Caring for a Philodendron El Choco Red

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History of the Philodendron El Choco Red

Originating from Ecuador and Colombia, this plant is clearly a jaw-freaking-dropper.

Don’t be confused though, this is not chocolate and its also not the ‘el choco’.

The Philodendron El Choco Red is an epiphyte (a plant that grows on another plant or rock without harming its host).

Just for reference, I paid $80 for a huge, rooted leaf in 2019. When I purchased my last one this year (2021), I paid $200 for un unrooted chonk. (Sweats, nervously.) The price for these babies (as well as most others) has shot up tremendously since 2020. So, just be forewarned, this is not a cheap plant.

I want to add here that I would HIGHLY suggest finding someone local to you, or ships within the USA, before you ever dive into shipping from other countries. I’m going to list some shops later, but I just want to stress how hard imports can be.

El Choco Red Leaves

Yeah, so. The leaves on these bad boys… that’s what makes them, them.

The tops are a dark, velvety green with stunning, light veins running throughout.

But, the backside- that’s the money maker.

The back of each leaf is a bright, exquisite red that literally takes your breath away.

I mean… how could you not need one… right now?!

Philodendron El Choco Red Care

Since the philodendron El Choco Red grows in the jungle, you’ll basically want to mimic this atmosphere.

Plant Lighting

Even though the El Choco Red doesn’t need direct light, it does require pretty bright, indirect light.

You should probably keep it in an east facing window or place it near a grow light.

For reference, mine is currently placed in a Ikea greenhouse, about 2 feet under these grow lights.

Try to imagine the bottom layers of a jungle: indirect, shadowed light.

Watering

Honestly, for me, the El Choco Red is pretty forgiving.

But, with it being suchhhh a freaking beauty (with a pretty high price tag), I wouldn’t push its limits.

This plant wants its potting medium to dry out in between waterings.

If you aren’t sure when that is, grab a moisture meter like this. It is a life saver when learning how to water your plants.

*Since this plant is prone to root rot, lean more towards under-watering rather than over.

Humidity

This jungle plant loves high humidity.

Try to keep the humidity around this plant no lower than 60%, at least when you first put it in its new spot. Over time, you can acclimate plants to your typical, standard humidity.

But, when getting them adjusted to your home, I recommend adding some extra humidity.

If you need a good humidifier, I suggest you check out this one. You control every part of it, in terms of misting and temperature.

A few other ways to increase your humidity are:

Group your plants together.
Set your plant on a pebble tray with a little bit of water.
Add jars of water around your plants.
Mist around your plants. This is my favorite continuous mister.

Soil

Since I had to root the last El Choco I received, I put it in spaghum moss with a little bit of perlite.

It rooted amazingly, so I have left it in the same mix. (Why change what’s working, right?!)

The moss also allows the humidity to stay higher, but I definitely let it completely dry out before I get it damp again.

Here are my go to medium grabs:

But, if you don’t want to work with moss, I recommend creating your own aroid mix with 1/3 perlite, 1/3 soil, and 1/3 orchid bark.

Temperature

Again, think jungle.

This plant loves a naturally (or man-made) warm atmosphere between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feeding

I like to feed (fertilize) my philodendron El Choco Red as follows:

Spring = nutrients in every other watering
Summer = nutrients in every 2-3 waterings
Fall = nutrients in every 3-4 waterings
Winer = typically no nutrients, but definitely no more than 1x a month

Pests and Diseases

Thankfully, I haven’t had any pest problems just yet. But, there are a few that you should keep in mind.

Most commonly, I have heard of the El Choco Red being prone to Mealy Bugs, Whiteflies, and Thrips.

When trying to treat and prevent infestations, I recommend quarantining each new plant in a sperate room for 2 weeks, before adding it to the rest of your collection. (Plus, more plants, more places. Win, win.)

Propagating a Philodendron El Choco Red

When, I purchased my most recent El Choco Red, I actually had to root it myself. Here is when I first got it:

To do so, I put it in 75% of this spaghum moss, mixed with 25% of this perlite.

I also stuck it on top of a heat mat like this and under a humidifier.

This plant seems to like its moss to stay fairly damp while trying to root.

Here are some shots of the roots now:

Everyone Needs a Philodendron El Choco Red

I’m not saying you have to find one right now… but you totally should.

All in all, the philodendron El Choco Red is a pretty easy plant to keep gorgeous.

Knock on wood, neither of mine cause/caused me any problems.

Their beautiful leaves are fairly delicate, but the plant itself is very hardy and forgiving.

Just remember:

Spaghum moss to root
Airy mix to pot
Soil dries out between waterings
High, jungle-like humidity and temperature

Regardless, if you are an avid, rare plant collector, get this for your collection ASAP.

Oh, and! If you already have this plant, you should totally send me some pictures of it. I love to see them!

As always, leave a comment if you have any more tips or questions.

FAQ:

Is the Philodendon El Choco Red hard to take care of?

I don’t think so. I’m sure this may vary from person to person, but I have had a pretty good success rate with them.

Does the el choco red grow fast?

Dude, mine grow crazy fast! Once it is done pushing out a leaf, you’ll see a new one popping up. It’s wicked. I would say that mine put out roughly 2-3 leaves every month.

Is this plant pet safe?

Honestly, I’m not sure. I recommend keeping it out your pet-babies range just to be safe. (Also, I mean…. ughhhh, the leaves!! You don’t want your baby chewing on them anyways!)

Why is this plant so expensive?

Supply and demand, I guess. When C O V I D hit, the plant market skyrocketed up. Which is totally cool, more plant lovers! But, it makes it a VERY pricey hobby. I recommend just looking regularly on FB purges, Etsy, and Ebay. Fingers crossed you snag one soon! When wanting to get a plant cheaper, look for seeds or unrooted cuttings. They’ll take a little more work, but you’ll get a better price!

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Signing off,

xoxo.