If you’ve been fortunate enough to get your hands on this hard to find plant, then you already know you’re in for a treat with this one.
The Philodendron Golden Dragon is a seriously cool looking plant since the leaves resemble a dragon and it’s ears, at least that is what it looks like to me.
Either way this plant seriously has some of the coolest green leaves I’ve come by and a shape I haven’t really seen elsewhere.
So now that you have one, you have to provide the right type of care in order to keep this plant happy and healthy for years to come.
Below you will find everything you need to get stared and maintain your Golden Dragon.
So let’s get started.
Light requirements
In general, your Philodendron Golden Dragon is not super picky about the amount of light it receives but it prefers bright indirect light or partial shade over the other types.
Too much direct light can damage the foliage and too little light will stunt the growth.
So you really want to find that sweet spot and indirect light is the way to go.
To provide this kind of light indoors you can place your Golden Dragon near just about any window that get’s some light.
Just be sure to place your plant about a foot away from the window so the direct light doesn’t get too intense and stays more so on the indirect side of things.
If you’re deciding to grow outdoors then placing your Philodendron under a tree or really anywhere that has some good shade will do just fine.
If you notice the leaves turning brown then you have been giving your plant either too much light or too intense, usually the latter.
Unfortunately if the leaves become brown they won’t change back so you will have to trim them away if this happens.
So err on the side of caution with the intensity of light.
Water and soil needs
Choosing the right type of soil and watering frequency is usually the hardest part about growing plants as mistakes can happen pretty easily.
Thankfully I will make it quite easy for you.
Your Philodendron Golden Dragon requires soil that not only drains well but can keep a slight amount of moisture on a consistent basis.
To do this you can use 1/3 regular potting soil, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 Perlite for best results.
Also if you’re growing in a container then having a drainage hole is recommended for even better drainage.
Once you have everything set up you want to water the plant fully and I really mean fully until the water flows through the holes in the container.
Now the way to find out when your Golden Dragon needs watering again is to physically check the soil.
Once the top inch or so of the soil has completely dried out then it’s time to repeat the watering process.
If the top inch of soil is still wet or moist then don’t water yet.
You don’t really want to be on a set watering schedule or anything as the time it takes for the soil to dry can vary especially during different seasons.
This is why you want to physically check the soil so you don’t end up underwatering and especially to prevent overwatering.
Temperature and humidity
When growing a Philodendron Golden Dragon, you want to try to mimic it’s natural environment which is warm and humid.
A good temperature range to grow in is somewhere between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit which makes this perfect as a houseplant.
At worst you don’t want the temperature dipping below the low 50’s so keep that in mind when picking a location to grow.
When it comes to humidity, higher ranges are better but most places of living will be enough to adequately provide for your Golden dragon.
If at any point you notice the leaves shriveling then the humidity may be too low.
A good way to increase local humidity for this plant will be by using a water pebble tray next to the plant or you can try grouping other plants nearby.
Either way this will certainly help provide the humidity your plant needs to look it’s best and thrive.
How to propagate Golden Dragon
The best way to propagate a Philodendron Golden Dragon will be by using stem cuttings.
To do this you will want to select a healthy stem first.
Next you will want to wear some gloves as Philodendrons are toxic and you want to protect yourself when propagating or pruning.
Now use some clean gardening shears to cut away a 4 inch stem directly under a leaf node.
Next prepare a container or whatever you want to plant in with some fresh soil.
Lastly place the stem a few inches into the soil and wet the soil.
It will take several weeks for a solid root system to establish itself so just water sparingly and keep the plant in some shade.
After a month or so has passed you can lightly pull on the stem and if there is some resistance then you have some good roots growing.
This whole process is best done in the spring or summer by the way so it can have time to grow.
That’s really all there is to it.
Does this plant need pruning?
This Philodendron doesn’t require constant pruning unless you have damaged leaves that you want to remove or if you just want to keep the plants size smaller than what it could be.
It’s really up to you.
Just be sure to wear gloves if you do as once again Philodendrons are a bit toxic.
Pests
You really shouldn’t have much of an issue when it comes to pests and your Golden Dragon.
With that said it’s still possible you may encounter some pests at some point in time.
Some can just be washed away with water but others may require more extensive treatment by using something like neem oil or other pest control measures.
This neem oil works quite well.
Should I fertilize?
This is really up to you as fertilizing isn’t always necessary but it doesn’t hurt, unless you use too much of it.
If you decide to then a balanced fertilizer at 1/4 strength once a month during the spring or summer will be fine.
Should I use a moss pole?
A moss pole is actually recommended if you want to have controlled vining for your Golden dragon but it’s not entirely necessary.
It does make the plant look quite nice though.
Conclusion
That’s really all there is to all of this.
You will be perfectly fine by following this care guide and you will learn more along the way so enjoy growing this sweet looking Philodendron.