It’s a bit of a mouthful but the Rhaphidophora Decursiva plant is a wonderful option if you want to bring some outside life into your home. Read on to find out more about this houseplant, including how to take care of it.
Rhaphidophora Decursiva: Known for its bright, glossy leaves that have naturally occurring holes in them, this tropical plant is perfect for bright homes. Use soil that is light and water well once a week. It is also easy to propagate Rhaphidophora Decursiva.
What is Rhaphidophora Decursiva?
The Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a tropical plant that does well inside most people’s homes. It has dark, glossy leaves.
The main characteristic of the plant is that it has fenestrations in its leaves. This is when the plant naturally creates holes in the middle of the leaves but in a healthy way. It does not mean that the plant is diseased.
Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a climbing plant and needs a trellis or other type of support to grow. It can grow quite large but you can prune it back if you want to maintain a smaller shape to it.
Rhaphidophora Decursiva Classification
The Rhaphidophora Decursiva plant belongs to the genus Rhapidophora. While it has many similar characteristics to other plants, it is not a part of the Monstera or Philodendron genera.
Interestingly, though, the three types of plants belong to the same family of plants, the Araceae family, which is why they share so many characteristics.
Rhaphidophora Decursiva Care
Location
Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a tropical plant and does best in areas of your home that are naturally warm. You don’t want to keep it in your basement as this can be too cold, especially at night.
As for light, bright, indirect sunlight is best. A brightly-lit living room will provide plenty of sunlight for your plant as it should have at least six hours of light per day.
Try to avoid direct light, such as right next to a window. Especially in the afternoon, this bright light can be too intense and can burn your plant.
If you don’t have a good location for your Rhaphidophora Decursiva, you can invest in a grow light. This will provide the right amount of artificial light so your plant will stay healthy and continue to grow.
Soil
The best soil for a Rhaphidophora Decursiva will be light, airy, and nutrient-dense. You can use a tropical plant mix to get started as it will have other materials, such as perlite and coir, to keep the soil from becoming too dense.
Over time, potting soil can break down and become too dense for this plant’s roots. Keep an eye on the root structure and if the soil looks too compact, repot with new soil.
Water
The best method of watering your Rhaphidophora Decursiva is to soak the soil completely and then let it dry out. When in doubt, test the top part of the soil. The first few inches should be dry and then that is a sign it is okay to water again.
Soaking a plant in water takes a bit more effort as you need to allow all the water to drain fully. Many people will soak the plant and then place the container in the sink to allow the water to drain and not damage any furniture.
Try to water in this manner once a week. However, during the winter, your plant will slow its growth, so you can shift to watering every two weeks.
Fertilization
When given the right conditions, a Rhaphidophora Decursiva will grow quite large. This means it will need regular fertilization so it has enough nutrients to keep growing.
Spring and summer are the times when the plant needs fertilizer as this is when it will grow the most. Try to get in the habit of applying a liquid fertilizer once a month. Do so when you water to ensure the nutrients are equally distributed.
Pruning
Whether you prune your Rhaphidophora Decursiva or not is completely up to you. Just be aware that the plant grows fairly quickly and grows upward, so it can take over a large space if it is left to its own devices.
The best time to prune your Rhaphidophora Decursiva is in the spring or the summer. This is the time the plant will actually be growing.
You can cut your plant back as much as you would like. You can decide to prune a little each month to ensure the plant doesn’t take over or, if you’ve been busy, you can cut the plant back a lot once a year to it still fits in its original space.
How to Propagate Rhaphidophora Decursiva?
It’s always fun if you can propagate a houseplant. Not only is it a neat science experiment but you can also create more plants, either for yourself or for friends.
Start by using a clean pair of scissors so as to not spread bacteria. Cut off a stem, ensuring there are between three and six nodes on it.
If there are any bottom leaves on the stem, remove them but be sure to leave two or three leaves at the top.
Fill a glass jar with water and place the stem into it. The nodes should be under the water while the leaves should be above them.
Within a few weeks, roots will appear along the submerged stem. After the roots are an inch long, you can then transfer the entire cutting to a container with soil.
Finally, place your new plant in a bright location and stay on top of watering, especially in the first few months. In the first two weeks of planting, keep the water moist so the tiny roots don’t dry out.
Tips for growing Rhaphidophora Decursiva
Choose a location wisely
Rhaphidophora Decursiva grows up so before you plant it, think about where you want it to grow. A boring corner or an eyesore in your home can be altered with this gorgeous plant.
Think about how it will climb and whether you have shelves available for it to hold onto. If not, think about installing a trellis for it or another structure that will guide its growth.
Choose a container
As we’ve mentioned, Rhaphidophora Decursiva will grow quite large if left unchecked. One way to control its growth is if you keep it in a smaller container.
You should still change the soil periodically to ensure it stays light and airy. But don’t worry about having to increase the container size if you don’t want your plant to overtake your whole home.
Dust the leaves
The leaves of a Rhaphidophora Decursiva can be quite large. Furthermore, their waxy texture can attract dust. Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove dust for a better appearance and to allow the plant to absorb more light and enhance the photosynthesis process.
Is Rhaphidophora Decursiva rare?
Rhaphidophora Decursiva is not a common houseplant. It can be hard to find the plant in local nurseries so you will either need to special order it or look for online retailers.
Are Rhaphidophora Decursiva fast growers?
Yes, Rhaphidophora Decursiva grows very fast. However, you can easily prune it to stop it from growing too large.
In the wild, Rhaphidophora Decursiva can grow to towering heights. One plant can reach up to 60 feet tall and be over 6 feet wide.
Fortunately, inside your home, the plant will be a bit more subdued. It will grow to about 10 feet tall and about 4 feet wide.
Is a Rhaphidophora Decursiva a monstera?
Monstera plants are known for their fenestrations, or rips in the middle of their lives. The Rhaphidophora Decursiva has a similar appearance but is not part of the Monstera family of plants.
In fact, you may find a Rhaphidophora Decursiva mislabeled at some larger plant stores that deal with more generic plants. Specialized nurseries shouldn’t make this mistake but if you are in the market for a new houseplant, you should double-check before you purchase one.
Is Rhaphidophora Decursiva dragon tail?
Another common name for the Rhaphidophora Decursiva is a dragon tail plant. While a gardening store will have the full name on any labels, you may hear other people talking about dragon plants and this is what they are referring to.
Is Rhaphidophora Decursiva toxic?
Unfortunately, Rhaphidophora Decursiva plants are considered toxic. The good news is that they are only toxic if the plants are ingested. You won’t get sick just by touching them.
If you have pets in your home, you should keep your Rhaphidophora Decursiva plant out of reach them. While it will take a lot of the plant to make your pet sick, you don’t want to take any chances. The same is true for little kids who might be curious about the plants in your home.
Conclusion
While Rhaphidophora Decursiva is not as common as other houseplants, it is still a great option to consider. The large, fenestrated leaves are gorgeous to look at and it isn’t too hard to take care of.
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