How To Care Aroid Plants

Aroids, sometimes called araceae, are a family of plants that includes many popular houseplants like pothos, peace lilies, philodendrons, anthurium, and Monsteras. Caring for aroids properly helps them thrive indoors by meeting their basic needs for light, water, humidity, temperature, soil, fertilizer, and pest management. With the right care, aroid plants can remain healthy and beautiful houseplants for years.

Providing Bright, Indirect Light

Ideal Light Conditions

• Aroids grow best in bright, indirect light from a south or west-facing window.
• Bright indirect light means the area gets lots of natural light but no direct sun rays.
• Insufficient light causes stunted growth and lackluster foliage over time.

Supplemental Lighting

• If natural light is limited, provide supplemental artificial light.
• Grow lights, full spectrum bulbs, or fluorescent shop lights all work.
• Place lights 6-12 inches above the plants for 12-16 hours daily.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

• Direct sun often burns aroid leaves, causing brown crispy spots.
• Sheer curtains in a south window prevent leaf burn while allowing bright light.
• Move plants back from the window if leaves show burning signs.

Watering Correctly

Water Only When Soil is Dry

• Water aroids only when the top inch or two of soil is dry.
• Check by inserting your finger in the pot to gauge moisture.
• Overwatering leads to root rot, the most common killer of houseplant aroids.

Water Thoroughly

• When watering, drench the entire soil ball until water runs from the drainage holes.
• This ensures water penetrates deeply to all the roots.
• Taking plants to the sink for watering is ideal to prevent overflow.

Allow Soil to Dry After Watering

• After watering, allow excess water to drain completely from the pot.
• Never leave plants sitting in a saucer of water, which suffocates the roots.
• Discard any water in the saucer shortly after watering.

Providing Adequate Humidity

Monitor with Hygrometer

• Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity near your aroids.
• Ideal range is 50-60% for most species. Below 40% can be problematic.
• Apps like Govee let you track humidity remotely via Bluetooth sensors.

Increase Humidity as Needed

• If humidity is low, group plants together to create a mini greenhouse effect.
• Place plants on pebble trays filled with water. The evaporating water increases local humidity.
• Use a humidifier in the room during drier winter months when heat runs often.

Ensure Air Circulation

• While higher humidity is beneficial, airflow is also important to prevent fungal or bacterial leaf issues.
• Use small fans to circulate air gently around your plants if humidity is very high.

Maintaining Proper Temperatures

Warm Temperatures

• Aroids prefer warm indoor temperatures between 65-80°F during the daytime.
• Cooler temperatures below 60°F can impair growth and cause leaf damage.
• Moving plants off cold window sills in winter prevents chilling injury.

Nighttime Temperature Drop

• While aroids grow well with warm daytime temperatures, a 10-15° drop at night is beneficial.
• The temperature difference between day and night somewhat mimics their native tropical habitat.
• Setting your thermostat lower before bed helps achieve this day/night fluctuation.

Avoid Temperature Extremes

• While they tolerate brief exposures, avoid leaving aroids in hot sun or freezing temps for extended periods.
• Temperatures below 50°F or above 90°F frequently cause leaf injury.
• Heating vents and cold drafts from windows or doors can also damage leaves.

Using a Well-Draining Potting Mix

Aroid-Specific Potting Soils

• Specialty potting mixes for aroids are widely available. These provide an ideal growing medium.
• Look for mixes containing peat moss, perlite, bark or compost for moisture retention and drainage.
• Avoid standard potting soils or garden soils, as these stay too wet.

Add Perlite for Further Drainage

• To increase drainage and airflow of any potting mix, blend in perlite.
• Mix perlite and potting soil in a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio depending on how fast you want excess moisture to drain.
• Adding organic material like bark or coco coir also improves moisture control in the mix.

Avoid Soil Compaction

• When repotting, avoid compacting the soil too firmly around the roots.
• Lightly firm the soil but leave plenty of air pockets for drainage and circulation.
• Gentle handling prevents damage to the fragile feeder roots during repotting.

Fertilizing on a Regular Schedule

Weak Liquid Fertilizer Routinely

• Feed aroids weekly during spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer diluted to 1/4-1/2 strength.
• Look for fertilizers where the first and second numbers of the NPK value are equal, like 10-10-10.
• Liquid fertilizers are easy for plants to uptake quickly through their roots and foliage.

Rest Period in Fall/Winter

• Discontinue fertilizer for 6-8 weeks from late fall through winter to give plants a rest period.
• Growth naturally slows during the darker winter months. Fertilizer at this time can accumulate excessively.
• Resume regular feeding when new growth appears in spring.

Supplements Like Epsom Salts

• Foliar feed plants monthly by spraying diluted Epsom salts on the leaves.
• The magnesium and sulfur in Epsom salts provides vital nutrients.
• Use 1 teaspoon epsom salts per gallon of water and mist leaves until dripping wet.

Controlling Pests

Isolate New Plants

• When bringing home new plants, isolate them for a few weeks to prevent transferring pests.
• Monitor closely for signs of insects like sticky honeydew, webbing, stippling damage or foliage loss not attributable to other causes.
• Identify the pest properly before attempting treatment if discovered.

Remove Affected Leaves/Stems

• For small infestations on hardy plants, manually remove the affected parts.
• Using a paper towel, wipe leaves and stems to crush/remove insects. Check undersides of leaves too.
• Destroy the debris immediately – do not compost.

Insecticidal Sprays

• For larger infestations, use insecticidal soap or neem oil sprays.
• Cover leaves top and bottom to contact all insects. Repeat weekly for 2-3 weeks.
• Avoid using excessive products which can hurt beneficial insects or damage plants if overused.

Conclusion

Caring for common aroid houseplants like pothos, philodendrons, anthurium and Monsteras primarily involves providing proper moisture, humidity, light, warmth, soil and nutrition to keep them actively growing. Avoiding temperature extremes and pests are also vital for maintaining healthy plants long-term. Following these best practices tailored to aroids’ preferences allows them to thrive indoors as beautiful and easy-care houseplant specimens. With the right growing conditions, aroids will produce lush foliage and impressive inflorescences for years of enjoyment.