🪴HOW TO & TIPS
It’s that time of year again — late October — which means Scorpio season is officially upon us. The time when our most mysterious friends step into the spotlight (not that they ever asked for it).
Look, I’m not obsessed with star signs and their meanings — but it’s almost impossible not to know someone who is. This is for you. 👏
Scorpios, in my experience, are masters of being rather magnetic. Usually private, poised, and hold a sense of what the kids call “aura” these days.
Looking out at my collection, if there’s one plant that captures that energy perfectly, it’s the Philodendron Green.
Unassuming, low-key… yet completely captivating once you get close enough to appreciate its details.
So this week, we’re channeling our inner Scorpio with three lessons in Philodendron care — all about depth, attention, and quiet confidence.
1. Know Your Type: Climber or Crawler
There are two kinds of Philodendrons, and treating one like the other is a fast track to confusion (and sulking leaves).
- Climbers (like varicosum, melanochrysum, hederaceum) want a moss pole or plank to grip. As their aerial roots attach, leaves get bigger, stems thicken, and the plant looks more mature.
- Crawlers (like gloriosum or mamei) prefer to stretch along the soil. Skip the pole and instead use a wide, shallow pot to give them room to sprawl.
If you have a Philodendron that keeps trying to crawl out of its pot, check whether you have a climber or a crawler (and adjust accordingly).
2. Support It the Right Way
A dry moss pole is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Keep it evenly moist so those aerial roots actually grow into it.
Here’s what works best:
- For light upkeep, use a small water bottle dripper to keep the moss damp.
- For a full refresh, take the plant to the shower or garden and soak pole + leaves completely. Then give a final top-up with fertiliser water so every root — in soil and in moss — gets fed.
Good support creates strong, stable growth. And if that’s not Scorpio energy, I don’t know what is.
3. Give the Roots Oxygen, Not Just Water
Poor airflow around your Philodendron roots is a much more common problem than overwatering.
Use a chunky aroid mix (potting soil + bark + perlite) and make sure your pot has drainage holes. Water deeply, let it drain completely, and then wait until the top layer is dry before going again.
Bonus move: fluff up the top few centimetres of soil occasionally to keep air moving through it.
Healthy roots = steady, predictable growth — something every Scorpio (and plant parent) secretly craves.
A QUESTION FOR YOU
To all my Scorpios out there — what plant do you think best represents your energy? Hit reply and let me know.