (up to 3 metres or more!), creating a stunning jungle effect. This is a popular choice for styling on high shelves or in macrame hangers.
Climbing: Give your Brasil something to climb (like one of our Grow Vertical Propsticks) and watch it transform! In nature, these plants climb up trees, and providing vertical support encourages larger leaf growth. Our Propstick Sixty or Propstick Pro work beautifully for training climbing philodendrons.
Bushy: Want a fuller, bushier plant? Simply pinch or trim the growing tips regularly. This encourages the plant to branch out rather than growing long single vines. Plus, you can use those cuttings to propagate new plants!
Feeding for Lush Growth
During the active growing season (September through March), feed your Philodendron Brasil with Growth Technology Foliage Focus diluted at 3-5ml per litre of water. Use at every watering for optimum results. This complete fertiliser provides all 12 essential minerals for lush, healthy foliage and vibrant colouring.
Pair it with Growth Technology Rootzone every 2-4 weeks in conjunction with your regular fertiliser to support a strong, healthy root system. Flush monthly with plain water to remove traces of mineral salts build up. During cooler months (April through August), reduce feeding as growth naturally slows.
Propagation Made Easy
Philodendron Brasil is one of the easiest plants to propagate, making it perfect for sharing with friends! Simply take a stem cutting just below a leaf node (the little bumps on the stem where leaves emerge and aerial roots may be visible). Pop the cutting in water, ensuring at least one node is submerged, and wait for roots to develop. Change the water every week or so to keep it fresh. Once roots are a few centimetres long, pot up in well-draining soil. You can also root cuttings directly in moist soil or sphagnum moss.
Care Tips for Success
- Keep those leaves clean! Dust can block light absorption. Gently wipe leaves with a damp cloth every few weeks.
- Rotate regularly for even growth on all sides.
- Losing the two-tone colouring? Move your plant to a brighter spot with more indirect light.
- Yellow leaves? Usually a sign of overwatering. Check soil moisture and adjust your watering routine.
- Leggy growth with small leaves? Your plant needs more light!
- Pinch growing tips to encourage bushier growth if you prefer a fuller plant.
Perfect For
- Beginners wanting a rewarding, easy-care first plant
- Shelves, bookcases, and hanging baskets
- Offices and workspaces with moderate light
- Creating a lush, trailing jungle vibe
- Training up moss poles and supports
- Bathrooms with good natural light
- Anyone who loves colourful foliage plants
- Plant lovers who enjoy propagating and sharing
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Philodendron Brasil losing its lime and yellow colouring? This usually means the plant isn't getting enough light. Move it to a brighter location with more indirect light, and new growth should show improved colouring. Leaves that have already turned solid green won't change back, but you can prune them off if you prefer.
Can I grow Philodendron Brasil in water permanently? Yes! Brasil can live happily in water for extended periods. Change the water regularly (every 1-2 weeks) to keep it fresh and prevent algae. The plant will grow faster and larger in soil, but water culture works well if you prefer that look.
Why are my Brasil's leaves turning yellow? The most common cause is overwatering. Check that you're allowing the soil to dry out adequately between waterings. Occasional yellow leaves on older growth are normal, but widespread yellowing indicates a watering issue.
How fast does Philodendron Brasil grow? With good light and regular feeding, Brasil is a fast grower! You can expect new leaves every week or two during the growing season. Vines can grow several metres long over time.
Please Keep in Mind
Each plant is unique and may vary slightly from the images shown. The photos are representative examples of the quality and characteristics you can expect, but natural variations in colour patterns, leaf size, and vine length make every plant one-of-a-kind. This individuality is part of what makes growing plants so special! For information on how your plant will be shipped, please refer to our shipping and delivery section.
If you are from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase this plant we recommend using Paradise Distributors concierge service, make sure to contact them prior to purchasing: info@rareplants.net.au
Shipping & Greenhouse Collection
Let's Talk About How Your Plants Get to You!
