Philodendron Revolutions Care Tips You Should Know

The formerly named Philodendron 'Revolution' (now Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum ‘Revolution’) is a beautiful tropical plant. If you enjoy unique foliage and love taking care of tropical plants, you need to add the Philodendron 'Revolution' to your growing collection.

The Philodendron 'Revolution' was only recently renamed to Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum ‘Revolution’. This aroid offers leaves that grow in a spiral around the "trunk" stem instead of the leaves of other Philodendrons that grow out and lay flat.

Grown in the tropical areas of South America, the Philodendron 'Revolution' reaches heights between two to three feet with unique leaves. The larger scalloped leaves become even more defined, the older your plant gets.

Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum ‘Revolution’ (or Philodendron 'Revolution') prefers rich soil and bright indirect sunlight. Only water the plant when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry and fertilize monthly in the growing season. Indoor temperatures need to be between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with higher humidity levels.

If you wish to add the Philodendron 'Revolution' to your collection of houseplants, here is an inclusive guide that you can follow to ensure your plant's health. This guide covers everything you will need to take care of your plant, including watering, repotting, climate, and everything in between.

Featured images by: TropicalplantsFL.

General Care for Philodendron 'Revolution'

As a unique houseplant, the Philodendron 'Revolution' can be hard to find, even when looking online. Although this plant is a rare find, that doesn't mean it is hard to take care of. Caring for the Philodendron 'Revolution' is only a little different from other Philodendron species, so go on and give it a try.

Water

While the Philodendron 'Revolution' enjoys its water, you only need to water the plant about once a week, even on the hottest days of summer. A general rule of thumb to follow is to water every seven to nine days during the warmest months. In the cooler months, you can space watering out to every two to three weeks.

To check if your Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum ‘Revolution’ requires water, feel the soil with your fingers. If the soil is even slightly damp, don't water it. If the top two inches are dry to the touch, your plant is thirsty and should be watered right away.

Signs of too much watering are shown in the Philodendron 'Revolution' by leaves falling off the plant or turning yellow. Drooping or wimpy-looking leaves is a sign that you are not giving your plant enough to drink. Overwatering or standing water also leads to root rot, which can kill your Philodendron 'Revolution'.

Light

The Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum ‘Revolution’ grows best in natural, bright light. The best spot in your home for natural light is directly in a window. Windows with afternoon sun should be avoided because of the intensity of the late sun. Your best choice is a south or east-facing window. Part of the uniqueness of the Philodendron is that it can adapt to a variety of indoor lighting conditions.

Although this plant will survive in low lighting conditions, it will not thrive. If you notice a slower growth rate in your plant, this can signal too low of lighting conditions. When placing your Philodendron 'Revolution', look for a place that receives the best morning sun. The afternoon sun is a bit more intense for this plant, and you run the risk of burning the leaves.

Soil

When planting or repotting your Philodendron 'Revolution', you don’t want to grab some dirt from your backyard and throw it in a pot. You want to use nutrient-rich soil, such as potting soil bought by the bag at your local nursery or garden store.

When potting your Philodendron or when repotting it you can purchase a specialized mixture from a few select garden centers. These substrates are mixed specifically for tropical plants and will provide the proper “home” for your plant’s growth.

If your local nursery or garden center doesn’t carry a tropical substrate you can make your own at home. In equal amounts combine together perlite, peat moss, and all-purpose potting soil. Mixing these ingredients in equal amounts creates the ideal combination of lightness, aeration, nutrients, and permeability.

As the Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum ‘Revolution’ is susceptible to root rot if left in soggy soil, you need something that drains well. To improve drainage of any potting soil, mix it with a good amount of peat. If the pot you have chosen for your Philodendron doesn’t come with drainage holes be sure to add some of your own. Adequate drainage is vital for your Philodendron’s health.

Potting

When grown inside the house, these tropical plants prefer to grow slightly pot-bound. This means there is no need or requirement to repot them every year. You can repot these beauties every two to three years.

When repotting your Philodendron 'Revolution', use a pot slightly bigger than the last pot they were in, about 2 inches deeper and wider than the previous pot. Repot this beauty in the early spring when temperatures reach a consistent 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

To repot your Philodendron 'Revolution' fill the bottom third of the new pot with the appropriate potting soil. Remove the entire plant from its current home, making sure to support the bottom soil with your palm. Hold the stem carefully but firmly between your fingers. Shake off as much excess dirt from the roots as possible, being careful not to shake too hard, place the plant in the new pot and fill with fresh potting soil.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced fertilizer (20.20.20) for your Philodendron 'Revolution' plant. It’s always best to be more conservative when applying fertilizer. Too much or too frequent prevents your plant from absorbing the much-needed nutrients and can burn the plant.

During the active growing season, which runs from spring to early summer, fertilize your plant once a month. The balanced fertilizer should also contain macro-nutrients for the best results. After summer, reduce fertilizing to every six to eight weeks until spring comes around again.

Humidity

As with all other types of Philodendron plants, the 'Revolution' is a tropical plant native to the tropical areas of South America. As they typically grow in the rainforest regions, these plants require higher levels of humidity than other houseplants.

