Whether you want to warm your sweetie’s heart or just need to give yourself a little more love this Valentine’s Day, the heartleaf philodendron, or philodendron cordatum, will do the trick. It embodies all the qualities we want in a good partner. It’s forgiving, tolerant and absolutely gorgeous. Though it doesn’t help very much with household chores, just seeing it will brighten your day.

In order to get the most out of your heartleaf philodendron, you’re gonna need to put in the work. Afterall, every good relationship requires effort from both parties! Give them bright light and a potting mix that allows for proper drainage. Philodendrons love a chunky mix of cactus soil with a few handfuls of perlite and bark fines. 

Just like a well rounded partner knows how to take care of themself, the heartleaf philodendron lives a full life and stays lush with little care. It grows quickly and as long as its basic needs are met, you will be handsomely rewarded. Give it a drink every 7-10 days or so, making sure the soil dries out before you water again. Just like your partner does not appreciate being smothered, your philodendron will not like being overwatered.

Native to South American and the Caribbean, heartleafs climb up trees to reach the sunlight. In your house, you’ll need to choose one of two ways to offer support. First, you can procure a moss pole or trellis to encourage its climbing habit. This creates a gorgeous totem of greenery that fills a narrow space beautifully. Your second option is to plant it in a hanging pot or macrame hanger. This is our favorite way to display a heartleaf, as it encourages the meandering vines to spill down in a sea of suspended hearts.

You may notice philodendrons producing aerial roots on their stems. These are what they use to climb. If you increase the humidity by misting them, you’ll notice faster growth and climb rate. You can always cut them off and propagate them as well. The only thing better than one heartleaf philodendron is two heartleaf philodendrons!