Alright, so here's the deal with shipping - we try our best to send all our plants potted and ready to go, but sometimes due to larger orders or when we're moving through some big changes, we'll send some plants semi-bare rooted. If you haven't come across this before, it basically means we carefully remove a bunch of the soil before packing them up. I know that might sound a bit scary if you've never ordered plants online before, but trust me, this is actually a really smart way to do it! The main reason we do this is because it creates so much more room in the box, which means we can fit way more plants in one shipment for you. More plants in one box = more green goodness arriving at your door at once! The plants honestly handle the journey better without all that heavy, wet soil sloshing around too. Just make sure you've got some fresh potting mix ready to go when your green babies arrive, because they'll want to get tucked into their new home pretty quickly!
Now, let's chat about what actually fits in our boxes. We can safely fit about 4-6 plants in one box, or if you're stocking up on supplies, one box can hold 3 bags of medium plus 1L of Growth Technology. We really don't recommend adding heavy items with your plants though - it just puts extra stress on your precious plants during transit and limits how many we can fit. If your order ends up being heavier than our standard box can handle, we'll reach out to you about additional postage fees. We're always transparent about costs, no sneaky surprises!
When Does Everything Ship Out?
Here's how our timeline works - we process and ship orders the week after you place them. So if you order on a Tuesday, your plants will get packed and sent out sometime the following week. We ship Monday through Friday (because let's be real, we all need weekends to recharge!), and we're aiming to get your order out within 4-6 business days of processing. Sometimes things take a tiny bit longer because we're a small but mighty team, and we take absolute care in making sure every single plant is packed perfectly. Like, we're talking individual attention for each plant here. We don't rush this stuff!
Once your order ships, you'll get an email with your tracking number. If you haven't received that tracking email, it just means we're still working on your order - it hasn't left us yet. Please be patient with us! We promise we're working as fast as we can while still making sure everything is done right. We pack orders in chronological order to keep things fair for everyone, so no one's getting special treatment or jumping the queue. First come, first served, that's how we roll!
The Journey to Your Doorstep
All our orders ship with Australia Post, and here's something cool - they operate 24/7! That means even if your order gets sent out on a Friday afternoon, it's still making its way to you over the weekend. The postal system doesn't sleep, and honestly, that's pretty amazing for getting plants to you quickly. You can generally expect your plants to arrive within 2-7 days after we ship them, depending on where you are in Australia. Metro areas tend to be quicker, regional spots might take the full week, but either way, your tracking number will keep you in the loop the whole time.
And here's the thing that always blows people's minds - our plants are absolute troopers. We've tested this extensively, and they can genuinely survive in their boxes for up to three weeks if needed. Obviously we don't want them sitting around that long, but life happens, mail gets delayed sometimes, and we want you to know that your plants are prepped and ready to handle whatever the postal system throws at them. While we do our best to avoid delays, occasional unforeseen circumstances may slightly impact delivery times, but rest assured, your plants are packed with extra care and are tougher than you think!
Quarantine States (WA, NT, TAS)
We currently only ship directly to non-quarantine states. Unfortunately, biosecurity restrictions make it pretty complicated to send plants to Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Tasmania. But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! If you're from a quarantine restricted state and would like to purchase plants from us, we recommend using Paradise Distributors' concierge service. They're absolute legends and can handle all the biosecurity paperwork and requirements for you. Make sure to contact them prior to purchasing so they can give you all the details and help you out: info@rareplants.net.au
Come Visit the Greenhouse! (Rockdale)
If you're local or just love the idea of picking up your order in person, we've got you covered! Greenhouse collection from our Rockdale location is available the same week you make your purchase. Our opening hours are always changing, so make sure to check booking availability on our 'Visit the Greenhouse' page before purchasing. After you've paid for your order, just head over and book a time slot that works for you. You'll get to pick up your plants AND have a wander through the greenhouse while you're here, which honestly is such a vibe. Just please wear a mask if you're feeling unwell - it's a small space and we want to keep everyone safe and healthy!
Catch Us at Markets!
We do regular markets around Sydney and would love to meet you in person! If you'd prefer to skip shipping altogether and grab your order at one of our market stalls, just email us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com and we can arrange collection at an upcoming market. It's a great way to chat plants face-to-face, see what else we've got on the day, and save on postage!
Questions? We're Here for You!
If you've got any questions about shipping, tracking, or literally anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@growinggroundsaustralia.com. We love chatting with you guys and we're always happy to help troubleshoot, answer questions, or just talk plants!
Much love from the GG's Team 🌱