Ideally, you want the humidity levels to range between 65% to 80%. However, your plants will fare quite well if humidity levels drop to 55% at night. While these plants prefer higher levels of humidity, they do pretty well with average humidity found inside the home and don’t require anything additional. A light misting of the leaves occasionally won’t hurt, although it’s not necessary.

Temperature

Philodendron 'Revolution' will not do well in cold temperatures as a tropical plant, and any freeze will kill it. Ideally, you want the temperature between 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, while at night, 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect.

Pruning

With the Philodendron 'Revolution' being a tropical plant, there is very little pruning required. The only pruning you want to do with a tropical plant is cutting back dead leaves, whether they are dead from old age or died from some damage the plant endured.

As the Philodendron 'Revolution' grows in a clump form, it's known as a self-heading Philodendron. Pruning this plant style requires you to remove any leaves that are diseased, discolored, or dead. To remove these leaves, cut them at the base of the trunk-like stem, so you are cutting just above the soil.

When reducing the spread of the plant, you need to proceed with caution as you want to keep the natural form of the plant. Cut back leaves evenly across the entire plant, not just from one or two areas. Cut the longest, biggest, and oldest leaves at the crown of the plant.

Common problems

In general, Philodendrons are not prone to very many diseases, they are also pretty pest resistant. However, this doesn’t mean they are entirely immune to any kind of problems.

• Pests – when grown indoors, Philodendron 'Revolution' are very susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, scales, thrips, and aphids. To ensure your plant's health, you need to control outbreaks as they happen. To help prevent outbreaks, use an insecticide that contains neem oil or insecticidal soap. Homemade insecticides using dish soap or alcohol may lead to leaf burn, so use cautiously.
• Other common problems are:  Pests can hide in the petioles or the emerging rolled up leaves. Root rot when sitting in water. Leaves will brown at tips when root-bound.

How to keep your Philodendron 'Revolution' problem-free?

• Water weekly or when the top 2 inches of soil is dry
• Avoid exposing it to direct sunlight
• Fertilize once a month ONLY in the growing season
• Maintain temperature between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit
• Keep humidity 65% or above

How to Propagate Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum ‘Revolution’

The Philodendron ‘Revolution’ can easily be propagated by either stem tip cuttings or division. Propagation should always be done only in the spring or early summer.

Stem tip cuttings

When propagating this plant, make sure it is healthy and strong. If the Philodendron is not healthy and strong, it will suffer from the propagation and can die. Here are 7 steps to successful propagation:

1. From your healthy plant remove a 6-inch stem cutting.
2. Use a pair of sharp scissors or gardening clippers to make a clean cut directly below a set of leaves.
3. On the stem, you want to remove two or three sets of leaves so you have bare leaf nodes.
4. Place stem tip cutting in a clear glass of water to monitor root development.
5. Always keep the water level the same while roots are forming.
6. Once enough roots have developed, transplant the cutting into a container with suitable soil (equal parts perlite, all-purpose potting soil, and peat moss).
7. If preferred plant stem cutting directly into desired substrate and pot and watch for new growth to begin. Planting directly in substrate prevents you from watching new root development.

Division

The easiest way to propagte your adult Philodendrons is to divide them. To divide your Philodendron 'Revolution' follow these steps:

1. Remove the plant from its current pot using extreme caution.
2. Fill a bucket with water and then place the entire plant in the water for up to 20 minutes.
3. Remove the plant from the water and let all excess water drain off.
4. Carefully remove the soil from around the root ball. Inspect the roots for any unhealthy parts, including crushed or damaged roots.
5. On most Philodendron 'Revolution' there are several stems growing from the same section of the root. Carefully separate these roots from the rest of the root ball. If you cannot untangle them by hand using a clean, sharp knife.
6. Fill several small containers halfway with a mixture of perlite and all-purpose potting soil.
7. Place each separate part into its own container. Add enough substrate to cover the root and white portion of the stem.
8. Generously water the new plants and locate them in a warm area, not in direct sunlight.
9. New growth will appear in three weeks.

Related questions:

Why are the leaves of my Philodendron 'Revolution' turning yellow?

The most common reason for your Philodendron leaves turning yellow is you are giving it too much water. To correct this problem, allow the top two inches of soil to dry out before you water again. Always discard any water from the saucer underneath the pot; standing water is bad for your Philodendron 'Revolution'.

Why are the leaves of my Philodendron 'Revolution' brown?

Low humidity levels and dry soil cause browning along the edges of the leaves of your Philodendron 'Revolution'. Misting the leaves once a day will increase the humidity levels. Increase the amount you are watering and monitor closely, as you want the soil moist, not soggy. Lack of light is another reason for brown leaves. Move the plant to better light or invest in an indoor grow light.

Is the Philodendron 'Revolution' toxic?

Like all other Philodendrons, the 'Revolution' is also toxic to both people and animals. If ingested, vomiting and diarrhea may occur. Eating the leaves or stems of this plant also causes lips, tongues, and throat to burn and/or to swell. If any part of the plant is accidentally ingested, visit your local emergency room, vet, or call poison control for further help.