Philodendron summer glory is a newer type of philodendron—a hybrid of two other plants created in Florida by LariAnn Garner. Learn about this stunning variety and my experience caring for it so far!
How to care for the gorgeous new Philodendron summer glory
The first time I saw a philodendron summer glory, I gasped. It is such a beautiful plant. What made it even more exciting was that I had no idea what it was—philodendron summer glory? Never heard of it.
While it was love at first sight, I passed it up the first time I saw it. You can’t have them all, can you? Well, until you decide it’s time. And it was time for me a few months ago.
What is a philodendron summer glory?
So what is this plant? Well it’s a type of philodendron, but that doesn’t exactly narrow it down. There are tons of different types of philodendrons. And summer glory is actually a hybrid of two types of philodendrons.
This is a patented plant (US PP34347) created by LariAnn Garner of Aroidia Research—the same person who created the Alocasia Regal Shield. According to the patent, LariAnn created summer glory in 2016 through a controlled cross between an unnamed hybrid philodendron as the female parent and an unnamed philodendron gloriosum as the male parent.
Summer glory differs from the female parent in that its leaves look much different. It differs from the male parent “gloriosum” in that summer glory is more colorful and glossy. However, like the gloriosum, summer glory has red cataphylls surrounding emerging leaves. (A cataphyll is a leaf that does not develop fully—instead it fulfills protective or storage functions.)
LariAnn selected summer glory based on its distinctive coloration, durability, and relative freedom from pests as compared to other commercially available philodendron cultivars. Summer glory was first reproduced in August 2020 through in-vitro meristem tip culture (a tissue culture).
The leaves are semi-deeply ribbed like the gloriosum’s leaves, but they are glossy. The growth pattern is similar to the gloriosum. Upright, but spreading wide as it grows—at least in my experience.
The leaves unfurl with a slightly different color than the deep green on the mature leaves. They have a bit of a reddish-bronze look—which can be a bit alarming if you aren’t expecting it. I first wondered if I’d overwatered the plant or if my care routine was off.
The leaves will eventually darken to a deep green with a striking veining. I couldn’t find a max size for the plant, but I’m assuming it’s probably around the same size as the gloriosum.
Philodendron summer glory & lighting needs
As with its parent plants, philodendron summer glory likes bright, indirect light. Too much will burn the leaves, while too little light may lead to leggy, scraggly, or slower growth and smaller leaves.
I haven’t had mine long enough to make a decision about summering the plant outdoors. But I have brought similar philodendrons outside for the summer and put them in the shade—with just a bit of dappled direct morning sun. That has been a recipe for lovely spring and summer growth here in Maryland.
For more philodendrons, check out my posts on Philodendron Mamei Care, Philodendron Painted Lady Care, and Philodendron Melanochrysum Care!
Water & soil
Plant your summer glory in a well-draining soil mix designed for houseplants or indoor plants. These mixes come with additions like coco coir, perlite, bark, and other things to help facilitate drainage and lightweight moisture retention.
Make sure you keep summer glory in a pot with drainage holes. When you do water the plant, do so deeply, ensuring that all of the excess water drains from the pot’s drainage holes.
I would recommend not watering the plant again until the top several inches of soil dry out. If you water the plant too soon or have it in soil that is too dense, it will likely suffocate the roots and lead to rot.
For most of my philodendrons in well-draining soil, I water them roughly once a week in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter, it’s much less because it is cooler and there is less light—the plant is not growing nearly as quickly.
Temperature & humidity
Philodendron summer glory is a warm-weather plant. However, when LariAnn Garner bred it, one of the goals was to produce a more cold-tolerant philodendron variety. According to the patent, summer glory can tolerate down to or near freezing temperatures (30 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit).
It will do fine in a variety of normal household temperatures, but it will die if it’s too cold or experiences a frost. So if you have it outdoors, make sure to bring it inside if you’re in an area with all four seasons.
Philodendrons appreciate higher humidity levels for sure. You can achieve this by adding a humidifier to the room your plant is in—and grouping it with a bunch of other plants can help, too.
However, if you don’t want to expend the extra effort, it should do fine in average household humidity levels. I have mine in the living room, which is not my winter humidifier room, so I’ll update if it begins showing signs of stress. I’ll be monitoring for things like browning edges and crispy tips.
Is philodendron summer glory a climber?
Philodendron summer glory would benefit from something to climb. You can let it go wild without a moss pole or some other sort of stake, but a pole will help the summer glory mature.
If you do add a moss pole, make sure you keep it moist. This will help to encourage the plant’s aerial roots to attach to the pole and climb, giving the plant the support it needs to mature.
Check out my post about 20 Philodendron Types With Photos, my care guide for Philodendron Giganteum, and my Philodendron Prince Of Orange Care guide!
Fertilizing & repotting
I don’t really use fertilizers on my houseplants. However, I do like to use a concentrated liquid plant food like Liqui-Dirt to give my plants a boost.
I use this only in the spring and summer, and it’s super easy—just add a tiny bit to the watering can. There’s no risk of over-fertilizing, and it provides a bunch of helpful nutrients for your plant.
In the spring, check to see if your plant needs to be repotted. If your growing conditions are ideal, you’ll likely need to repot your plant once a year. Summer glory is a moderate grower. And the best time to repot is in the spring or summer.
Make sure to size the plant up only about an inch or so to avoid drowning the plant in soil, and use fresh well-draining potting soil to replenish nutrients.
Philodendron summer glory care summary
Here is an overall care summary of the philodendron summer glory for easy reference. Enjoy your plant!
- Light: Bright, indirect light is best; too much light will burn the leaves
- Soil: Well-draining lightweight soil
- Water: Water when the top several inches of soil are dry
- Temperature: Enjoys warmer temperatures but will tolerate down to freezing (30-40 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Humidity: Enjoys humidity but will tolerate normal household humidity well
- Growth rate: Moderate, likely needs repotting yearly in optimal growing conditions
Pin my philodendron summer glory care guide!
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