With a pretty funny name but an interesting appearance, the Philodendron Lickety Split sure is a must have for your outdoor garden or indoor plant collection.
Due to this plant not being a climber and only growing a few feet tall, compared to other Philodendron varieties, the Lickety Split can make for a great houseplant.
With that said, you need to know some tips to be able to provide great care for this plant no matter where you are planning to grow.
So here is just about everything you need to know to get started and maintain proper care for the Lickety Split Philodendron.
Further down you will learn how to propagate as well.
Lickety Split Light needs
The lickety Split Philodendron is native to tropical environments and as such, you want to mimic the type of light it would normally get which is bright and indirect light.
Too much direct light can and will scorch the leaves and low light conditions will cause stunted growth or cause the plant to become leggy or stretched out.
So if you plan on growing outdoors then placing this plant under some trees or really anywhere that gets shade will be great.
As for indoor growth, any window direction will also work perfectly fine.
You just have to keep an eye on the suns rays and don’t let them touch the plant.
Keeping your Lickety Split at least 1 foot away from any window will be a good practice as having the plant too close can cause the suns rays to touch and damage the foliage.
Other than that, just providing consistent bright and indirect light will keep this plant thriving and is the main type of light your Lickety Split needs.
Lickety Split Soil Selection
Your Philodendron requires soil that not only drains well, but can also keep slight moisture most of the time.
So a good soil and grit mix will be Peat Moss and Perlite in my opinion.
You can do 2 parts Peat and 1 part Perlite.
You could also do 1 Part Succulent soil, 1 Part Peat and 1 part Perlite if you want.
Everything doesn’t always have to be exact and these will be great places to start when selecting soil.
Just make sure the soil isn’t staying soggy all the time which it shouldn’t with these mixes, especially if you have drainage holes in your container.
How to water Lickety Split
Watering a Philodendron Lickety Split will probably be the most difficult part of the whole care process, at least that’s how it is normally if you don’t have the right direction.
When watering you need to water the soil fully each time until the water flows through the drainage holes to ensure a good soaking.
From there it could vary how long it takes for the soil to dry out depending on the season and or temperature and a few other factors.
So the best way to know when it’s time to water again will be to actually check the soil.
If the top inch or two of the soil has fully dried out then it’s time to water, if it’s not entirely dry then you can hold off on the watering.
Keep in mind you will be watering more often in the summer than you will in the winter, often much more often.
Temperature needs
Philodendrons thrive in warm temperatures and the lickety split is no exception.
A good growing range will be between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit as you don’t want to go too far out in either direction.
You especially don’t want to grow in much colder temperatures than the lower end as this plant won’t be able to sustain cold temps for long.
So if the temperature is about to drop below 60 degrees and you’re growing outdoors then you should bring your Lickety Split indoors for the time being.
Thankfully if you’re using it as a houseplant then you’re already good to go.
Humidity
This Philodendron like most, prefers a good amount of humidity to grow and look it’s best.
50% or more humidity is what you want to strive for with your Lickety Split which most homes will be able to provide naturally.
If you do ever notice the plant folding or curling then it could be a sign of a lack of humidity and there are a few ways to increase this.
First you could use a water pebble tray under or near the plant as the water will evaporate, thus increasing the local humidity.
You could also try keeping this plant closer to other plants which will increase local humidity for each of them.
Lastly you can just grow near natural water sources such as in kitchens for example where water is regularly used.
How to propagate
Propagating Philodendron Lickety Split can easily be done by using stem cuttings.
So to get started it’s a good idea to wear some gloves and have some clean gardening shears at the ready.
The reason for the gloves is due to the plant being a bit toxic and it’s a good precaution to take when interacting with the plant such as cutting stems.
So now that you’re ready you need to select a healthy stem to use that has some healthy leaves on the stem.
Now make a cutting at least 4 inches long and make sure there are no leaves towards the bottom of the stem but towards the top is completely fine.
Next prepare a new container with some fresh soil and then place the stem cutting a few inches deep into the soil.
Now wet the soil and place the container in bright indirect light like you normally would.
Keep the soil moist but not completely soaked for the duration of this process which will take at least several weeks for some solid roots to form.
You will know if you have good roots by gently pulling the plant if there is at least some resistance then you’ve got some solid roots.
Just wait several weeks before doing that though.
That’s all there is to it.
When should I repot?
Repotting is really only necessary when the plant has started to outgrow it’s container which can be spotted by the roots growing through the drainage holes.
Also it’s best to repot during the spring or summer to ease this process for the plant.
When doing this it’s also a good idea to check the roots for any damage and remove or trim back damaged roots which will be dark or mushy.
Pruning
Since your Philodendron Lickety Split doesn’t grow to be as big as other Philodendrons, you won’t really need to prune as often or at all compared to other varieties.
However if you have damaged leaves such as brown or yellow leaves then these will need to be removed to reduce the plants energy being wasted on these damaged leaves.
Just remember to wear gloves when doing so.
Fertilizing
When fertilizing a Lickety Split Philodendron, you can use either liquid fertilizer or a controlled release fertilizer.
If using liquid fertilizer then it’s best to only fertilize once a month during the spring summer and fall at 1/4 to 1/2 strength.
When using a controlled release fertilizer, you can just follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Just be careful of using too much fertilizer as this can cause a buildup of salts over time and cause fertilizer burn to the roots.
Pests
Like most Philodendrons, pests don’t really target these kind of leaves but it’s still possible to get some mealy bugs, aphids or other pests if conditions accommodate them.
If you notice white spots, holes in the leaves or wrinkling of the leaves then you most likely have a pest issue going on and this should be addressed quickly.
Most of these pests can be gotten rid of by using a damp towel and wiping down the leaves or by using rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball.
However during more severe cases of a pest invasion you may need to try something like neem oil or other stronger pest control solutions.
Conclusion
I hope that you have found this information useful so you can properly care for your Philodendron Lickety Split for quite some time.
So enjoy your day and enjoy the process.